Blind (rapper)

Franco Popi Rujan (born in Perugia in 2000), better known as Blind, is an Italian rapper.[1][2] He rose to fame in late 2020, when he took part in the fourteenth series of Italian talent show X Factor, finishing in third place and achieving commercial success with the single "Cuore nero", which peaked at number 2 on the FIMI Single Chart and was certified platinum, denoting 70,000 equivalent units.

Blind
Birth nameFranco Popi Rujan
Born2000
Perugia
OriginPonte San Giovanni, Perugia, Italy
GenresHip hop, pop rap
Years active2017–present
LabelsSony Music

Biography

Blind was born to Romanian parents in Perugia and grew up in Ponte San Giovanni, a frazione of his hometown.[3] After going through family issues, he cut ties with his father.[3] He left school at the age of 15, and he admitted he later dealt and used drugs.[3] Inspired by American artists whose lyrics described the suburbs they lived in, Blind started playing music at the age of 16.[4] During his adolescence, he was charged multiple times for theft and brawl.[5] The Juvenile court entrusted him to the association "Risorse & Talenti", which helped him to pursue his musical goals.[6]

He chose to perform under the pseydonym "Blind", because "it means not looking at barriers, criticism, and everything that can hinder you".[7][8] Since 2017, he started releasing songs online, including the track "Sotto 'sti palazzi".[9] His first music video was self-produced, with financial help from his friends who collected money to support his music.[10] In 2019, he released the single "Classe 2000", featuring Italian rapper Vacca.[11] He also performed as an opening act for Italian rappers such as Izi, Rkomi, Tedua and Drefgold.[9]

In 2020, he auditioned for the fourteenth series of Italian talent show X Factor, performing his original song "Cuore nero".[12] He was chosen by his mentor Emma Marrone as one of the contestants in the "Boys" category. During the first live show, he performed "Cuore nero", which was immediately released as part of the X Factor Mixtape, together with all the contestants' original songs.[13][14] The song was also released as a single on 30 October 2020.[15] During the live shows, Blind also performed his own songs "Cicatrici" and "Affari tuoi", as well as reworked hits with original lyrics.[16][17][18] After reaching the final, he ended up in third place, behind the series' winner Casadilego and runner-up band Little Pieces of Marmelade.[10]

The single "Cuore nero" was certified gold before the final of the show, and went on to receive a platinum certification.[10][19] An extended play with the same title was also released in December 2020, featuring studio recordings of six songs originally performed during X Factor, as well as a new original track, "Hola".[20]

Discography

Extended plays
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[21]
Cuore nero[22] 19

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ITA
[23]
"Cuore nero" 2020 2 Cuore nero

References
  1. Mariangela Celiberti (10 December 2020). "Blind finale X Factor 2020: età, chi è, canzoni e biografia, vero nome". The Italian Times. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. Michele Bellucci (12 December 2020). "Blind, terzo a X Factor e Disco d'oro: Il nome del mio quartiere ce l'ho tatuato in testa. E il Ponte replica". Il Messaggero (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. "Blind a Le Iene: Ho fatto risse, spacciato e tentato di rapinare le massaggiatrici cinesi". Corriere dell'Umbria (in Italian). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. Vincenzo Chianese (10 December 2020). "Chi è Blind di X Factor 14? Età, nome e Instagram". Novella 2000 (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. "Blind prima di X Factor: Ho avuto denunce per furti e risse" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. "La musica lo toglie dalla strada e ora sogna un futuro da rapper: la storia di Blind, il giovane talento perugino". Perugia Today. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. "Blind, il singolo Cuore Nero è disco di platino" (in Italian). Sky Italia. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. Silvia Fumarola (29 October 2020). "X Factor-Live, Blind: Ho avuto una vita difficile, ora realizzo il mio sogno". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. Emanuele Lombardini (22 October 2020). "L'Umbria fa doppietta ad X Factor: Blind ed i Melancholia promossi ai live". La Notizia Quotidiana. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. Andrea Conti (11 December 2020). "X Factor 2020, Alessandro Cattelan dice addio al programma. Ecco chi ha vinto". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  11. "Classe 2000 di Blind, Vacca" (in Italian). Universal Music. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  12. Andrea Cominetti (2 October 2020). "X Factor 14, le ultime audizioni tra lacrime e sorprese". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  13. Ernesto Assante (30 October 2020). "X Factor è live: le squadre si confrontano dal vivo per la prima volta". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  14. Claudio Cabona (29 October 2020). "X Factor Mixtape: cambia la forma, non la sostanza" (in Italian). Rockol.it.
  15. Adriano Giunta (30 October 2020). "Blind - Cuore Nero (Radio Date: 30-10-2020)" (in Italian). EarOne.it. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  16. Paolo Madeddu (14 November 2020). "X Factor 14, i nuovi inediti dal peggiore al migliore". Rolling Stone (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  17. Paolo Madeddu (29 November 2020). "X Factor 14, gli inediti del quinto live dal peggiore al migliore". Rolling Stone (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  18. Boris Sollazzo (4 December 2020). "X Factor 14, le pagelle: chi ha messo la museruola ai giudici?". Rolling Stone (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. "Italian single certifications – Blind" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 28 January 2021. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Blind" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  20. "Blind, esce l'EP Cuore Nero: info e tracklist" (in Italian). Sky Italia. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  21. "Italian Charts - Blind - Albums". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  22. Matteo Mori (10 December 2020). "X Factor 2020: Gli EP dei quattro finalisti (Cover e Tracklist)" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  23. "Italian Charts - Blind - Songs". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
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