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EP: Blue Scholars' Butter&Gun$
by David Buker posted June 4, 2008
It has been a year since the release of the Blue Scholars' second LP, Bayani, and the Seattle-based hip-hop duo featuring vocalist Geologic and producer/DJ Sabzi has certainly taken little time off. In late 2007, the group released a digital-only EP entitled Joe Metro EP which featured remixes and instrumental versions of Bayani tracks. Now, deep into 2008, the duo has released its second digital-only offering, this time entitled Butter and Gun$ EP, which features not only a reprised version of a previously released track but also a sample of new material.
The EP contains the Bayani track "Loyalty" and also features an accompanying track entitled "Butter and Gun$ (Loyalty II)," which serves as a slowed, musically relaxed version of the original track with an increased array of socially conscious lyrics. Verses like, "First they're saying they're paying for college/Your body exchanged for knowledge/But what good is a mind whenever we find another one locked in a coffin," speak directly to the lyrical intensity that has come to define the Blue Scholars and clearly expresses the duo's political views and disapproval of current U.S. army policies and programs.
On the only new track that appears on Butter and Gun$ EP, "27," the Blue Scholars show their personal side as Geoligic reflects on his 27th birthday and the events that have guided him there. Although it doesn't seem to fit into the social aesthetic of "Loyalty," "27" is considerably moving and feels truly genuine.
As is common in the hip-hop world, the EP finishes with instrument versions of each track, which are usually provided to allow for individual remixes and sampling opportunities. What is slightly uncommon, but is growing as trend, is the fact that this EP is digital-only. Several bands, such as the Smashing Pumpkins and Muse, have discussed their interest in digital-only releases as way of getting new music to fans quickly and more frequently. With two digital-only releases in one year, perhaps the Blue Scholars are taking steps in the same direction.
The EP contains the Bayani track "Loyalty" and also features an accompanying track entitled "Butter and Gun$ (Loyalty II)," which serves as a slowed, musically relaxed version of the original track with an increased array of socially conscious lyrics. Verses like, "First they're saying they're paying for college/Your body exchanged for knowledge/But what good is a mind whenever we find another one locked in a coffin," speak directly to the lyrical intensity that has come to define the Blue Scholars and clearly expresses the duo's political views and disapproval of current U.S. army policies and programs.
On the only new track that appears on Butter and Gun$ EP, "27," the Blue Scholars show their personal side as Geoligic reflects on his 27th birthday and the events that have guided him there. Although it doesn't seem to fit into the social aesthetic of "Loyalty," "27" is considerably moving and feels truly genuine.
As is common in the hip-hop world, the EP finishes with instrument versions of each track, which are usually provided to allow for individual remixes and sampling opportunities. What is slightly uncommon, but is growing as trend, is the fact that this EP is digital-only. Several bands, such as the Smashing Pumpkins and Muse, have discussed their interest in digital-only releases as way of getting new music to fans quickly and more frequently. With two digital-only releases in one year, perhaps the Blue Scholars are taking steps in the same direction.