Blue Scholars
LABELS: MassLine & Duck Down Records  |||  PHOTO: Aaron Yoshino

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. With two full length albums and three EPs, the group has become one of the top West Coast independent hip hop acts, known for their energetic and always entertaining live shows and a world view that blends the personal and the political, but unafraid to party in the process.

Emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi come 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 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 displaying poetic lyricism with beats you can dance to, blending Marxist theory mixed with Baha’i spirituality. Musical influences ranging from Thelonius Monk and Aphex Twin to Marvin Gaye and J Dilla.

Since 2002, the duo has become renowned live show veterans, rocking over 300 shows with the likes of Kanye West, De La Soul, Immortal Technique, Q-Tip, and supporting such acts on tour Matisyahu, Zion-I, Gym Class Heroes, Flobots and the Coup on tour, labor organizing conferences and youth-run community center shows to playing the main stage at Sasquatch! (2006 & ”˜08) and Bumbershoot (2006), and in 2007 their own Northwest Hip Hop festival “The Program” which sold out 5 nights in a row.

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 MASSLINE, a new artist-run independent record label. Through the medium of hip hop music, combined with grassroots community organizing and a DIY ethic, the label’s mission is to use music not simply to entertain, but to educate and empower.






DISCOGRAPHY
Blue Scholars (2004), Blue Scholars (2005 Re-Release),
The Long March EP (2005), Bayani (2007), Joe Metro EP (2007),
Butter & Guns (2008), Bayani Redux (2009), OOf! EP

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LINKS
Official Blue Scholars Website
BS on Facebook
BS on Myspace
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BS Youtube Channel
BS on Vimeo

Blue Scholars - HI-808 (Official Music Video) from Blue Scholars on Vimeo.

Blue Scholars from The Long Pilgrimage on Vimeo.