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.
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com