Blue Scholars
- HOMETOWN:
- Seattle, WA
- MYSPACE:
- profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...
- WEB SITE:
- bluescholars.com
In homage to hip-hop’s empirical formula – one DJ & one MC, and duos such as Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Guru and Premier, the Blue Scholars embody the chemistry that made these groups so consistent not only on wax, but live on stage as well. What results is the blend of poetic, raw vocal delivery with melodic boom-bap and turntablism, painted with politics and preservation. Residing where the hustle and the struggle coincide, Blue Scholars craft the soundtrack for everyday folks with everyday problems seeking everyday release.
After dropping one full-length album (Blue Scholars LP, 2005) and an EP (The Long March, 2005) the Blue Scholars have emerged as the latest in a long line of torchbearers for Seattle and greater Pacific Northwest hip-hop scene. The duo formed in early 2002 after ciphers and sessions in a makeshift attic-bedroom-studio in Seattle’s University District, where emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi came from vastly different musical approaches to collide. One a distinguished battle emcee and poet, the other a former punk/ska drummer and jazz-trained pianist, the duo’s backgrounds laid the foundation for a versatile combination of beats and rhymes at once political and personal. Since 2002, the duo has become renowned live show veterans, rocking nearly 200 shows with the likes of De La Soul, Immortal Technique, The Coup, Zion I, One Be Lo, Soul Position, Slick Rick and Spearhead. The mass appeal of their live show has brought them to many diverse venues – from labor organizing conferences and youth-run community center shows to playing the main stage at Sasquatch! (2006) and Bumbershoot (2006). In June 2006, Blue Scholars joined forces with Common Market (emcee RA Scion and DJ Sabzi) and emcee Gabriel Teodros (of Abyssinian Creole) to launch MASS LINE MEDIA, a new artist-run independent record label. Listen at Last.fmBlue Scholars have released one full-length album (Self-Titled, 2004) and an 8-song EP (The Long March, 2005) emerging out of the Northwest hip-hop scene with soulful beats, poetic yet political rhymes and a reputation for energetic live performances. With their second full-length release, Bayani, due out on June 12, 2007 on MASSLINE in collaboration with Rawkus Records, the torchbearing Seattle duo seeks to blend the personal and the political, while not afraid to party in the process.
Emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi came from vastly different musical approaches to experiment with a unique, new sound that still echoes the classic boom-bap of a bygone era (see: A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets). Prior to their collision, Geo had already begun making local rounds as a distinguished battle emcee and spoken-word poet, while Sabzi honed his skills as a classical and jazz-trained pianist while attending indie ska and punk shows. This unlikely partnership set the precedent for what distinguishes the group from the vast sea of independent hip-hop artists – the ability to strike a balance between worlds usually seen distant from one another. Poetic lyricism with beats you can dance to. Marxist theory with Baha’i spirituality. Musical influences ranging from Thelonius Monk and Aphex Twin to Marvin Gaye and J Dilla.
However, the bridge between the two artists go far beyond musical interests. Blue Scholars is as much rooted in the music as it is in working in the community. Their experiences as college students provide an intellectual dimension to their craft, while their backgrounds as second-generation sons of working-class immigrants keep the music grounded. Armed with a purpose beyond creating music for music’s sake, Blue Scholars take the classic form of the emcee/DJ duo Gangstarr, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Eric B. & Rakim while carrying the essence of militant, yet personal struggle shown by hip-hop luminaries such as Public Enemy and KRS-One.
Less sloganeering and more storytelling, Bayani showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their own as a premier DJ-emcee duo. “The Distance” tells the story of a working-class immigrant, accompanied by a dark melodic soundscape that recalls a Philippine dance song. Geo also flexes his narrating skills on “Joe Metro,” an ode to Seattle’s lone form of public transportation and “50 Thousand Deep,” recalling the 1999 “Battle in Seattle” at the historic WTO protests. The album’s title is also a nod to Geologic and Sabzi’s communities, as the word Bayani can be found in both the Tagalog (Filipino) and Farsi (Persian) languages. In Tagalog (Filipino), the word translates to “heroes (of the people)” and in Farsi, “the divine word.”
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Blue Scholars
Sat. 03/20 | 9:15PM @ Emo's (Red River)
Seattle WA Blue Scholars have emerged out of the erupting Northwest hip-hop scene with soulful beats, poetic yet political rhymes and a reputation for dynamic live performances. …more»
55 People Like this Event. Add to Schedule share
The Agency Group & Rhymesayers Official SXSW Showcase with Passion Pit DJs, Grupo ...
Sat. 03/20 | 7:00PM @ Emo's (Red River)
Blue Scholars
Fri. 03/19 | 10:20PM @ The Scoot Inn & Bier Garten (East Side)
Seattle WA Blue Scholars have emerged out of the erupting Northwest hip-hop scene with soulful beats, poetic yet political rhymes and a reputation for dynamic live performances. …more»
56 People Like this Event. Add to Schedule share
Pharoahe Monch, Team Facelift, Skyzoo, The Kids In The Hall, B-Real, 9th Wonder, R...
Fri. 03/19 | 8:00PM @ The Scoot Inn & Bier Garten (East Side)
Cypress Hill frontman B-Real dropped his first solo album, Smoke N Mirrors, in the early part of 2009. To call it a full solo effort is somewhat of a misnomer: Its heavy on guest appearances, …more»
RSVP's ARE NOW CLOSED!! Do512 and Sweet Leaf Tea Present: The Big One 2009
Sat. 03/21 | 2:30PM @ Do512 HQ (South Austin)
Do512 and Sweet Leaf Tea Present: "The Big One 2009" RSVP's ARE NOW CLOSED!!!! FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES EMAIL Jimmy@do512.com FREE w/ RSVP for 21+ ONLY. No wristband needed. Premium…more»
SXSeattle 2009 - RSVP Required
Sat. 03/21 | 12:00AM (Fri Midnight) @ Palm Door
RSVP HERE: http://sarathan.com/ecards/sxseattle/ SXSeattle 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Palm Door (401 Sabine) Blue Scholars (w/ Common Market) 5:15Past Lives 4:30Barcelona 3:45Nata…more»
NahRight and The Smoking Sectin Present: The Grand Ole Party of Bootleggers and Ta...
Fri. 03/20 | 1:10PM @ Peckerheads (East Sixth)
RSVP Special Guest TBA 7:00PM Mickey Factz 6:30pm Mickey Factz - Incredible Brother Ali 6:00pm Brother Ali - Truth Is Charles Hamilton 5:30pm Charles Hamilton - Brooklyn Girls Blu &…more»
Blue Scholars (Hip-Hop)
Wed. 03/18 | 11:45PM @ Social (Warehouse District)
Blue Scholars, a hip hop duo created in 2002 and based in Seattle, consists of DJ, Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC, Geologic (George Quibuyen, a.k.a. Prometheus Brown). As momentous as 2007 w…more»
Freshly Dipped Tour: Hieroglyphics (Souls of Mischief, Pep Love, & Casual), Blue S...
Sat. 07/19 | 7:00PM @ Emo's (Red River)
The Hieroglyphics crew, originally created by Del The Funky Homosapien, are celebrating their 10th Anniversary as an independent label and hip-hop collective with the Freshly Dipped Tour. It i…more»
38 People Like this Event. I Like It share get tickets
CunninLynguists / CAMP LO / Blue Scholars / Now On / Buff 1 / Scarub / H.I.S.D. / ...
Sat. 03/15 | 8:15PM @ Prague (Warehouse District)
COMMENTS
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Blue Scholars
Side by side with companion Seattle-based rap groups Common Market and Boom Bap Project, the Blue Scholars led the charge in proclaiming the Pacific Northwest as a breeding ground for "true school" hip-hop. Perceiving themselves as blue-collar intellectuals, DJ/producer Sabzi (born Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC Geologic (born George Quibuyen) used their music as a vehicle to promote their socially conscious objectives and to build a hip-hop scene in Seattle, WA, and its surroundings. more at www.allmusic.com
about 1 year ago.
Blue Scholars
As proponents of a style that blends dense lyricism, West Coast jeep beats, and progressive politics, Blue Scholars are one of underground hip-hop's most challenging voices. more at www.spin.com
about 1 year ago.
Blue Scholars
If you haven't yet discovered the prowess of Geologic (rhymes), and Sabzi (beats), let me be the first to tell you that you are missing out. The bond between the two is inseparable. They create a unity that is often rightly compared to that of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, or DJ Premier & The Guru. That sounds far-fetched, but these two really have all the tools, passion, and soul to live up to these legends. more at www.amazon.com
about 1 year ago.
The Do512 Compound (2208 S. Lamar Blvd, 78704) hosts Do512 and Sweet Leaf Tea’s The Big One 2009 on Saturday the 21st. more at austinist.com