Blue Scholars - "Bout That Action" (prod. Spekulation)

What a weekend for Seattle. Walter Jones is in. David Stern is out. And I know I'm forgetting something...oh, right: THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD.

I was blessed enough to be in attendance at the game and I'll have a much more extensive write-up on the experience in a couple days once I fully gather my thoughts. For now, enjoy this cut from Geologic of Blue Scholars recorded over Spekulation's Marshawn Lynch beat from last week.

Blue Scholars - "Sagaba"

In the Upper Left, the Blue Scholars are known as frontiersmen. Pioneers who boldly blazed the trail for all other Seattle emcees in the wake of the Teen Dance Ordinance. One DJ and one MC, Sabzi was the gifted, multitalented musician and deejay whose instrumentals provided the canvas for the charismatic Geologic (aka Prometheus Brown) to paint pictures with his revolutionary rhetoric.

But often lost in the conversation of the Scholars' prominent role in resurrecting Seattle hip hop--hidden behind the unjust slights of "backpack" or "conscious"--is the fact that George Quibuyen is one of the most gifted storytellers, not just among Seattle emcees or within hip hop circles, but among some of the most distinguished contemporary authors.

Blue Scholars - "John DeLorean" x Brooklyn Concert

As the seminal Seattle hip hop group who helped resurrect hip hop in the Emerald, I've lost track of how many times that I've seen the Blue Scholars in concert since my Garfield days (upwards of 10 at last count). However you may feel about the socially conscious pair, Geo and Sabzi bring an energy second to none to their live shows (one of their crowning achievements might be absolutely demolishing Kanye West when they opened for him at Bumbershoot 2006--a moment that signaled the arrival of the Seattle hip hop scene).

It's been around three years since I last saw them at the Capitol Hill Block Party (they haven't done nearly as many shows together since Sabzi moved to NYC). Needless to say, I was excited to hear about their show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this Friday (10/4). Performing with the Scholars will be Made In The Heights (Sabzi's collaboration with singer Kelsey Bulkin) and The Bar (a collaboration between Geo and Bambu).

To all of those Upper Left natives currently residing in Gotham, I highly recommend not missing this show. The same advice applies for any lovers of superb live hip hop. In celebration, I'll share this underrated Blue Scholars gem that they dropped for free back in 2011. Enjoy.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

Noah

Previous: Blue Scholars - "The Long March"

Blue Scholars - "The Long March"

Quick post today. Since I'm prepping for job interviews, I figured it would be appropriate to post the title-track off Geo and Sabzi's second album. The Long March EP is probably my favorite Scholars project (sorry Bayani, you came close). I'm a huge proponent of EPs because they tend to cut down on lesser filler tracks, leaving listeners with the crème de la crème.

The Long March is no different and I bumped it constantly when I first acquired it back in 2005. A lot of tracks from the EP barely missed the cut for our Seattle Tournament Bracket and for a while I knew every single lyric to every single song (I've got to shout out to the beautiful, haunting "La Botella" tale). Give me a couple spins through the thirty-five minute EP and it all comes back to me.

When I introduce people to the Scholars, I point to this criminally underrated EP first and Bayani second. Lyrically, it may be Geologic/Prometheus Brown at his finest with his fieriest revolutionary rhetoric. Production wise, it's a beautiful blend of the golden age horns that Sabzi was using on Common Market and the sound he had used on the Scholar's self-titled debut (marking a transition before the synth-filled sound of Bayani).

The EP is further proof of why these blue collar scholars are the kings of smart, political rap from Renton to Shoreline. The Seattle shoutout song "Cornerstone" (206 rock rock on) followed by this song about labor grind was the perfect way to start out The Long March and it continued from there. Enjoy and left right, left keep marching on.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

No Days Off Noah

Previous: 206ness Tournament Bracketology | Blue Scholars - "Second Chapter"

Blue Scholars - "Second Chapter"

Some of you may wonder why this site and its humble writer have been missing in action for the past couple months. For those who don't know, I have this affliction where, as a college graduate, I have little-to-no dinero. As such, there were problems with google's automatic renewal process and I've been fighting to regain my domain name for the past month. It's my fault, and I apologize to those who follow the site, but I'm back now so you can expect daily posts on new music, overlooked classics, and a forthcoming volume of That's That Mixtape (permit me a couple days to re-up some dead links). Hit the jump for this Blue Scholars classic.

Blue Scholars - "BUTTER&GUN$ (Loyalty II)" x "The Ave" x "Big Bank Hank"

Quick post tonight, as I have to get back to writing one of my two major paper due this week.

Blue Scholars, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis East Coast Tour

Seattle hip hop fans who happened to travel to the Northeast for college/employment/homelessness, this is your chance to rejoice.  Next week, the Blue Scholars and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will be making tour stops in four Northeast locales.  I've linked the facebook page for the New York event (since it's the one I will likely be attending), but you can find information for all four dates here.  I've probably seen the  Blue Scholars eight times since freshman year of high school and they are consistently one of the best live acts I've seen (and rumor has it that they are close to releasing a new album).  As for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the emcee-producer duo released my favorite project of 2009, The Vs. EP, and I have heard nothing but good things about their live performance.  For the New York date, the groups will be performing with local NYC act Outasite.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,

WordIsBorn

Sol - Dear Friends, Vol. II

The first thing one notices when listening through the latest offering from this twenty-one year-old Seattle emcee is the refined sound throughout the project.  Productionwise, Solzilla's latest features laid back synth-based instrumentals reminiscent of the backdrops on J.Pinder's Code Red FreEP, released earlier this year.  Unlike Code Red, which featured production from the likes of Seattle legends Jake One and Vitamin D, the Seattle's next generation of producers, Ill Pill, Jack The Ripper, Smile Future, and DJ Green take the helm for the production on Dear Friends, Vol. II.

As far as the emcee himself, Dear Friends, Vol. II represents a huge artistic group for University of Washington junior.  While the first incarnation of the series saw Solzilla at times outmatched by guest artists like Grynch, Vol. II sees him holding his own against fellow next generation Seattle artists J.Pinder and Grynch as well as 206 legend Geologic.  The content addresses pretty much what you would expect from a twenty-something college student, discussing one-night stands ("Not The One") and love of the reefer ("So Damm High," "Spliff Remix"), but also addressing the short 15 minutes of fame that artists receive in the genre ("Cruise Control").  Even the tracks that address the prior subjects prove to be fairly conscious and don't sound like one-diminsional pop songs in any which way.

At the end of the day, Dear Friends, Vol. II is a cohesive project that is a major step forward for Sol as an artist who is sure to be a leader for the next generation of Seattle hip hop.  Hit the jump for the download link/tracklist:

Grynch - "Smoke And Mirrors" (feat. Tunji & Geologic)

The closing song on the King of Ballard's Chemistry EP (which you can dowload for free here), this laid back track ended up being one of my favorite songs of 2009.  Inverse's Tunji and Blue Scholars' Prometheus Brown joins in on this song that is beautiful in its elegance.

While I'm on the subject, props to Grynch for breaking 120k views on his music video for "My Volvo."

Blue Scholars - "Southside Revival"

This 2005 track off of the Seattle duo's second release, The Long March EP, (every time I hear it, I still laugh about the monorail comment), but it's still a prime example of what Sabzi and Geologic are capable of when they collaborate and the chorus, while not as relevant today, proved to be quite profound in the day when ringtone rappers roamed the earth.

I heard a few heads say that hip hop is dead,

No it's not. It's just malnourished and underfed.

Peace, Love, & Hip Hop,
WordIsBorn

Blue Scholars - "Southside Revival"

Jack The Ripper - "Don't Look Back" (feat. Sol, Geologic, & Scribes)

The blog is about to go into hibernation over the next week as I have three essays and a project to prepare during that time, but before that happens, here's the first single off of Seattle artist Jack The Ripper's first production album featuring Sol, Geologic of Blue Scholars, and Scribes.

Bambu - "Slow Down" (feat. Prometheus Brown)

Blue Scholars emcee Geologic joins LA artist Bambu for song off of ...Paper Cuts...  I couldn't find an .mp3 file of the song, but you know I hold you down. I've included the Digital Zep remix of this banger.

Blue Scholars - "New People (Empire Way Remix)"

Slight alteration to the track off of the OOF! EP.  Courtesy of bluescholars.com:

Blue Scholars - "Paul Valery" [Music Video]

The visuals for the latest song from the Seattle duo.  Enjoy.

Blue Scholars - "Paul Valery"

Fresh off the presses, the Blue Scholars just released this song, which samples Owl City's #1 hit, "Fireflies," with the following message:

Blue Scholars - "Hello"

I had to post this Northwest classic as I prepare to head home today.  In less than 12 hours I'll step foot in the upper left region of this nation, in the city lovingly named 'The 6.'  For those of you who have yet to hear Geo and Sabzi's latest, the OOF EP, I highly recommend downloading a copy (as no physical copies remain).  It's short, but also one of the best projects I've heard this year.

I say 'hello,' 'cause lately all I'm sayin's 'goodbye.'

Previous: KRS-One & Buckshot - "Oh Really Remix" feat. Talib Kweli & Geologic

KRS-One & Buckshot - "Oh Really Remix" feat. Talib Kweli & Geologic

Damm, Geo's getting some good looks from Duck Down.  Now he hops on a track the remix of KRS & Buck's track off of Survival Skills.  Good seeing him hold his own on a track with emcees of this caliber.  I'm lovin' it.

Peace, Love, & NW Hip Hop,

Northside Noah

Blue Scholars - "No Rest For The Weary"

Brothers call me 'dog,' they got the letters backwards.

I had to take a little time out of my homework (for the blog and for my sanity) to post this Northwest Classic.  I first heard of Geo and Sabzi on the 2005 re-release of their debut self-titled album.  I've been hooked ever since.  I don't need to say much more about the album as it has become a sacred text for the Seattle hip hop scene.  This remains my favorite Blue Scholars track to this day.

So keep marchin' 'til your feet split open,

No rest for the weary, Blue Scholars keep goin'

Peace, Love, & Sleep,
Nocturnal Noah

Previous: Logics, Geo, & Fice - "The Last Hope"

Logics feat. Geologic & Fice - "The Last Hope"

This version>>>>than the Drake/Kardinal Offishall original version.  Geo of Blue Scholars and Fice hop on the track with Logics.  Gotta show love to the hometown crowd.  Seattle Hip Hop ain't no joke.

Grynch - "My Volvo" X "That's Hip Hop" X "Memory Lane" Feat. Sonny Bohono

Grynch is one of those rappers that I'm not sure whether or not to feel guilty about liking him.  As a white kid from North Seattle, the King of Ballard is able to speak to me with knowing songs like "My Volvo" in which he raps about the love of his '86 Volvo (I've laughed in that car/ Cried in that car/ Knock on wood, man I'll probably die in that car), but is this true to hip hop culture or something targeted towards the largest consumer of hip hop (Caucasians).  Afterall, mainstream hip hop culture doesn't particularly value a beat up Swedish-engineered automobiles (Kanye West, though he might not be the best example considering recent events, even rhymed on "Run This Town," I bought my whole family whips, no Volvos).  But this also begs the question, do rappers like Mr. West, who coincidently is chopped and screwed on the hook of "My Volvo," represent the true spirit of hip hop, one that originated as a political movement for those who often had no other outlet for their voice.