BLUE SCHOLARS - Bayani Review

On their second full-length, Seattle's Blue Scholars try to promote hip-hop's potential for personal transformation and political change, dedicating songs to soldiers in Iraq ("Back Home") and protesters at the 1999 WTO demonstrations ("50 Thousand Deep"). Referencing brown rice and embattled working-class communities in equal dollops, the provocative lyrics of soft-spoken yet persistent MC Geologic don't always match up with DJ/producer Sabzi's rangy keyboard-and-bass beats....full text Despite the massive sales G-Unit types point to as the only real proof of their relevance (you guys do know it’s mostly white yuppie kids buying your shit, right?), hip-hop’s roots lie with the desire and execution of socially positive acts, by the people and for the people. Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa weren’t murdering their own people for garish jewelery and independently moving rims. They had genuine concerns....full text The West Coast has a long list of representatives, but many view throwing up the ‘W’ as a distinctly-Californian phenomenon. Proudly waving the flag for the less-renowned Northwest, Seattle duo Blue Scholars are bringing some much-needed shine to the rain-soaked streets that they call home. In 2004, Blue Scholars emerged from the birthplace of grunge music with a jazzy and progressive self-titled debut. With the release of Bayani, their more ambitious and advanced sophomore effort, MC Geologic and producer Sabzi are once again calling attention to the left-coast’s northern sector....full text