Concert Review: Blue Scholars-Hieroglyphics

[Roseland; September 24, 2008]
“Beats Rhymes and Life” such are lyrics to live by. This show was one that would fall under Geologic’s (MC of the Blue Scholars) category as “dope” shit. “There are only two types of hip hop, no, two types of music…dope and wack.” This set the mood for the night. For those of you who don’t know the Blue Scholars, here’s a little background. Hailing from Seattle, they are the saviors of NW hip-hop, holding their own among the rest of America’s strong hip-hop scene. Consisting of Geologic (MC) and Sabzi (Producer/DJ), they spread socially conscious lyrics accompanied by instrument heavy beats. I had the chance to chill with both Geo and Sabzi last year when they were playing at none other than our own Lewis and Clark College. They both were down to earth guys with music as a job. Never do their lyrics deviate from those they care about most, their audience, and this is emphasized by how they interact with their fans. With one DJ and one MC, you would think that they would pale in comparison to the fairly large stage of the Roseland, yet that was hardly the case. Geo has a passion for his craft. He projects his lyrics with his body, feeling every syllable. It is refreshing to see someone who still loves his craft. You never get the feeling that he is tired, or not wanting to be there, which happens from time to time with artists. He is not stationary or boring, he feels the beat as he lets go his flow of rhymes. It is also important to note his flow is quite unique, which is refreshing when there is the cookie cutter of lyrics/flow floating around the hip-hop world. With Geo commanding the front of the stage, Sabzi holds up the background. He is not one to fall into the shadows, providing the beat but little else. Sabzi brings energy rare for a DJ, holding his own as a member of the group, not as support. He is a character, dancing around while he spins the beats, he grabs onto his mic to accompany some of the vocal samples (which are pretty much the only samples, since Sabzi creates most of his beats). When “The Ave” came one, the entire crowd started bumping, jumping and singing along, “Fuck class, get your education on the Ave.” With Inkwell Geo let out his rhymes, and half way through Sabzi spun in a very different beat, “Float On” by Modest Mouse. Such a call out towards another NW group shows that they transcend the boundaries of music. I have seen Blue Scholars upwards of five times, not only are they the best NW hip-hop group, but one of the best performers around. They never fail to impress.
Next comes Hieroglyphics. Hiero is the combination of Souls of Mischief and Del Tha Funkie Homosapien. What came out was not this. Souls of Mischief came out, sans A-Plus, and most importantly the “man, the myth, the great great granddaddy of Hieroglyphics, Del” (“Off the Record” Hieroglyphics). This is due to the fact that Del and A-Plus are off touring at the moment. I can’t help but say that I was a little disappointed, even though I was fortunate enough the see them earlier this month, and have seen Hiero in its entirety. Despite this disappointment, the remaining members put on a hell of a show. Even without their leader they were able to command the crowd, pounding out classic after classic. They interacted with the crowd, getting participation with songs such as “Dune Methane” having us all yell, “Dee dee da da dee dee dane.” Their flow was impressive, and it is nice to see a group who works well together, even when the dynamic is shaken up. They concluded their set with a Souls of Mischief classic, “93 till Infinity” and concluded with the crowd favorite, “You Never Knew” which had the entire singing along. It was easy to forget the fact that there were members missing, and get immersed in the music.
My one beef with the show was the somewhat unequal distribution of set time. Hiero and Blue Scholars were co headliners; Hiero got a longer set time. Hiero may be bigger, and around for longer, but overall Blue Scholars were a stronger show all around. Either way, it was a fantastic hip-hop show and like my friend said (it was her first hip-hop show), “It was life changing.” Both groups are ones to check out, and if you get a chance to catch them next time around, do not hesitate to see Blue Scholars.

Biggies Pick of the Week:

Ready To Die – The Notorious B.I.G.
[The Hit Factory, D&D; 1994]
It seems only fitting to select Biggies debut album Ready To Die as Biggies first pick of the week. So roll up your blunts and sit back for hands one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Personally, this album has a permanent spot on my top 5, usually bouncing from the number one and two spots, depending on my mood. Biggie is a natural storyteller. He weaves throughout these songs stories of love and loss, capturing the raw emotions of his life in the drug game. The beats are funky as hell yet allow for his rhymes to dominate the tracks, hitting hard and resonating with you for days. His focus on story telling is what makes him stand out among rappers, past and present. No matter what your mood, there is a track to fit your mood. Be it a darker love story, “Me and My Bitch” to a fat beat with lyrics to match “Machine Gun Funk” there is a song for any mood. He can portray a versatile array of emotions throughout these tracks, among the backdrop of drugs and violence that surrounded his early life. His unique voice is thick and low, which helps emphasize his smooth lyrical flow. Unlike some rappers, Biggies flow is that one that can really be followed, allowing for his rhymes to build off each
other and lyrics to hit you with full force upon your first listening. Biggie is one of the greatest MC’s of all time, and this record will last for just as long. So come March 9th, throw on Ready to Die, smoke a fat blunt and pour out a 40 in honor of one of the greatest lyricists of our generation, or any other.
[Nick Erickson]

Siberia reborn

(Image from Tribute website, Russ)

Have you ever felt a ghost nearby?

Well, you may have sworn there was somebody right behind you if you'd attended Saturday the 13th's showcase of the songs of Yanka Dyagileva channeled by Alina Simone at Funky Church; an evening possibly best summed up by a band-member as "psychedelic spookiness." Let's set the scene:

Funky Church (myspace.com/funkychurch) is... properly monikered. A one-hundred-year-old or so structure, this space has gone through many different incarnations - the latest being a home and occasional lo-fi music venue. It offers domed wooden ceilings, dim and warm lighting, and a stage on a rug-covered loft backed by stained glass and stuffed with pillows and chairs, with a door to balcony and real-to-god belfry.

It was a four-band line-up, with three local acts (Jacob Golden, Down South Sallie, The Battle of Land and Sea) and a Ukrainian-born, Massachusetts-raised singer/songwriter named Alina Simone, playing stripped-down tracks off her cover-album Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware. Singing in Russian, her set-list offered interpretations of the work of Siberian folk-punk cult icon Yanka Dyagileva. Characterized by howling agony and lo-fi recordings (only ever produced on mixtape until well after her death), Yanka's music spoke out to the last soviet generation, bringing together the desperation of the taiga and its rich culture, whispering of uncertainty as the union splintered. This artist's career only lasted four years and 29 songs, cut-short by her suicide in 1991, but has gone on to inspire a new country of musical artists and the disaffected.

The spookiness of those original home-recordings reverberated kindly through the set and space all night: artists were practically silhouetted against a single lamp, speckled time from time by the reflections of a swaying disco ball, while a mysterious, unfelt breeze kept lampshades rocking and scattered set-lists and lyric notes. It seemed as if an ice-whipped breeze had somehow been transplanted into this late-summer evening through all those years and thousands of miles after brushing Yanka's face for the last time in the woods.

On a Black Day - Yanka (off Prodano!)

The rain be upon us, where is your umbrella?

(F. Childe Hassam - Rain Storm, Union Square, 1890)

Well, there might actually be sunshine right now outside, and a pleasant 80 something degrees, and you might even have to wear sunglasses because your eyes already got used to the idea of a cold hard gray permeating your landscape and soul...

But that's alright for you and us, because no matter the weather this blog will be your 'brella. Fashion accessory versus utilitarian function; the best design always makes it ambiguous which is which. Keep your eyes peeled and check on this page often to catch all that info you've been wanting from shows reviews to music tips, restaurant eats to yaddah yaddah. This is that sweet poetry that tickles your innards.

And when those clouds blot out the sun and the world seems to be collapsing in on itself, don't ever say we weren't here for you.

Luv from KLC