Interview w/ Blue Scholars

Blue Scholars are Seattle hip-hop, through and through. They grew up in Seattle, they met at the University of Washington, they rhyme about Seattle, and Seattle loves them for it. “Wherever I live, I absorb it and write about it. But after traveling I’ve seen that there is something unique in these communities,” says Geologic (or Geo) as I sit and chat with him and Sabzi at a Pioneer Square café.

Their rhymes are socially critical, intelligent and still somehow upbeat. Sabzi makes all the beats from samples, a rarity these days, and the result is like artisan bread—you can taste the work that goes into the formation. 

The Blue Scholars themselves are as unique as their sound. They are both born to immigrants; Geo’s parents are Filipino and Sabzi’s are Iranian. That mix is never more aptly encapsulated then in the title of the group’s sophomore album, Bayani. The word translates to “heroes of the people” in Tagolog and “the Word” in Persian. To the duo, the title means, cleverly I might ad, “The Voice of the People.” That “voice” will resonate loudly at the pristine setting of The Gorge this memorial weekend. 

In a startling lineup of nearly 75 artists slated to play this summer’s Sasquatch Music Festival, the Blue Scholars are the solitary hip-hop act. But Sabzi and Geo are no strangers to the prospect of carrying the hip-hop torch at an otherwise rock-dominated schedule—they’ve been in similar spots at the festival in 2005 and 2006. It’s validating for the duo to be invited, but Geo laments, “…there’s a lot more demand for hip-hop then what gets in. The promoters and organizers do what they can, but I think at this point in time there’ s a lot more hip-hop in the region.” He sites last years Capitol Hill Block, where eight or nine hip-hop acts were on the bill, as an example. 

Sabzi is just happy to have a legitimate time slot. In years past, says Sabzi, “It was the second day so people were all tired. There were people there that were almost mad, like, ‘Quiet, I’m trying to take a nap!’” 

But Geo notes, “We definitely had the biggest attendance growth for the weekend. The crowd grew like, fifty thousand percent. Well, I mean the difference of 30 to 1,000.”  

The Blue Scholars live set is inspired, high energy and creative. “I like what The Roots bring live—their energy,” says Geo, “We try and bring that too. So even if we did a 90-minute set it wouldn’t feel long at all.” At last year’s “The Program,” a series of five shows at Neumo’s featuring the best hip-hop Seattle has to offer, Blue Scholars headlined each night. They featured a horn section, guest MC’s, and a clever mash-up of Modest Mouse’s “Float On” and their own “Inkwell.” “This is a celebration!” Geo yelled from stage, “A motherfucking party!” It’s possible the event may become an annual tradition, but Geo explains, “It was good, but something that required a lot of effort on everybody’s part. From the performers, from Neumo’s, to staff, management, everybody.” Hard work aside, with it’s huge success they may not have a choice. 

Even after flowing their way into the label of Seattle’s premier hip-hop act, the Blue Scholars are extremely modest. “It’s cool as long as it lasts. We’ll see—people change their minds pretty quickly,” says Sabzi. But he admits, “Things are kind of popping off right now, a little bit.”  

Geo takes a personal approach to judging his success. The focus is, “…the working community, the vibrant youth. I’m trying to speak to everybody, but if those groups pay attention it mean’s I’m doing something right.” This could be why some lack-luster mainstream reviews of Bayani have done little to falter the Scholars momentum. Sabzi says, “Every hip-hop group that gets a nine out of ten on Pitchfork, whenever I see them live it’s boring.” When they take the stage Sunday at Sasquatch, the Blue Scholars promise to be anything but.