Bladee

Biography

Benjamin Thage Dag Reichwald (born 9 April 1994), known professionally as Bladee (pronounced "blade"), is a Swedish rapper and singer. In 2013, he formed the Drain Gang music collective alongside childhood friends Ecco2k, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor. Bladee began releasing music that same year, and gained attention after collaborating with Yung Lean.
Bladee released his debut mixtape, Gluee×Gluee27 January 2014 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Deletee (intro)3:292Safehouse2:423Ebay3:444Shadowface3:345Spellbound3:246Everlasting Flames3:207Freeze2:558Upgrade Enabled2:569Unreal2:12, in 2014, and his debut album, Eversince×Eversince25 May 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Who Goes There3:092So What3:193Lovenote3:164Missing Person3:205Romeo2:516Xd Out3:377Sick3:008R.I.P.2:559Bloodveil/Stillborn3:3010Sugar3:0611Wrist Cry3:5512Skin3:36, in 2016. In 2017 he became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line, and released Working on Dying, a collaborative mixtape with the production group of the same name. Bladee released Red Light and Icedancer in 2018.
During 2020, Bladee released three projects: Exeter, 333, and Good Luck, a collaborative album with producer Mechatok. He released his fifth studio album, The Fool×The Fool28 May 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Fool Intro2:002Let’s Ride2:253Hotel Breakfast2:154I Think…3:125Thee 9 Is Up3:046desiree2:267I Want It That Way2:028BBY2:019Inspiration Comes2:5610egobaby2:1911Trendy2:4312Search True2:3713Wett (Water2)2:25, in 2021, and it met with critical praise. Later that year, he exhibited his first solo collection of paintings, Real Sprin9, and released a collection in collaboration with American-Swedish clothing brand GANT. In 2022, he released Crest, a collaborative album with Ecco2k, as well as Spiderr×SPIDERR30 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1UNDERSTATEMENT3:082ITS OK TO NOT BE OK1:173I AM SLOWLY BUT SURELY LOSING HOPE2:334ICARUS 3REESTYLE2:065NOTHINGG3:066BLUE CRUSH ANGEL3:147DiSASTER PRELUDE1:578HAHAH2:169DRAIN STORY1:5010Velociraptor2:1811DRESDEN ER2:5512She’s Always Dancing1:4813URIEL OUTRO2:51, his sixth solo album.
In 2023, Bladee released several singles in collaboration with Skrillex and Yung Lean. In 2024, he released Psykos, a collaborative album with Yung Lean, as well as Cold Visions×Cold Visions24 April 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks1PARANOIA INTRO1:112WODRAINER2:333YUNG SHERMAN2:124FLATLINE2:545ONE SECOND1:526SAD MEAL2:027FUN FACT1:498ONLY GOD IS MADE PERFECT1:489DONT WANNA HANG OUT1:3910I DONT LIKE PEOPLE (WHITEARMOR INTERLUDE)0:3911I DONT LIKE PEOPLE2:4012END OF THE ROAD BOYZ2:1513D.O.A2:2014DONT DO DRUGZ1:3315LOWS PARTLYY2:1616SO COLD INTERLUDE1:3717MESSAGE TO MYSELF1:1518TERRIBLE EXCELLENCE2:3319RED CROSS2:1820LUCKY LUKE2:0721RIVER FLOWS IN YOU1:4522KING NOTHINGG2:2623BAD 4 BUSINESS1:4224OTHERSIDE2:3625NORMAL1:1926FLEXING & FINESSING3:0527PM22:0828FALSE2:0829CANT END ON A LOSS (OUTRO)3:3430COLD VISIONS (OUTRO 2)3:34. The same year, he appeared on the remix of Charli XCX's song "Rewind" and announced his departure from longtime label and management company Year0001. In 2026, he released his eighth solo album Sulfur Surfer×Sulfur Surfer20 May 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Sulfur Surfer3:272Versailles Flow3:373Highland Tyrant2:544Dolor3:075Killswitch2:426Fox & Birch4:157Under My Umbrella3:068The Dark Mirror4:109Durins Bane3:0310Stoner3:1911Black Fire3:3712Blondie3:0813Scab6:05.

Early life

Benjamin Thage Dag Reichwald was born on 9 April 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden, and was raised mainly in the Skanstull area. His mother was a teacher and his father worked in restaurants. Reichwald has a younger brother named Gus, who was classmates with Yung Lean and ultimately introduced the two. As a child, Reichwald aspired to become a painter.
In 2004, he met Ecco2k. The two were classmates and formed a punk band named Krossad (Swedish for "crushed×Crushed1 October 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crushed2:24"), releasing a demo CD in 2007. Reichwald later met Swedish producer Whitearmor and rapper Thaiboy Digital through mutual friends. After leaving school, he worked at a daycare centre for about a year.

2013–2016: Drain Gang formation and debut projects

Reichwald began releasing music under the stage name Bladee in 2013. Alongside Ecco2k, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor, he formed the Drain Gang musical collective, at the time named Gravity Boys Shield Gang. Bladee became friends with fellow Stockholm rapper Yung Lean, forming a working relationship between his own Gravity Boys collective and Yung Lean's Sad Boys Entertainment. He was featured on the track "Heal You // Bladerunner" from Lean's Unknown Death 2002 mixtape, which gave him attention from Yung Lean's fanbase.
In 2014, Bladee released his debut mixtape Gluee×Gluee27 January 2014 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Deletee (intro)3:292Safehouse2:423Ebay3:444Shadowface3:345Spellbound3:246Everlasting Flames3:207Freeze2:558Upgrade Enabled2:569Unreal2:12. It was described as "a summertime anthem for a suburban generation stuck scrolling through Twitter". Bladee released his debut album, Eversince×Eversince25 May 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Who Goes There3:092So What3:193Lovenote3:164Missing Person3:205Romeo2:516Xd Out3:377Sick3:008R.I.P.2:559Bloodveil/Stillborn3:3010Sugar3:0611Wrist Cry3:5512Skin3:36, on 25 May 2016. The album was produced entirely by Whitearmor.

2017–2018: Working on Dying, Red Light, and Icedancer

In 2017, Bladee became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line. Later that year, he collaborated with production group Working on Dying on his second mixtape, named after the group. The mixtape includes features from Yung Lean and Ecco2k. A video for the track "Lordship" was later released.
After releasing the track "Decay×Decay2 May 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Decay2:08" as a lead single, Bladee released Red Light, his second album, on 11 May 2018. It features executive production by Whitearmor, Sad Boys producer Gud, and Drain Gang member Yung Sherman. In June 2018, Bladee walked the runway at Alyx's spring/summer 2019 menswear show at Paris Fashion Week, alongside Ecco2k. His third mixtape, Icedancer×Icedancer29 December 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1SmartWater2:302Okk1:333Mallwhore FreEestyle1:594Be Nice to Me2:075Frosty the Snowman2:506Inside Out2:177Close3:228Jaws1:569Cartier’God IceDancer Intermission (Cartie mix)3:0110Side by Side2:1611TopMan3:1312Wast€r2:0113Special Place2:0214DG Jeans1:4315Feel Like1:3416Linkdin2:3317For Nothing2:0018Anything2:3719The Silent Boy Cries (Rs) Outro1:19, was released on 28 December 2018. The mixtape was produced by production duo Ripsquadd, and had guest appearances from Yung Lean and Thaiboy Digital.

2019–2020: Exeter, 333, and Good Luck

In April 2020, Bladee released Exeter, a nine-song album he recorded during a week-long stay in Gotland, Sweden with Gud. The album included features from Ecco2k. A video was later released for the track "Every Moment Special". In July 2020, Bladee released 333 via Year0001. Executively produced by Whitearmor, the album contains no credited features. A video for the track "Reality Surf" was released.
After releasing tracks "All I Want×All I Want15 February 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1All I Want3:58", "God", and "Drama×Drama30 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Drama2:03" as singles, Bladee released his third album of 2020, Good Luck×Good Luck10 December 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Intro2:302Rainbow3:293Sun3:114God2:255Drama2:016You2:027Into One3:098Grace2:07. A collaborative album with Berlin producer Mechatok, it premiered on 10 December as part of an audiovisual livestream. A deluxe version was later released that included a remix of the track "Drama", featuring Charli XCX.

2021–2022: Real Sprin9 exhibition, The Fool, "Amygdala", Crest, and Spiderr

In May 2021, Bladee released his fifth solo album, The Fool×The Fool28 May 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Fool Intro2:002Let’s Ride2:253Hotel Breakfast2:154I Think…3:125Thee 9 Is Up3:046desiree2:267I Want It That Way2:028BBY2:019Inspiration Comes2:5610egobaby2:1911Trendy2:4312Search True2:3713Wett (Water2)2:25, via Year0001. The album includes a feature from Thaiboy Digital and was primarily produced by Ripsquadd producer Lusi. The Fool was well received by critics and placed 11th on The Fader's 2021 end of year list. During July and August 2021, Bladee exhibited his first solo collection of paintings, Real Sprin9, at the Residence Gallery in London. In September 2021, he released a capsule Drain Gang collection in collaboration with the American-Swedish clothing brand GANT.
In January 2022, Bladee released the single "Amygdala×Amygdala19 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amygdala2:10" in collaboration with Ecco2k and Mechatok, along with an accompanying video. On 18 March, he released Crest, a collaborative album with Ecco2k, via Year0001. Produced entirely by Whitearmor, Crest was critically acclaimed. In September 2022, Bladee released the lead single "Drain Story×DRAIN STORY16 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1DRAIN STORY1:52", announcing his sixth album, Spiderr×SPIDERR30 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1UNDERSTATEMENT3:082ITS OK TO NOT BE OK1:173I AM SLOWLY BUT SURELY LOSING HOPE2:334ICARUS 3REESTYLE2:065NOTHINGG3:066BLUE CRUSH ANGEL3:147DiSASTER PRELUDE1:578HAHAH2:169DRAIN STORY1:5010Velociraptor2:1811DRESDEN ER2:5512She’s Always Dancing1:4813URIEL OUTRO2:51. An accompanying video directed by Ecco2k was released. On 30 September, Bladee released Spiderr via Year0001.

2023–present: Various collaborations, Cold Visions, and Year0001 split

In January 2023, Bladee appeared on the Skrillex single "Real Spring", which shares its name with Bladee's 2021 art exhibition. The next month, Bladee appeared on Skrillex's single "Ceremony" alongside Yung Lean. Music videos were released for both tracks. Bladee collaborated with fellow Swedish artist Varg²™ for their first art exhibition, Fucked for Life, held at The Hole in New York from May to June 2023. In August 2023, Yung Lean released the double-sided single "Victorious" & "Bullets" in collaboration with Bladee. Both tracks were produced by Whitearmor and released via Yung Lean's personal label World Affairs.
On 13 March 2024, Bladee and Yung Lean released Psykos, a surprise album, via World Affairs. Psykos marked their first collaborative album after over a decade of working together, and was a sonic shift for the two artists, incorporating elements of rock and post-punk as opposed to their usual pop and hip-hop soundscape. Bladee released Cold Visions, also a surprise album, via his label Trash Island on 23 April 2024. The album featured extensive production from F1lthy, with whom Bladee had previously collaborated on the mixtape Working on Dying×Working On Dying28 December 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Redlight Moments3:092Lordship2:283Knightsbridge2:004Backstr€€t Boys2:245Under Your Spell1:456D-9252:357Gatekeeper3:168Cherry Bracelets2:589Best Buy1:56 in 2017. Cold Visions featured Yung Lean, Yung Sherman, Thaiboy Digital, and Black Kray and was well received by music critics, with it being described as Bladee's "most realized project to date" by Pitchfork.
On 11 October 2024, Bladee appeared on Charli XCX's album Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat alongside Yung Lean. He was featured on a remix of the track "Rewind", which was met with mixed reviews.
In November 2024, Bladee and other Drain Gang members announced that they were no longer affiliated with their longtime label and management company Year0001. In an interview with The Guardian, Bladee stated: "I don't really care anymore about being a bigger artist. The only thing that's important is that I'm doing something that's true to me."
Bladee released the EP Ste The Beautiful Martyr 1st Attempt×Ste the Beautiful Martyr 1st Attempt30 April 2025 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1One in a Million2:562Ask Jade2:443St George the Martyr2:09 on 30 April 2025. A week later on 6 May 2025, Bladee announced the Martyr World Tour via Instagram. The tour featured 10 different countries, making it the largest Bladee tour.
On 10 October 2025, Bladee appeared on PinkPantheress’ album Fancy Some More?, being featured on the track "Stateside".
Bladee released his 11th solo project Sulfur Surfer on 20 May 2026. In an interview with i-D, Reichwald shared that he originally planned to expand on the ideas of his last EP and make a full-length project called Beautiful×Beautiful1 December 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Beautiful1:45 Martyr×Martyr15 May 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Magic Misery3:162Inferno1:593One In A Million2:564Förstelnad2:555Evil World2:316Love Is A State3:527Ask Jade2:448St George The Martyr2:099Advent3:0510Ingen hör2:5611Eyelash3:45 centered around the concept of ego death, but instead felt stuck in the process. He then took inspiration from this feeling of "mid-transformation", resulting in Sulfur Surfer. The entire album was produced by Whitearmor.

Musical style, artistry, and public image

Bladee is a member of Drain Gang, a group of electronic and cloud rap musicians. Although Drain Gang's music is intimate, their lyrics often reflect universal human experiences, rather than specifically their own. The members of Drain Gang are self-taught musicians.
In a 2019 interview, Bladee said the music he creates does not fit a preexisting genre. Jack Angell, a music writer for The Fader, called Bladee's sound "frostbitten futurism" and wrote that his music evokes "a wide spectrum of emotion". Nadine Smith wrote for Pitchfork that Bladee's work "introduces recognizable elements of American rap music to a new environment". In an interview with 032c, Drain Gang members described their intuitive approach to music creation, with Bladee saying he does not write lyrics ahead of time. He has cited Hilma af Klint, Chief Keef, Lil B, the Beach Boys, Basshunter, and James Ferraro as influences on his work. Pitchfork described Bladee as the "mystic oracle of Internet Rap".
Despite the members of Drain Gang not subscribing to right-wing or white supremacist ideologies, their fanbase was still significantly composed of alt-right people, especially visible during the 2016 United States presidential election. However, Bladee and Ecco2k have increasingly incorporated queer themes into their work, including their 2020 single "Amygdala×Amygdala19 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amygdala2:10". The inclusion of these themes increased the visibility of Drain Gang's LGBTQ listenership and helped nonbinary, queer, and transgender people embrace their own identities. Cassidy George of 032c wrote: "Drain Gang’s ability to articulate a strain of suffering that is specific to the internet age has bred a fandom encompassing the two most extreme poles of the contemporary political spectrum."

Influence

Bladee has been cited as an influence by artists such as Xaviersobased, Sematary, David Shawty, and Yabujin. His group Drain Gang was also credited with inspiring a style known as "draincore", which was later renamed to "digicore". Bladee has been labelled a "central reference" to digicore artists. In an interview with Pigeons and Planes, digicore artist 2hollis stated, "Everyone knows, I owe a lot to Drain Gang. Big reason I’m even doing this shit," and that "Bladee was the first dude I saw who I was like, damn, you can be a rapper as a white boy and it’s not corny."

Personal life

Bladee is a private person. He has said, "I really don't like to talk about myself. I find it weird." In interviews, he has mentioned being struck by lightning during a trip to Thailand in 2019 and called the experience transformative.
Bladee's younger brother, Gus Reichwald, is a videographer who has directed, filmed, and edited multiple Drain Gang and Sad Boys videos.

Collaborative albums

AvP (2016) (with Thaiboy Digital)
D&G (2017) (with Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)
Trash Island (2019) (with Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)
Good Luck (2020) (with Mechatok)
Crest (2022) (with Ecco2k)
Psykos (2024) (with Yung Lean)

Mixtapes

Gluee (2014)
Working on Dying (2017)
Icedancer (2018)

Compilation albums

GTBSG Compilation (2013) (with Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)

Extended plays

Rip Bladee (2016)
Plastic Surgery (2017)
Sunset in Silver City (2018)
Exile (2018)
Ste the Beautiful Martyr 1st Attempt (2025)
Evil World (2025) (with Yung Lean)

Stand-alone singles

"Into Dust×Into Dust5 August 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Into Dust2:25" (2014)
"Dragonfly×Dragonfly18 April 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dragonfly2:23" (2014)
"Destroy Me×Destroy Me7 March 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Destroy Me2:48" (2017)
"Gotham City" (2017) (with Yung Lean)
"Sesame Street×Sesame Street24 July 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sesame Street3:01" (2018)
"I Chose to Be This Way×I Chose to Be This Way27 November 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1I Chose to Be This Way2:10" (2018) (with 16yrold)
"Red Velvet" (2019) (with Yung Lean)
"Trash Star×Trash Star6 February 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Trash Star2:12" (2019)
"All I Want×All I Want15 February 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1All I Want3:58" (2019) (with Mechatok)
"Apple×Apple11 April 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Apple1:44" (2019)
"Vanilla Sky×Vanilla Sky26 July 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Vanilla Sky2:092Birdbath1:40" (with Ecco2k) / "Birdbath" (2019)
"Undergone×Undergone23 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Undergone1:58" (2020) (with Ssaliva)
"Opium Dreams" (2020) (with Yung Lean)
"Shinie×SHINIE15 July 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SHINIE3:02" (2021) (with Varg²™)
"Amygdala×Amygdala19 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amygdala2:10" (2022) (with Ecco2k)
"Real Spring" (2023) (with Skrillex)
"Every Summer×Every Summer29 August 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Every Summer1:51" (2023) (with Nation and Varg²™)
"Requiem×Requiem23 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Requiem2:352Obsessed with Death3:19" (featuring Thaiboy Digital) / "Obsessed with Death" (2023)
"TL;DR×TL;DR19 April 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1TL;DR3:05" (2024) (with Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)
"Inferno" (2025) (with Yung Lean)
"Ingen hör×Ingen hör5 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Ingen hör2:562Förstelnad2:54" (2025) / "Förstelnad" (2025)
"Magic Misery×Magic Misery13 February 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Magic Misery3:16" (2026)
"Love Is A State×Love Is A State23 March 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Love Is A State3:522Eyelash3:45" (2026)
"Blondie×Blondie15 May 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Blondie3:09" (2026)