Drop whatever you are doing on June 12th, and go to your local indie record store and buy this album. And if they don't have it in stock, recommend that they get it ASAP (and cop it here instead), because not only is "Bayani" the most important album to come out of the northwest, I'm going to venture to say that this is the single most important hip hop album to be released in the last 10 to 15 years, and it will remain that way for a while. It's already gone through pre-release at their most current shows, and is sending shock waves throughout the northwest, attaining good reviews from every publication that has touched it.
This effort is much more focused and structured than their previous releases (a debut LP and EP), spanning relevant issues ranging from individual relationships, to colonialism, the plight of the proletariat, and even the WTO riots in Seattle circa 1999. After repeat listens it quickly becomes apparent that the beats and the rhymes are inseparably intertwined on this disc-- it would be unimaginable for one to exist without the other. This symbiotic relationship produces some great songs, and DJ Sabzi integrates some pretty sick samples into the tracks, often blending in live and ethnic instrumentation into his beats. I can't say enough about this album, and I've only had it for about a week now, so be sure and get your own copy when it comes out, hopefully this track can hold you over in the meantime--it's one of my favorites, and a great example of the synergy created by Sabzi's beats and MC Geologic's lyrics.
Blue Scholars - 'Loyalty'
I'm heading out to Sasquatch! tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited, of course I'll be posting about what goes down this weekend upon my safe return. Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend!
