Dion Devon Blue, hip-hop artist and entrepreneur
deb...@comcast.net
(Newsday)
BY CRISTINA E. DESPOSITO
STAFF WRITER
February 24, 2005
Dion Devon Blue, a hip-hop artist and entrepreneur, died from a
degenerative heart disease on Jan. 27 at Southside Hospital in Bay
Shore. The former Central Islip resident was 30.
"His personality was like everybody's favorite cousin," said DeeDee
Blue, his twin sister. "He was the person you just wanted to be
around."
Blue was born in East Islip to William, who died in 2001, and Mary Blue
on May 8, 1974. He came to this world one minute after DeeDee, and was
a surprise because "my mother thought she was only having a girl," his
sister said.
DeeDee Blue said she and her brother moved around a lot while growing
up, going from Central Islip to North Carolina and then back to Central
Islip. He lived there until 1997, when he was diagnosed with a
degenerative heart condition and moved to Corona, Queens, to live with
DeeDee and her 5-year-old son.
His twin sister said Blue lived for his music.
"Our father was in the gospel circuit," she said. "Music has been there
since birth."
When he was about 11 years old, he began to get into hip-hop music and
by the time he was a student at Central Islip High School he was trying
to make a name for himself, his sister said. In 1990 he was part of
Islip Town's We Recycle America Proudly, to encourage residents to
recycle. The 23-second "WRAP-rap" video, starring Blue and his friend,
Taylor Schofield, aired on local television and cable stations.
At 18, Blue, also known as In-Tense and more recently as Warta, signed
his first record deal with independent label Strictly Rhythm Records
Inc. He played underground shows and performed with renowned hip-hop
artists such as Slick Rick, Memphis Bleek and Mad Skillz. "He was
married to hip-hop and it was his way of life," DeeDee said, adding
that his first love was his only girlfriend.
In 1997 Blue started his own clothing line called Invisible Apparel. He
created T-shirts with realistic portraits of famous names in hip-hop
such as Tupac Shakur, said his sister, who now runs the label.
Another sister, Dominique Blue, 25, of Central Islip, said her
brother's drive to succeed stemmed from his desire to help his family.
She added how much he loved his nieces and nephews.
Dominique reminisced about how his favorite thing to do was work in the
studio. "Dion was always dancing and rhyming about something," his
sister said.
An aunt, Jamesina Dortch, 47,of Central Islip, described Blue as "very
intelligent and mature." "We sat and we just talked," she said. "He had
one of those old souls and he could impart a lot of wisdom to you."
Blue is also survived by brothers Darian Blue and Quireem West, of
Central Islip, Ishmael West, of Virginia, Chakael West, of Corona; and
sisters Bridgette West, of Brooklyn, and Siddeequha West, of Central
Islip.
Blue's wake was held Feb. 4 at Michael J. Grant Funeral Home in
Brentwood, and he was buried the following day at Pinelawn Memorial
Park.