Blue Scholars - Self-Titled Album
Label: Blue Scholars
Grade: C
Highlight: “The Inkwell”
Overview: Before I sampled the music, I read the press release which says that this Seattle duo “forms a distinct sound and exceptional chemistry only exhibited by duos such as Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Gangstarr and Blackalicious.” Needless to say, I was extremely excited to hear what they had to offer. The result…was disappointing. On a positive tip, Geologic and Sabzi did make a nice record, filled with jazzy, Persian sampling and intelligent, socially conscious lyrics. It is refreshing to see an emcee/deejay make a complete album, not filled with a ton of guest appearances. It’s also good to see that Seattle, the home of indie-rock and Starbucks, can produce hip hop beyond Sir Mix-a-Lot. I really wanted to like this record, and even gave it more listens than usual, but I’m still finding it forgettable. The album simply moves too slowly at times, with not enough head-nod material or press-rewind moments. I wanted to feel something like “T.R.O.Y.,” but was left feeling more like “Cantaloop.”
