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The Whole 206 World Goes, “OOF!”

Alright then, I’m back on the blog after a brief hiatus. Went camping east of the mountains (that’s the Cascades) with The Lady and some good friends. Lots of good eating, swimming, and lounging around in 100-degree weather, but very little in the way of Seattle hip-hop. (Lake Chelan might have the only bars left in Washington that Fresh Espresso hasn’t played.) And, while it was nice to be away from technology for a while, it’s good to be back on the blog, once again connected and in-the-loop with the goings-on around town. So without further ado…

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Since it’s all about Geo and Sabzi today (and most likely tomorrow as well), I might as well hitch my wagon to the OOF! train and do my part to plug our favored sons of hip-hop in the 206.

The local rap giant that is Blue Scholars is once again coming down from the mountain to drop their highly-anticipated OOF! EP tomorrow. The limited edition disc will be available at the Capitol Hill all Caffe Vita locations. Get yours, son. All the information that’s fit to print is here on the group’s blog.

The Scholars crew is on their grind again, promoting the hell out of the EP, encouraging us fans to basically stalk them around The Town all day, and topping off the release date with a performance at local Hawaiian outpost Ohana, in Belltown. I’ll be there, hyped up on Caffe Vita espresso with loco moco in hand. Show your love, too!

I haven’t heard the entire EP yet, but if the first two pre-released tracks (“Coo?,” “HI-808”) are any indication, then it’s likely this disc may be the most light-hearted and party-rocking collection the crew has released thus far. Granted, my affinity for the duo lies mostly in the fact that they choose to be so intensely political and *ahem* conscious, but lighter subject matter is always welcome from any of my favorite hip-hop groups. It is party music, after all.

After I get in a few good listens, your faithful 206-UP!’er (that’s me) will be offering his always over-opinionated opinion. Until then, however, check out Andrew Matson’s (Seattle Times) review here. A-Mats also interviewed our favorite doods and both offered insight into the direction of the group, its evolving musical stylings, and the 206 hip-hop community in general. Peep those interviews here and here, they’re both worth reading.

More later — enjoy the sun and the OOF!

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Hawaii 808

hawaii_satelliteSome more OOF! EP sh*t from Blue Scholars. (I’ve been posting a lot about BS lately — I swear this is not a fanboy site for them dudes. Their sh*t is continual dope, though, that cannot be denied…)

(UPDATE, 8.5.09, 11.35am: And here’s a story from the Seattle Weekly that gives the best explanation, to date, of the deal struck between Duck Down Records and Caffe Vita.)

(UPDATE, 8.5.09, 5:35pm: And a little video preview of the OOF! EP. I’m diggin’ the marketing campaign, thus far. Thanks, Duck Down!

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Northwest to Dirty South

marcus&kyleCongrats to Marcus D and KDCutz for making the finals at Seattle Big Tune last night! Good luck in Atlanta!

– 206-UP! Staff

(Photo jacked from kdcutz.wordpress.com. Taken at the 2009 Soundwaves Beat Battle on 5.26.09)

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BCC + DTA + BS = ?

What do Boot Camp Clik, a Double Tall Americano, and Blue Scholars have in common?

A lot, apparently. They’re the latest creative collaboration to hit the hot Seattle pavement this summer. Click here for the gory details.

Our boys Geo and Sabzi have never gone the traditional record deal route (and that’s partially why we love ’em), but this partnership between Duck Down Records and Caffe Vita looks to be the most interesting to come around thus far.

Distribution by Rawkus last go ’round was cool. Partly because it was nice to see Blue Scholars get so much shine nationally. (I came across a few copies of Bayani in the hip-hop section at the Virgin Megastore — may she rest in peace — last year in Times Square, not to mention that beacon of hip-hop independence, Fat Beats, in Greenwich Village.)

Honestly, though, I was a little scurred that it was the start of something bigger; something nefarious. Something that might even result in their hasty departure from the Emerald City and *gasp* normal rotation on MTV2. Then I remembered that it was Blue Scholars. “Sell-out” is simply not a term in their vernacular (knock on wood). Also, MTV2 doesn’t even f*cking play videos anymore, so whatever. It was all paranoia on my part, anyway. (Plus, even De La eventually had to go a little commercial to get paid.)

Anyway, this new partnership is cool. Duck Down has been a standard-bearer in hip-hop (as was Rawkus, of course). And I used to hit Caffe Vita every morning on my way to work. Which reminds me: what the hell does coffee have to do with any of this??!! Judging by Geo’s somewhat esoteric blog post, I presume their role is of financier. Speculation abounds.

In any event, I’ll be checking for the OOF! EP on August 25th and so should you.

Stay UP!

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