Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis

01. Cinemetropolis (4)
02. Hussein (4)
03. Fou Lee
04. Lalo Schifrin (4)
05. Seijun Suzuki (3.5)
06. Anna Karina (4.25)
07. Marion Sunshine (4)
08. Slick Watts (3)
09. George Jackson (4)
10. Oskar Barnack GeP Oscar Grant (3.75)
11. Yuri Kochiyama (3.75)
12. Rani Mukerji (3.75)
13. Tommy Chong (4.25)
14. Chief Sealth (4)
15. Fin (4)

Blue Scholars are somewhat of an anomaly in today's hip-hop world. This is shown no better than with their most recent release. It's like they have one part stuck in the trendy, hip, tight-jean-wearin' world, while the other part remains true to their underground Seattle roots. Now, Seattle's not really renown for it's hip-hop acts. When an artist from an unrepresented area gets the spotlight, they gotta represent and bring the best their region has. They've gotta represent the raw undiscovered talent while having (more) mass appeal. So I definitely understand the route Sabzi & Geo have taken the past few years, starting most notably with their OOF! EP in '09. Their new style embodies a bit more of the trendy hip-hop than I'd like, to be honest, as with this release. It really comes off in the somewhat out-of-place beats and Geo's somewhat simplified rhymes. They don't forget where they've come from though; their roots are most firmly planted in the socially conscious realm, and it does show through on a few tracks. Though I liked BS a lot more on Bayani and their '04 self-titled debut, the new style they've taken isn't all for naught. It's just more of a laid-back experience than I've come to expect from them. A more simpler experience. One that I have a hard time remembering any standout lines, choruses, or track titles from. Not necessarily bad, just not my personal favorite from them. Truly, not much to say about this one; just give it a spin to see if you like it.

Sample Tracks

"Hussein"


"Slick Watts"


"Tommy Chong"


Beats & Production: 7.5/10

Rhymes & Lyricism: 8/10

Originality & Creativity: 8.5/10

Overall Grade: 80%

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