Kelly Trom
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MC Geologic and DJ Sabzi hopped over the half wall and onto the stage to face a small but excited audience, setting the casual, chill atmosphere for the whole night.
The hip-hop duo wasn’t afraid to interact with the crowd on a personal level. If anything, the concert felt like a conversation you might have with a best friend who just happened to have mad rapping skills.
Blue Scholars’ performance in the University Union (UU) Plaza was a breath of fresh air, starting off the sunset concert series on a good note.
Although they originate from Seattle, the duo had the casual vibe of a native California town. Geologic, “Geo” for short, even had a bro tank, shorts and hat on, taking advantage of the warm weather.
They took cues from the atmosphere and performed “Marion Sunshine,” an ode to the setting sun, as one of their first songs.
One of the most refreshing things about the duo was their humor about their own art form. The two certainly weren’t afraid to laugh at themselves or other artists.
“As a rapper, I feel that I have an obligation to say ‘turn it up’ and other ambiguous shit to sound cool,” Sabzi said.
The crowd began to grow larger as the sun disappeared behind Bishop Peak and the energy level picked up. Soon, the whole UU was packed with students.
Blue Scholars wasn’t afraid to throw a little social commentary into the mix as well as some sage advice and humor about it all.
“Life is your No. 1 teacher,” Geo said.
“But don’t make stupid decisions,” Sabzi added with a laugh. “We are the most wholesome rap group in the world.”
No subject was safe from the duo; topics ranged from the Vietnamese cuisine Pho to the use and misuse of weed and insecure starlets who rely on the love of men for success.
Each song was followed by a story from another city they had been in or comment on someone in the crowd. The whole performance carried an air of authenticity. Their commentary felt honest and natural, rather than rehearsed or canned.
“They seem like a really chill band,” English senior Liam Hedriana said. “They know not to take themselves too seriously. They did a really good job involving the crowd.”
The duo wasn’t shy about getting near to students in the audience. DJ Sabzi sang a whole verse up close and personal, inches away from English senior Alison Gyepes’ face.
“They were really goofy and funny,” Gyepes said. “Sabzi was such a tease.”
The audience was a mix of students who had never heard of Blue Scholars and those who had been listening for years.
“I heard about them freshman year,” biomedical engineering senior Luke Cole said. “That’s the best that it’s free. I probably wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t.”
For more scheduled sunset series concerts, check the events calendar on the Associated Students, Inc. website.