Customer Reviews

Blue Scholars

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I believe I have the expanded re-release (the one with the brown cover), but Amazon.com doesn't have it. It's basically the same album with three more songs (12. The Ave, 13. Life & Debt, and 14. No Rest For The Weary), a booklet with the lyrics, and a video for "Freewheelin". In order to watch the video, you'll have to download Quicktime if you don't have it already.

At any rate, this album is superior to just about anything I've heard this year (with One Be Lo's S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. LP being the lone exception). The production is different from anything you've ever heard, yet totally familiar. They're funky, smooth, and melodic.....Sabzi definitely laid some heat on this LP. I'm officially hooked on his sound after just one listen. As far as the rhymes, Geologic is just as tight on the rhymes as Sabzi is on the beats. He rhymes with a purpose.....a tatic that's slowly becoming exstinct in rap music. It's as perfect a blend of rhymes and beats as you're going to find.

As far as flaws, I've yet to find/hear any. The replay value is great here, the beats are on point, and the lyrics are tight, intelligent, and smooth. There are NO wack tracks here. Well, "The Ave" is skippable. It's not wack, but I tend to skip it because it's kind of boring. The same can be said for "Life & Debt".

It's crazy that I've never heard of these guys before. If the magazine I write for hadn't sent it to me for review, I'd probably still be unaware of who these two guys are. They may be all the way on the otherside of the country (Seattle, Wa), but they have a new fan/promotional tool right here in Washington, DC now.


Geologic and Sabzi have something going here. They have a connection as a producer and emcee team that you rarely hear in hip hop (like Guru & Primo, Kweli & Hi Tek, or Pete Rock & CL Smooth). I give this album two thumbs way, way, way up. I'd highly recommend buying this. If you come across this album in a store, snatch it up. Don't even think about it, just get it. I know I'll be bumping this for AT LEAST the next six months.

Standout Tracks: Blink (My Favorite), The Inkwell, Solstice: Intro, Freewheelin', Bruise Brothers, Evening Chai, selfPortrait, Burnt Offering, Sagaba, and Blue School

i downloaded it online, on a friend's recommendation, and let me tell you, this is one of the best hip hop cd's i've ever listed to. geo's lyrics are well structured and complex, yet they come off smooth as butter during delivery. he touches on everything from the state of music in "motion movement" to spirituality in "burnt offering" and the war in iraq in "blink" ...on the other side, sabzi makes what i consider to be some of the best beats in the world of hip hop. not the bass-drowned beats of pop, radio or eMpTyV. these are tightly laced melodies constructed entirely from SAMPLES. it's incredible to think that every single beat was made on a desktop computer... as an emcee and a dj, blue scholars comes together with a synergy far greater than the sum of the parts. i'm buying this cd through amazon now, to support them as artists. i hope to see them come to nashville in the next year. geo, if you read this, keep doing your thing!

The Blue Scholars could be the most powerful and skilled duo in hip-hop that no one knows about. The CD Amazon is selling is the older one,which is still amazing and has 11 tracks of brilliance and good beats. But the re-release from their website is the best buy. It also has the anthemic "The Ave", "Life and Debt" and the powerful "No rest for the weary". If you have ever been in Seattle or elsewhere and seen these guys live in the last year or so you know they are something special. Live they are the just as good as vinyl. Deep beats using a lot of guitar and jazz, but there is still the deep bass hits hidden in the tracks which make the music very enjoyable.
Long Story Short: Buy it

Heard of blue scholars from a friend of mine, got their CD and never looked back. They have a similar feel to the Roots except speak about a lot of racial/political issues.

Their beats will catch your ear and their lyrics are not the same boring cliches most rap artists use nowdays.

Buy the CD and see for yourself

It is almost stupid how good this album is. Anyone who has a passion for underground, socially conscious hip-hop should take the time to listen to this album. From the jazz laden beats to the raw and touching lyrics these guys hit it right on every song. For Seattle locals, I think you'll find Track 7, "The Inkwell" to be particularly good, however my personal favorite, (although it tends to change each time I listen to the album) is "evening chai" it has incredibly moving lyrics and a beat that lulls you into a chilled out trance. Definitely a great album for road trips, late night chilling, or a sunny afternoon. Great job Scholars.

With the hip hop scene in the Northwest yearning for an explosion, one group has at least set a standard for the Northwest. Geologic tackles politically and socially charged issues in the tradition of Chuck D. He takes a more lyrical approach to rockin the mic with a very rhythmic and flowing delivery similar to a mixture of Talib Kweli and Black Thought. While the Northwest hip hop scene seeks to represent an identity among the international hip hop community beyond b-boyin, they should look to Blue Scholars as a real representative of Seattle's Hip Hop scene.

Wow. Never heard of these guys before. Sabzi and Geologic have great chemistry and the album has dope beats and lyrics. Probably one of the top albums of the year, yet most people have yet to hear about them. Top Songs: Blink, Sagaba, Burnt Offering, Bruise Brothers, Blue School, The Ave (expanded re-release album has 14 tracks, this is #12).

GO BUT IT NOW! You will not be disappointed.

If ever two artists were supposed to be together in one group it is DJ/Producer Sabzi & Emcee Geologic. Geo fits Sab's beats like Snoop fits a Dre banger! Their style is all their own and a bit different from the rest of the Seattle hip hop you hear. They definitely are working man's hip-hop and they represent anyone who works hard at perfecting a trade. Their trade happens to be the art of rhyme and beat making and they are pretty good at it. As I listen to this album I find Geologic's voice entrancing and very smooth. Sabzi produces very musical beats that have you instantly nodding your head. Geo's style is pointed towards hard work and his family's history, and Seattle's. They rep home pretty heavily, shouting out 7th & Jackson and on Evening Chai (9) he gives you the low down on what's been happening in Sea Town for ages. This album just rocks all the way through to the end and when its finished you want to play it again. This is where you find its one flaw: it does not have terrific replay value. Its good, don't get me wrong its damn good, but after 10 15 listens it seems boring and you want more. I over look this fact being as it is their debut and it is so amazing those first 15 times.

Fantastic lyrics that come out smooth as silk from Geo's lips. DJ Sabzi lays down the perfect beats to compliment the words. Buy this album (though direct from their website has a newer version of the album with a few more tracks). Even if you don't think you're into hip-hop (I definitely didn't), you will not regret it.

I for one am happy that the Blue Scholars have had the sucess they rightfully deserve. Being that an unnamed bitter emcee has been holding the keys to Seattle and only exposing the groups he's interested in, it is a breath of FRESH AIR that the Blue Scholars have taken over the Seattle sceene.

Geo's rhymes... dope!

Sabzi on the beats... dope! (what more is there to say)

The expanded version of the LP has the track "The Ave" (which he shouts out a record spot I worked at at the time) along with 3 more cuts and a music video. A decent introduction to the group, but with a little too much filler. If this was boiled down into an EP... crazy!!! But, reguardless this album is a welcome collection along sides with "Do the Math," "Classic Elements" & "14 Phathoms Deep." (other classic Seattle hip-hop LPs most of you don't know about)

Be sure to check out Sabzi's other project "Common Market" with emcee Ra Scion. I honestly like it more than the Blue Scholars ish, but that's just me.