My Life the True Testimony [Explicit Lyrics]

Blood Raw | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B0018A1DLG
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,358 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

When responsibility becomes a dirty word leave it to artists like Florida's Blood Raw to come clean.

"I am a role model," says the burly member of Young Jeezy's USDA. "The best role models are the ones that lead by example."

The native of the impoverished Panama City, Blood Raw, ne' TK, has lived an example to learn from, not necessarily to follow.

Growing up in a single parent household, Blood Raw's mother was in and out of prison and died when he was only twelve years old. His grandmother raised he and his sister living out of a trailer home making $3 an hour.

In an all too familiar scenario Blood Raw took to the streets of Florida selling drugs and in 1992 had the pause button set on his life becoming the property of the Florida Department of Corrections for six years.

While paying his debt to society Blood Raw discovered a new form of personal currency--his voice. "Blood Raw is a slang in Florida, it means the Truth. The OGs in jail heard my little raps and they'd say `that shit is blood raw.'" And just like that he'd found his new calling.

When he was released in 1998, Blood Raw joined his uncle in Atlanta at the Hip-Hop Café where he befriended both local and established talent playing his music for anyone that would listen.

A year later he moved back to his native Panama City and shifted his rap career into the next phase joining the Niggaz For Life Crew (N.F.L.) and making cameo appearances like his feature on the debut of former Lox member Genovese. But it wasn't until after a performance in Alabama that Raw's career would get the boost it needed. "I performed and Young Jeezy was impressed with my show," he remembers. "Although I was talking with T.I. and had a few other situations, working with Jeezy just felt right."

A week later Blood Raw became an official member of the USDA crew and embarked on a tour with the trap star. Unfortunately, some loose ends from his past threatened to trip up Blood Raw. A cocaine trafficking charge almost sent him back to prison for the rest of his life, but thankfully he was acquitted. "God knew my heart," he says relieved. "He knew I gave up everything to do my music. I could have easily went back to the streets after He took away everything. But, I've got relationships instead of fans. I had so many people praying for me that I'm sure He was like, `who is this dude?'" After lending his talents to the Gold Certified USDA debut, Cold Summer, Blood Raw is hard at work on his solo debut, TKNAME, recording tracks with Orlando's DJ Nasty and Tallahassee's J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. He is also poised to be the first rapper from Florida to do an official Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama. "I've adopted a new nickname, `Mr. Florida' because the game plan is to get back to business by repping my state," he says confidently. "I have people crying when they hear my music because I'll only spit what I've been through."

Product Description

Explicit version.A member of Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy's cokerap trio U.S.D.A., Panama City, FL, native Blood Raw began his rap career while serving a six year bid in Florida prison during the mid-90s. There he first developed his rhyme skills and earned the "Blood Raw" moniker (which is local slang for "the truth"). Upon his release in 1998, he relocated to Atlanta to work for his uncle at a local rap hotspot called the HipHop Caf‚. Inspired by the many upandcoming acts that graced the venue, Blood Raw moved back to Panama City in 1999 to start a rap crew of his own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars My Life: The True Testimony, September 20, 2008

By 

SkinnyFLA "Down South Florida Boy" (North Lauderdale,FLA from Bailey Rd to Kimberly Blvd) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life the True Testimony (Audio CD)

Blood Raw aka Mr. Florida made a name for himself back in 2004 when he dropped the underground classics "Represent" and "My Block Burn" ft. Pastor Troy. He signed with Young Jeezy's CTE back in 05. Then, he was indicted by the FEDs on dope charges and was facing life in prison. A bunch of his close friends testified against him but in the end Raw was found innocent. He gave us a few mixtapes after he got out and finally dropped his debut album.

The Truth 8/10- He tells stories of all the trials and tribulations that he's been through with a guest appearance from the Dungeon Family's Big Rube dropping knowledge for us at the end of the song.

It Feels Good 10/10- Awesome beat that makes you reminisce about the good days. Blood Raw talks about growing up in the hood and all the things he misses about it.

Louie 8/10- Jammin song but i have to give it an 8 for the subject matter. Its a dope boy song about stashing money in a Louis Vutton bag. It features Young Jeezy.

Almost There 8.5/10- Features Mannie Fresh, Blood Raw talks about how he's not ballin' yet, but he's grindin'. G

What's Happening 6.5/10- features Trina, basically a song just about spitting game to a young lady, its decent but nothing special.

F*** You 7.5/10- pretty good song throwing a middle finger up to the haters, featuring Slick Pulla.

Trying to Get Home 7.5/10- features Lyfe Jennings, pretty good about trying to survive in the streets.

Im Fly 7/10- beat sounds a little repetitive and the subject matter is too. But still, its a decent song to ride to.

Get Away 8/10- Deep song where he adresses all of his problems and gets some stress off his chest. He says music is how he gets away.

News Reporter- skit

Go Head 7.5/10- pretty jammin track about grindin

Still a D Boy 8/10- Hood anthem for everybody in the streets trying to get it.

I Miss You 9/10- Sentimental song dedicated to his deceased mother and grandmother, and his father who was never there for him.

Overall the Panama City native gives listeners a pretty good debut album. Hes not the best lyrically, but he puts emotion into his music and delivers some really heartfelt racks.

5.0 out of 5 stars BLOOD RAW!!!, August 4, 2008

By 

menace "the one" (indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life the True Testimony (Audio CD)

Man this cd is tight to all the haters he sounds nothing like jeezy
this might be the best cd i hear this year

5.0 out of 5 stars Hott !!!!!!!!!!!!!, June 19, 2008

By 

Jason Cleveland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Life the True Testimony (Audio CD)

Ok so for those who don't know Blood Raw is signed to CTE ( Young Jezzy's lable) and Def Jam. He is 1 3rd of the group U.S.D.A.
Now to the Cd very very HOTT!!!! He is from Florida but has a Atlanta flow at times he sounds like Jeezy. So pretty much if you like Jeezy you gonna like Blood Raw. It's not a hip hop classic or anything but on his level I give him 5 stars b/c I think it's a very solid debut albulm for BR.