A 17-year old Scot has defied the Covid-19 pandemic by securing a writing and production credit on a Billboard top 10 album in the USA from his bedroom in the west end of Glasgow.
Like thousands of other teenagers, Blair Ferguson - who writes and produces under the name BLK Beats - saw his classes at Kelvinside Academy ended abruptly in June 2020 as we entered lockdown.
The international travel ban also put on hold his plans to opt out of 6th year studies and head to America to pursue his dream of landing his first major hip-hop production credit.
But, against the odds, he has secured a four-year management and publishing deal with one of hiphop’s most successful and prestigious production collectives, Winners Circle, and landed a co-writing and co-production credit on the top 10 Billboard album ‘Virgo World’ by platinum-selling rap artist Lil Tecca - all from his humble home studio in his bedroom.
The track, Closest to Heaven, has been played around 3m times across all streaming platforms since its release last month and was even named as one of the top songs of the week by renowned hip-hop magazine XXL.
Speaking of the achievement, Blair said: “I’ve been working as a hiphop producer for the last two years, writing and producing with underground artists across the US and gradually growing my credits and contacts.
When lockdown arrived, I had no idea that the effects of the pandemic would last this long, and my dream of getting to the States over the summer to work more closely with artists gradually became an impossiblity.
“I’m a great believer in a positive mental attitude, so I made up my mind to work as hard as I could to make things happen from Scotland, although I knew it would be hard to be successful when I couldn’t be in recording studios working directly with artists.
I’m honoured that Winners Circle have shown faith in me and proud of the Lil Tecca credit. I hope that this is only the beginning and that, when we get the virus under control, I can achieve my dream of getting to America and taking my production career to the next level.
"Even though the pandemic is by no means under control in Scotland, and we have some tough months ahead, I hope people see my story and realise that positive things can still happen to us all if we just keep believing in ourselves."
Gaun yersel' Blair!
