Posted on: November 22, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Coming off DJ Sabzi’s victory last week at The Redbull Beat Battle Championship and winning a chance to record with his choice of Redman, Young Buc, or Talib Kweli, Blue Scholars are quickly becoming the propagators of the Northwest hip-hop scene taking it national.

Emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi bring an innovative yet familiar sound distinguishable from what’s currently blasted on MTV or BET. At the forefront of a movement rooted in community and social awareness, Blue Scholars exhibit a rare cultural understanding of the problems caused by the capitalist influence on society; as well as on the current state of hip-hop, increasingly concerned with all things material and shallow. Prior to the duo’s formation, Geo made local rounds as a battle emcee and spoken-word performer, while Sabzi honed his skills as a classical and jazz-trained pianist. 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. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, the current state of Blue Scholars showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their own as a premier DJ-emcee duo.

Their latest release Bayani has left an indelible mark on 2007 so far, debuting at # 37 on the Billboard hip-hop chart and #25 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, as well as reaching #9 on the iTunes hip-hop chart and #1 on the Amazon West Coast Hip Hop Best Sellers chart. In addition, the critically lauded album spent 6 weeks at #1 on the CMJ Hip Hop chart.

“Blue Scholars’ music portrays a progression of ideas pulled from a diverse array of sources and experiences. Their songs enlighten and inspire, creating an intellectual brand of hip-hop often overlooked, yet nonetheless powerful.” URB

MP3: Joe Metro (Rawkus/MassLine)

Just Blue Scholars…
15 Dec Los Angeles, California @ The Roxy
16 Dec San Francisco, California @ Café du Nord

December 18th-December 22nd the Blue Scholars will curate “The Program” five nights at Neumo’s in Seattle showcasing the best of Northwest hip-hop.

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