http://www.westernfrontonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/01/27/43dad50ae3c34?in_archive=1
Blue Scholars
Duo imparts hip-hop political messages at The Nightlight Lounge
By Joseph Dethloff
January 27, 2006
(Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, (left) 24, who goes by the name Sabzi and George Quibuyen, 25, rapper using the name Geologic stand in the International district of Seattle, summer 2005 for a promotional photo.)
With politically charged groups such as Public Enemy, hip hop was a revolutionary form of music in the ‘80s that spoke of rising above oppression. Now that culture has become commercialized and obsessed with bling.
Seattle-based hip-hop group the Blue Scholars use socially conscious lyrics and soulful beats and may be the future of hip hop.
The duo performs tonight at The Nightlight Lounge, a Bellingham night club on East Chestnut Street.
The artists’ will re-release their independently produced self-titled album nationally Feb. 7, Blue Scholars’ manager Marc Matsui said.
Music magazines such as Spin gave the Blue Scholars national exposure, mentioning the independent duo under the headline “Sign Them Now!” The Rolling Stone featured the duo’s song “The Ave” on the magazines’ hot list, Matsui said.
“Individually, they are two very independent people who have very distinct identities inside and outside of their communities,” Matsui said. “Once they’re linked together, it’s easy to see the strength and appeal of their music whose sum is definitely greater than its parts.”
George Quibuyen, 25, whose stage name is Geologic, and Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, 24, who raps using the stage name Sabzi, are the collaborative musical talents of the Blue Scholars. Geologic is a non-profit Seattle museum worker by day and emcee by night. Sabzi is the producer and DJ.
The duo released one full-length, self-titled debut album regionally in February 2004 and released its second album “The Long March EP” in December 2005.
The name Blue Scholars is a play on the term “blue collar,” Sabzi said. The idea is education for the working class.
Geologic and Sabzi, 2002 graduates of University of Washington, met on campus in 2000, where they worked with the Student Hip-Hop Organization of Washington putting on hip-hop shows on campus, Geologic said.
During 2000 and 2002 they helped present all-ages shows, booking national acts such as Mos Def, Atmosphere and Cannibal Ox, as well as the Seattle acts Silent Lambs Project, Black Anger and Oldominion. The two didn’t started collaborating musically until 2002, when Matsui, who worked with the two in the Student Hip-Hop Organization, encouraged them to form a duo, Matsui said.
The duo’s combination captures the spirit of hip-hop, he said.
Geologic’s lyrics focus on everyday subjects, and Sabzi’s mastering incorporates a variety of music styles, Matsui said. Geologic and Sabzi have varying musical influences. Sabzi is interested in punk rock, hip-hop’s golden age from 1988 to 1994 and Aphex Twin.
Geologic, on the other hand, is into hip-hop from the ‘90s, as well as Nas, Rakim and KRS-One, he said.
( “Investigate reality, patience is a virtue,” Sabzi said. “Patience is a virtue, but waiting is an excuse,” Geologic added.)
When the two began collaborating in 2002 they recognized the need to educate the audience on political issues, Geologic said.
“It’s the lack of political perspective that keeps the ordinary citizen feeling helpless and hopeless to change shit,” Geologic said. “Or even worse, oblivious to the fact that shit is fucked up and requires change in the first place. Political education is the key for oppressed peoples to realize their potential collective power.”
He said they believe hip-hop artists informed on social issues can open dialogue through their art.
Geologic knows hip-hop music isn’t going to start a political revolution, but believes the genre is one of the primary outlets to speak to today’s youth. Those who want to reach America’s younger audience cannot ignore the power of hip-hop, he said.
In the song “La Botella,” from the album “The Long March EP,” he examines why alcohol is so destructive for mankind, he said.
“Telling people what not to do is wack, and I ain’t trying to do that,” Geologic said. “Instead, I wanted to let folks know that I identify with the struggles of putting the bottle down and pose a question rather than force-feed an answer.”
The duo had its first show on July 27, 2002 in Portland, Ore., at the Ash Street Saloon, opening for Typical Cats and Pacifics. They began recording their self-titled album in February 2003. Although it was finished on June 21, 2003 they didn’t have enough money to release it until February 2004.
While working on the album they were both in college and living paycheck to paycheck, he said. The album cost $1,000 to master and $1,200 to press. Since Blue Scholars was undiscovered, they could not book shows to raise funds.
Geologic and Sabzi ended up paying with credit cards and released the album in February 2004, Geologic said.
The album went on to win the write-in vote in the Seattle Weekly for the 2004 record of the year.
Seattle hip-hop doesn’t have a definitive sound like the hard beats of the East Coast or the crunk style of the South, he said.
Sabzi said their passion and messages to the audience are the most important part of ther music.
The “Long March EP,” with its mature lyrical content and refined beats, is the transition from the past to the present, Geologic said. The debut album was made by two class-skipping college students, but two men trying to find stability after graduating created the EP, Geologic said.
“Sabzi and I are maturing and refining this ‘Blue Scholars’ sound as we both grow individually,” Geologic said. “Our personal lives and conditions have changed in many ways, but the elements of economic hustle and political struggle are still prevalent in our lives. This is why I call the EP a transitional work, because it was created out of the chaotic transitional period right after we graduated.”
Geologic and Sabzi are currently in the planning stages with their new album, Geologic said, The album will reflect the changes the two artists have undergone since 2003.
Although this time the two have to set deadlines and schedules for the recording process, they don’t want to kill the spontaneity that fueled the first two albums, Geologic said.
“I’d hate to feel obligated to make music without being able to talk about the realities that shape the music,” he said. “As of right now, Sabzi and I are taking a brief step back from performing so much and concentrating on organizing our personal lives.”
The two aren’t worried about not having a label, Sabzi said. Geologic and Sabzi would prefer to maintain freedom with their musical and lyrical style that record labels might otherwise impede, Geologic said.
“Whether that materializes in the form of signing to a major label, indie, starting our own label or slingin’ CD’s out the trunk of the car is immaterial at this point,” Sabzi said.
Blue Scholars is looking forward to the Bellingham show, where they say the crowds are supportive.
Geologic said Bellingham is a second home to the band, with hip-hop friendly venues. They admire the local music scene because the city has produced break-out artists such as Death Cab for Cutie and Idiot Pilot, he said.
The local music scene supports the Blue Scholars by promoting their albums in record stores such as Everyday Music and Avalon Music and selling out shows at the Nightlight, Geologic said.
On “Cornerstone,” the opening track from the “Long March EP,” Geologic includes a shout-out to Bellingham.
“Bellingham has always been receptive and open to the guys and their music,” Matsui said. “(In 2005) we did five shows up there in the span of nine months and it doesn’t seem like people have gotten tired of us yet.”
The show has already came and went, but some might find this article enjoyable and/or pleasant.
Blue Scholars
Duo imparts hip-hop political messages at The Nightlight Lounge
By Joseph Dethloff
January 27, 2006
(Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, (left) 24, who goes by the name Sabzi and George Quibuyen, 25, rapper using the name Geologic stand in the International district of Seattle, summer 2005 for a promotional photo.)
With politically charged groups such as Public Enemy, hip hop was a revolutionary form of music in the ‘80s that spoke of rising above oppression. Now that culture has become commercialized and obsessed with bling.
Seattle-based hip-hop group the Blue Scholars use socially conscious lyrics and soulful beats and may be the future of hip hop.
The duo performs tonight at The Nightlight Lounge, a Bellingham night club on East Chestnut Street.
The artists’ will re-release their independently produced self-titled album nationally Feb. 7, Blue Scholars’ manager Marc Matsui said.
Music magazines such as Spin gave the Blue Scholars national exposure, mentioning the independent duo under the headline “Sign Them Now!” The Rolling Stone featured the duo’s song “The Ave” on the magazines’ hot list, Matsui said.
“Individually, they are two very independent people who have very distinct identities inside and outside of their communities,” Matsui said. “Once they’re linked together, it’s easy to see the strength and appeal of their music whose sum is definitely greater than its parts.”
George Quibuyen, 25, whose stage name is Geologic, and Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, 24, who raps using the stage name Sabzi, are the collaborative musical talents of the Blue Scholars. Geologic is a non-profit Seattle museum worker by day and emcee by night. Sabzi is the producer and DJ.
The duo released one full-length, self-titled debut album regionally in February 2004 and released its second album “The Long March EP” in December 2005.
The name Blue Scholars is a play on the term “blue collar,” Sabzi said. The idea is education for the working class.
Geologic and Sabzi, 2002 graduates of University of Washington, met on campus in 2000, where they worked with the Student Hip-Hop Organization of Washington putting on hip-hop shows on campus, Geologic said.
During 2000 and 2002 they helped present all-ages shows, booking national acts such as Mos Def, Atmosphere and Cannibal Ox, as well as the Seattle acts Silent Lambs Project, Black Anger and Oldominion. The two didn’t started collaborating musically until 2002, when Matsui, who worked with the two in the Student Hip-Hop Organization, encouraged them to form a duo, Matsui said.
The duo’s combination captures the spirit of hip-hop, he said.
Geologic’s lyrics focus on everyday subjects, and Sabzi’s mastering incorporates a variety of music styles, Matsui said. Geologic and Sabzi have varying musical influences. Sabzi is interested in punk rock, hip-hop’s golden age from 1988 to 1994 and Aphex Twin.
Geologic, on the other hand, is into hip-hop from the ‘90s, as well as Nas, Rakim and KRS-One, he said.
( “Investigate reality, patience is a virtue,” Sabzi said. “Patience is a virtue, but waiting is an excuse,” Geologic added.)
When the two began collaborating in 2002 they recognized the need to educate the audience on political issues, Geologic said.
“It’s the lack of political perspective that keeps the ordinary citizen feeling helpless and hopeless to change shit,” Geologic said. “Or even worse, oblivious to the fact that shit is fucked up and requires change in the first place. Political education is the key for oppressed peoples to realize their potential collective power.”
He said they believe hip-hop artists informed on social issues can open dialogue through their art.
Geologic knows hip-hop music isn’t going to start a political revolution, but believes the genre is one of the primary outlets to speak to today’s youth. Those who want to reach America’s younger audience cannot ignore the power of hip-hop, he said.
In the song “La Botella,” from the album “The Long March EP,” he examines why alcohol is so destructive for mankind, he said.
“Telling people what not to do is wack, and I ain’t trying to do that,” Geologic said. “Instead, I wanted to let folks know that I identify with the struggles of putting the bottle down and pose a question rather than force-feed an answer.”
The duo had its first show on July 27, 2002 in Portland, Ore., at the Ash Street Saloon, opening for Typical Cats and Pacifics. They began recording their self-titled album in February 2003. Although it was finished on June 21, 2003 they didn’t have enough money to release it until February 2004.
While working on the album they were both in college and living paycheck to paycheck, he said. The album cost $1,000 to master and $1,200 to press. Since Blue Scholars was undiscovered, they could not book shows to raise funds.
Geologic and Sabzi ended up paying with credit cards and released the album in February 2004, Geologic said.
The album went on to win the write-in vote in the Seattle Weekly for the 2004 record of the year.
Seattle hip-hop doesn’t have a definitive sound like the hard beats of the East Coast or the crunk style of the South, he said.
Sabzi said their passion and messages to the audience are the most important part of ther music.
The “Long March EP,” with its mature lyrical content and refined beats, is the transition from the past to the present, Geologic said. The debut album was made by two class-skipping college students, but two men trying to find stability after graduating created the EP, Geologic said.
“Sabzi and I are maturing and refining this ‘Blue Scholars’ sound as we both grow individually,” Geologic said. “Our personal lives and conditions have changed in many ways, but the elements of economic hustle and political struggle are still prevalent in our lives. This is why I call the EP a transitional work, because it was created out of the chaotic transitional period right after we graduated.”
Geologic and Sabzi are currently in the planning stages with their new album, Geologic said, The album will reflect the changes the two artists have undergone since 2003.
Although this time the two have to set deadlines and schedules for the recording process, they don’t want to kill the spontaneity that fueled the first two albums, Geologic said.
“I’d hate to feel obligated to make music without being able to talk about the realities that shape the music,” he said. “As of right now, Sabzi and I are taking a brief step back from performing so much and concentrating on organizing our personal lives.”
The two aren’t worried about not having a label, Sabzi said. Geologic and Sabzi would prefer to maintain freedom with their musical and lyrical style that record labels might otherwise impede, Geologic said.
“Whether that materializes in the form of signing to a major label, indie, starting our own label or slingin’ CD’s out the trunk of the car is immaterial at this point,” Sabzi said.
Blue Scholars is looking forward to the Bellingham show, where they say the crowds are supportive.
Geologic said Bellingham is a second home to the band, with hip-hop friendly venues. They admire the local music scene because the city has produced break-out artists such as Death Cab for Cutie and Idiot Pilot, he said.
The local music scene supports the Blue Scholars by promoting their albums in record stores such as Everyday Music and Avalon Music and selling out shows at the Nightlight, Geologic said.
On “Cornerstone,” the opening track from the “Long March EP,” Geologic includes a shout-out to Bellingham.
“Bellingham has always been receptive and open to the guys and their music,” Matsui said. “(In 2005) we did five shows up there in the span of nine months and it doesn’t seem like people have gotten tired of us yet.”
The show has already came and went, but some might find this article enjoyable and/or pleasant.
