Blue Scholars partner with Duck Down Records for a modern day record deal

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ColdBlooded

ColdBlooded

Sicc OG
#1
Apr 25, 2002
15,044
157
0
#1
Blue Scholars partner with Duck Down Records for a modern day record deal


SEATTLE - Walking away from numerous record label offers, Blue Scholars will release several upcoming projects through a unique partnership formed with Duck Down Records, and Seattle's Caffe Vita Coffee Co.

On August 25, 2009 Blue Scholars will release "OOF!" their newest collaborative multi-media project and the first release to be distributed through their new venture. On September 1st, they will re-issue their 2007 album "Bayani", which has already sold over 20,000 units. Bayani Redux will include one brand new track and two songs that were previously available only via digital retail outlets. There will also be a brand new full-length Blue Scholars album and other projects coming soon.

The sales and distribution model developed by the group for their upcoming releases will allow them to maintain complete ownership of their music and total control over how it is marketed, sold, and even given away.

Instead of signing a standard artist/record label deal, Blue Scholars hired the label Duck Down to run point on marketing for all of their upcoming releases. As a major player in the current and ever-changing record label industry, Duck Down Records saw this deal as an opportunity to get creative and experiment with strategies for record labels to continue evolving as viable businesses.

Dru Ha, CEO of Duck Down Records states, "I believe Blue Scholars is positioned to be one of the next important groups, not just in hip hop, but in music worldwide, and I want Duck Down to be a part of that. They bring their progressive ideas not just to their music and lyrics, but also in the way they think about and do their business."

Duck Down's current distribution partner, E1 Entertainment, the largest independent distributor in the United States, will handle distribution of Blue Scholars' physical product. Digital sales and distribution will go through Tunecore. Direct-to-fan marketing and sales will be developed by the members of Blue Scholars themselves, using Topspin web marketing tools.

Says Geo, of Blue Scholars, "After weighing all the options, remaining independent is without question, the best look. Duck Down shares that vision and their track record speaks for itself. With them, we get that national and international push while still owning and controlling our music. "

To finance all the upcoming projects, Blue Scholars have formed a strategic brand relationship with Seattle independent coffee company, Caffe Vita. The coffee company will also play a role in the sales and distribution plan by selling upcoming albums in all of their retail outlets and marketing the releases via their online presence.

Blue Scholars DJ/ Producer Sabzi says in regard to their partnership with Caffe Vita - "their innovative marketing, their justice and equity in business practices, and their premiere quality of product and presentation, make Caffe Vita an ideal brand to partner with. I intend to do with our music what Vita does with their coffee."

"Coffee is both International and local, it effects the lives of millions, and it has tremendous ability to generate culture. We believe strongly in the work of the Blue Scholars and their power to look beyond the basic commodity that music has become. We are honored that Sabzi and Geo see that Vita is striving for the same goals."Mike McConnell, founder Caffe Vita

Blue Scholars have sold over 60,000 albums and played over 400 live shows. They have developed a dedicated following in the Northwest (selling over 4,000 tickets for each of their last few Seattle performances) and have shared the stage with an impressive list of nationally acclaimed artists such as Kanye West, Q-Tip, De La Soul, Immortal Technique, Hieroglyphics, GZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Matisyahu, Zion-I, Flobots and the Coup.

To learn more about Blue Scholars and download a free track off their upcoming OOF! EP in stores August 25th visit: WWW.BLUESCHOLARS.COM

For more information on Blue Scholars' partners visit:
Duck Down Records: www.duckdown.com
Caffe Vita Coffee Roasting Company: www.caffevita.com
Topspin Media: www.topspinmedia.com
Tunecore: www.tunecore.com
 
I AM

I AM

Some Random Asshole
#2
Apr 25, 2002
21,002
86
48
#2
Good shit, 20K? I didn't know that.

Seems they're selling more than most people in the NW. I'm not really too into their music but it's great for them.
 
2-0-Sixx

2-0-Sixx

Sicc OG
#8
May 13, 2002
49,944
47,801
113
44
Seattle
www.socialistworld.net
#8
^^I posted them in the GOM forum. Pretty good socially conscious working class commie music.

I observe the inner qualities to serve the people properly
Tell them that their freedom isn’t found in private property
Prostitutes are more than just the folks who sell their bodies
See this shit applies to those whose souls are a commodity
 
ColdBlooded

ColdBlooded

Sicc OG
#9
Apr 25, 2002
15,044
157
0
#9
Watch Seattle based hip hop duo Blue Scholars' new video for "Hi-808"off of the OOF! EP their forthcoming ode to true Hawaii. OOF! EP will be available at all online retailers Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

Geo of Blue Scholars provided some insight on the makings of the video on the Blue Scholars blog stating, "Earlier this year, we headed out to the old stomping grounds of Oahu, Hawaii to rock a show. We linked up with Kai Media to film a music video for HI-808, the song that inspired the rest of the OOF! EP. It was barely a week after we filmed the Coffee and Snow video, which is why we look so damn happy here."

Check for the video in rotation on air at MTVU or online at MTVU.com. We encourage you all to share this with your friends.






CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "HI-808," A FREE TRACK FROM OOF!




BLUE SCHOLARS TO RELEASE OOF! EP, TOUR HAWAII, OFFER FREE DOWNLOAD OF THEIR "HI-808" TRACK
Everybody loves Hawaii. Few know better than Blue Scholars' MC Geologic, having grown up in Honolulu in the 1980's and returning with the Scholars' dj/ producer Sabzi last year to rock a sold-out homecoming show at Next Door. Love lingered in the air despite all the changes happening outside the sweaty, crackin' club. "Development" has paved over lush lands and displaced longtime locals, the US military continues its stranglehold on the islands, and tourism runs tings (into the ground). By and by, the people maintain, and Blue Scholars bore witness to life beyond the beaches and resorts.

OOF! is the story about the Hawaii that you don't see on TV: fish-fry BBQs in Waianae, native Hawaiians struggling for sovereignty, house parties on the Leeward side, uncles playing mah-jong on a lanai in Waipahu, a thriving independent hip-hop and fashion scene, on-air ciphers at KTUH, a room full of folks vibin' to a mean reggae song, young poets spitting fire into mics, grubbing on poke in the Foodland parking lot, whole neighborhoods leveled by the ice epidemic.

Many "mainlanders" go to Hawaii to get away. Blue Scholars went to get it in. They returned again six months later with a New Year's Eve show and a handful of new tracks inspired by the first visit, soon to be released in the form of their most collaborative multi-media project yet: OOF! available August 25th. Blue Scholars partnered with painter, vinyl toy & skate deck artist, Angry Woebots (www.armyofsnipers.com) who crafted a painting to go along with the lead song "HI-808" which will be turned into a limited edition print and t-shirt. The painting was created at the influential Hawaii based surf & skate boutique brand IN4MATION (www.in4mants.com). The cover for OOF! was designed by one of Hawaii's premier photographers and historian of all things dope, Aaron Yoshino (Honozooloo / 5 to Life - www.honozooloo.com) whose photos have documented Hawaii's subculture for several years. The video for Hi-808 was handled by The Island's premiere video production crew, Kai Media, who shot in and around Oahu (edited by Zia Mohajerjasbi). All these groups have come together to create the OOF! project which will be sold as a complete package online using Topsin Media widgets at Blue Scholars' and each project partners' websites, with the EP being available separately at all digital retail outlets.
Anchoring the project is the OOF! EP, featuring five new Blue Scholars tracks and 5 instrumentals. The minimalism of the intro song "Bananas" yields to the familiar complex lyricism and production of "HI-808," which documents the differences between the Hawaii Geo grew up in and the one he would later return to, laid over an 808-drum-dominated Sabzi masterpiece. "Hello" is a playful take on the escapism while "New People" is a truly original effort that almost treads dance music territory. "Cruz" is the duo's ode to island life over a Jawaiian-reggae influenced beat. In addition to these tracks, all five instrumental versions will also be included, encouraging other artists to make their own songs with these riddims.

Along with its digital release, the OOF! EP will also be pressed into a limited-edition run of physical CDs which will be available exclusively from the Blue Scholars' and other project partners' websites and at the IN4MATION Ward location in Honolulu, HI.

Everybody loves Hawaii. But does it love you back? It might if you get that OOF! EP.
 
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