[audio:http://www.seattlemet.com/data/publicola-assets/Blue-Scholars-HI-808.mp3]

Blue Scholars "Hi-808"

Blue Scholars Oof release party/photo by Jonathan Cunningham

Seattle hip hop stars Blue Scholars caught people off guard this August with Oof, their 12 track ode to Hawai'i. Considering Geo partially grew up in Oahu and there's a mini Seattle-Hawai'i connection, Oof actually makes tons of sense. It turned out to be one of the better concept albums released locally all year.

Much of the project turned into a showcase for producer Sabzi's skills and his ability toblend his love of Jawaiian music with 808 production. Of the 12 songs, only six feature vocals and the remainder are instrumentals.

The one song that stands out above the rest (and actually turned into a colorful music video) is "Hi-808." It sounds like the type of hip-hop you'd listen to cruising past a Foodland on your way to the beach. Sabzi definitely kills it with the beat and Geo sounds more at home on this track than he does on any other song I've heard him release this year.

If you do watch the video, notice that Sabzi is chomping on food 80% of the time.

Jonathan's previous picks here.