Blue Scholars: Bayani

The Blue Scholars are blazing in Seattle, Washington. Their music is so on point that their much anticipated sophomore LP (BAYANI) is being released on Rawkus Records. Blue Scholars come to us "North by Northwest" and are dropping science that even your grandma would want to hear. Does that mean they are soft? I'd say from the sound of things, they are a bigger threat because they are coming to you hard with a serious brand of "intellectual" hip hop.

The Blue Scholars team is Emcee Geologic (Geo) and DJ producer Sabzi who come from vastly different musical approaches but offer a delivery that is truly unique (think: A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets). With their cultural heritages deeply rooted in the Phillipines and Persia, these two guys are putting beats and rhymes peppered with a little Marxism and flavored with Baha'i spirituality.

What makes BAYANI powerful is that it is reminiscent of the Marvin Gaye era when music made political and social statements. BAYANI expresses the anger, depression and hope of what has clearly become uncertain times. Emerging from an upbringing reflective of immigrant life in America, these musical scholars expertly infuse elements of their traditions with the purest forms of HIP HOP to deliver a compilation Public Enemy, KRS-ONE, Eric B & Rakim and all the classics would have to "make it clap to this."

So, after listening to the BAYANI LP and a little bit of negotiation, I was able to get "ACCESS GRANTED" and share this interview with you. Due to media interest in the Blue Scholars, I was only able to speak with one half of the group Saba "Sabzi" Mohajerjasbi who is Producer and responsible for the hypnotic beats. Sabzi is a classical and jazz-trained pianist while Geo is a battle emcee and spoken-word poet. The collaboration would be truly unexpected but the final result is what distinguishes them from many in their field.

Considering the similarities of his name and mine, let's just say that my conversation with Sabzi began pretty wild. It was indeed a great way to start and an even better ice-breaker.

Join me now, for a conversation that could only be had with a group such as the Blue Scholars....A conversation that was truly......intellectually HIP-HOP!

Saba, Ink: Because your sound and music is so unique, I've been trying to figure out a way to approach this. So here's the deal. Since BAYANI seems to be truly biographical in nature and I believe each song speaks to a different experience, I'll throw out a song from the new LP and you give me background on it... Cool?

Sabzi: Cool.....

Saba, Ink: Tell me why you would open BAYANI a HIP HOP LP with a "Baha'i Healing Prayer?"

Sabzi: It is in Arabic and is a prayer because we wanted to begin this process with healing. We live in a sick world and there needs to be a little healing before we get into things. With the current state of War we are in, it is a great way to get people to pay attention and I hope that it will get people scared. Scared to want to dig deeper into a belief that is now demonized. It aligns with that identity and lets people know that we are coming from love and not terrorism.

Saba,Ink: I get it, I understand. Tell me more about Baha'i Religion.

Sabzi: The Baha'i teach that religion in its truest essence should bond people. It should unite people and should not impose one's beliefs over another. I believe that people have been high jacked by religion. According to the Baha'i, if religion at anytime brings discord, it should be done away with.

Saba,Ink: I can certainly agree with that. Talk to me then about "Opening Salvo"

Sabzi: I didn't write the word but as the beat maker, the beats and rhymes reflect a synthesis and reflects the repression of the world we live in. I know the challenges for me are not the same as someone that is of darker skin, recent immigrants or might have materially less than I but ultimately we all must share the same struggle. Your struggle essentially is my struggle..."your beef is my beef"

Saba,Ink: Like the verse in the song that says "I'm gonna leave how I came, screaming covered in blood." That is a really strong visual and commentary...

Saba,Ink: Alright, I like "Ordinary Guys"....talk to me about that?

Sabzi: It is just that. We are just two ordinary guys. It is both political and personal. I feel like we live in a world that is "commodified." In other words, marketing has created a life we live by the things we purchase. People define themselves by what they buy and have or materialism. We on the other hand, are just two ordinary guys.....

Saba,Ink: Like the line, "with the fist in the sky and a bowl of brown rice" just wearing some Reebok and Vans right? (smile)

Sabzi: Or with "holes in the soles of a third of my socks" (laughing).

Saba,Ink: That's 'cause you finally got a "comma in your bank account balance." That is great line.

Saba,Ink: What about "50 Thousand Deep?" It sounds like a protest song.

Sabzi: Yes, 50K is about the World Trade Organization protest in Seattle that drew over 50,000 people. "They called it a riot, I call it an uprising." People were expressing discontent. There was tear gas and the cops were arresting people. I know there were some opportunistic kids looking for publicity, anarchists that were blamed for things. The media even showed a picture of guy wearing Nike Shoes as he was smashing up the Nike Store. This was, I guess a way to show the marchers as hypocritical.

Sabzi: Well, I say that you can look at it that way but, just because you disagree take something does not mean you agree with their practices....You cannot change things unless you have the tools to make your own shoes. That's like saying just because you're in prison you cannot protest the prison food.

Saba,Ink: True that. True that....I see what you are saying.

Saba,Ink: What about "The Distance?"

Sabzi: This is about looking at the immigrant experience through a different lens. I added Iranian beats along with Eritrean language because the East African population has grown steadily here in Seattle. It is about all the cultural elements and a reflection of what's happening here. Most of voices are friends, relatives, uncles, aunts, except for rhymes from Geo to add the Filipino perspective.

Saba,Ink: It sort of discusses the immigration experience and the common reasons why people come to America and then the irony of immigration as a tossed salad not a melting pot right? Like the line that summarizes, "It's the distance that keeps us apart."

Sabzi: Right because we cannot say that people really integrate. It's like we are all here but people stay in their own areas or neighborhoods.

Saba,Ink: Finally, I am guessing that "Back Home" is your commentary on the Iraq War?

Sabzi: Exactly...

Saba,Ink: Just listening to the lines "Bring 'em back home. For my brothers and sisters who've been gone too long, we say bring 'em back and I don't want to keep on singin' this song." I totally get your position on this.

Saba, Ink: I could go on and on with the songs of this LP. But I'll just let people check you out to hear more of your socio-political and spiritual commentary. This CD is great....I appreciate your time and I'm looking forward to hearing more from y'all.

Sabzi: Thank you, Saba...

Blue Scholars have been on a mission since 2002. College educated with majors in Economics and such, they have certainly put Seattle on the map with their unique style. They have over 200 shows under their belt with folks like Kanye West, De La Soul and Immortal Technique to name a few. In June of 2006 they launched MASSLINE; an artist-run independent record label which partnered with Rawkus Records to release BAYANI. With that move, Rawkus Records says they are "back in the building, and the razor is sharper than ever." BAYANI is due out on June 12, 2007.

Here's a little "flavor" from Blue Scholars: "BACK HOME & North by Northwest