Blue Scholars - Bayani

I came to Seattle for an education. Although my wonderful professors have taught me many valuable lessons, I have learned more about the world, about people, and about life simply from living in my incomparable surroundings. Seattle has an atmosphere like no other, and this is especially true among its musicians. Every artist here feels they are a part of a vital movement, fighting against a complacent status quo. Of the most respected in this movement are the hometown hip hop heroes are Geologic and Sabzi: Blue Scholars.

Northwest hip hop has been referred to as the new grunge. This is because of albums like the Scholars’ sophomore release Bayani. Blue Scholars have taken the torch of blatant anti-establishment music and brought into the new and exciting land of hip hop. Bayani is an album that stands apart from anything that is commercial rap. There is little to no pop sensibility and I can help but think that it was meant to be that way.

When initially heard Blue Scholars on their debut LP, I noted how furious and abrasive the lyrics were. Geologic holds nothing back in his rhymes. Bayani has a much slower pace and Geologic’s rhymes are more under control. He seems less like a kid filled with piss and vinegar and more like a man filled with passion and thoughtfulness, which adds a lot of credibility to what he says.

Geologic has definitely moved forward in his lyrical approach although his overall objective and message has remained the same. In the soulful rock opener “Opening Salvo”, he demands to “question ya’ll/Saying where the f—k is freedom at?!?” while stating that “alongside the people/we’re going to struggle with love.” This brings about an underlying theme in the album—that only had a minor presence in their last album—and that is the theme of love. “Still Got Love” is a sultry love song to “everyone in general/and no one is particular” and “Fire for the People” finishes by Geologic repeating “More love for the people.” This suggests that he has come under the realization that lasting change begins inside each person. Progress will more effectively be brought about through a love of freedom than from a hatred of oppression, though the latter is no doubt important.

Bayani also displays Geologic’s chops as a storyteller. Through these stories Geologic is able to communicate to a wide audience through specific experiences. “The Distance” tells the gripping story of a struggling immigrant family. “50K Deep” is Geologic’s personal account of the WTO riots of 2001. And “Back Home” is the intense account of those affected directly by the war in Iraq. “Back Home” brings a large, distant, complex situation straight to your face and forces you to think or feel something about the tragedies that the people all around us face everyday.

It is clear that Geologic will continue to say exactly what needs to be said regardless of record sales, industry pressure, or the struggles he faces as a rapper in the Northwest. He says in “North by Northwest”: “In the upper left/You gotta be patient/Because radio stations ain’t going to play us/Unless you sign the dotted/Or make your rhymes brainless.” There is nothing now nor will there ever be anything brainless about the Scholars’ rhymes.

Now, Geologic is not the most talented rapper in the game in terms of his delivery. Sometimes he comes across choppy. His abilities as a writer make up for this mediocrity. He creates unique imagery and paints a picture of a harsh world like few can which makes the album worth the listen.

It also doesn’t hurt to have DJ Sabzi spinning beats close behind. Sabzi’s musical work in Bayani wonderfully matches and tone and message of the lyrics it supports. It is a sound that is seemingly simple but perfect for its purpose and is anything but mainstream. Everything in this album, the beats and the rhymes are conscious effort to push against music’s status quo bring those together who are fed up with certain aspects of the American way of life.

Bayani is sort of soul, kind of rock, a little bit jazz, and pure hip hop that is as diverse and unique as the soggy city it was created in.