DJ Sabzi of Blue Scholars

DJ Messiah catches up with DJ Sabzi of Blue Scholars to talk about everything from the early years, spiritual influences, as well as details from their latest album "Bayani," in stores now!

Check out their Myspace page!

1. How did you first truly get involved with music?

I guess I’d say I was truly involved with music since I first touched the piano, or sang a song, or saw somebody beat box. Which would make me about 2 years old. I began studying the piano when I was about 7 or 8, and then I got into playing around with making music by computer at age 16 or so, then I really started focusing on producing and DJing around 18.

2. Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?

Any one of my piano teachers, anybody who I saw rapping at a community center or otherwise, and then beyond that a lot of West Coast hip hop and underground punk rock.

3. How did you get involved with and form Blue Scholars?

We had first been promoting and producing all All Ages events in Seattle for a couple of years, in a student organization at the University of Washington. So we had met through there. When we first worked together it was more like a suggestion from a mutual friend. It was like "Hey, Geo rhymes. You guys should do some tracks together". So we kicked it and recorded a couple of cuts like whatever. At the time I wasn't working with anyone else and neither was he so we just kept doing it. Little by little, particularly as we started to dialogue more about politics, culture and community, the music started to sound a lot better and better. We got offered to do a show shortly after beginning to record, and so we decided to just go for it.

4. Was it a coincidence that both you and Geologic are Baha’is or was that planned in the formation of the group?

Geo actually isn’t Baha’i. I think the different perspectives we bring to the recording process and concept development add a lot to our identity as a group and we stand in unity behind the messages communicated in our music.

5. What is the song writing process like for the group? Do you contribute to the lyrics as well?

I usually make the beat, Geo then writes the lyrics. We each contribute to the editing of both the beats and rhymes though.

6. Obviously, there are Baha’i influences in the lyrics of the songs, especially seen in the song and album title Bayani. However, there are never any direct references to religious figures or teachings. Instead there are many global messages and teachings that you offer. Do you both have a say in the lyrical content of the songs, and if so, was there ever a decision as to how much would be taken from Baha’i teachings?

The story behind the title “Bayani” is interesting. “Bayan,” as Baha’is know, in Arabic/Farsi translates to “speech” or “utterance,” and the Holy Book from The Bab carries this name as well. In Tagalog, the language of the Philippines, the origin of Geo’s heritage, “Bayan” means “the people” and it carries a certain political connotation to it as well. When woven together as Bayani, the title of our record, it becomes a nod to both of our heritages and translates to “voice of the people.” The tracks on the album are also a collection of stories told from a grassroots level.

7. Who are some of your favorite musical artists out today? Who would we find on your iPod/cd player?

I’ll listen to anything from Dilla to Royksopp to Qawwali to old slow jams.

8. What inspires you to write a beat or to compose? Does any of this inspiration come from global events, especially since you’re Iranian?

I believe that I’ll always be inspired to make music from aesthetic level. The influence that world affairs and politics have on our music relates more to what we do with it; how we engage our listeners with the art we create. We want it to have content that inspires young minds to think critically.

9. If you could put together the line up for the ultimate tour, who would you pick (any bands past or present)?

I’d put together a line up of B-level east coast rappers from the mid-90’s all on the same bill. I’m talking Mic Geronimo, Royal Flush, Boogie Monsters, Jemini The Gifted One, Bush Babees, honorary def squad member Jamal, and many more. Then I’d have them tour and restrict the show to them doing just their biggest hits, one after another. Then at the end of the show, they’d do a big posse cut.

Either that or I’d compile every single Bay Area rapper that has sold at least 1000 CDs between 1985 and 2005 and they’d do the posse cut tour of the century. All 987 of them going around the country doing one long song; all over Luniz “I Got 5 On It.”

I like posse cuts.

10. What would be your craziest experience while being on tour?

Maybe when our van was broken into and all the gear got stolen. That happened in San Francisco during the 3 hours we were chillin in our friend’s apartment. Or maybe the amount of racism our group was subjected to on the last tour; it’s always interesting to see how ignorant the behavior can get when you’re in a crowd of so-called “educated” and “socially conscious” people.