boston progress radio

Blue Scholars. I was introduced to this hip hop duo by my good friend, Long, over the summer. He was excited to meet the Seattle duo since before he knew he was ever going to get to breathe the same air as them. When I found I out I was going to meet Geo and Sabzi at Cornell’s ECAASU Conference in February, I was just pumped that I was getting backstage passes. It does not matter who you are going to meet with backstage passes, as long as you get to tell people you have BACKSTAGE passes, you are automatically in the cool crowd.

Hours before we even knew for sure that Long, Van, and I were going to have a meeting session with the Scholars, Long and Van were already overjoyed beyond controllability. I, on the other hand, was playing it chill. Scholars–they are just regular people, right? I am not even a real die hard fan. I told Van that I could not become a devout Blue Scholarist until I see them perform. Since I had two thrilled enthusiasts with me, I thought I was going to be the composed one. Interviewing a rapper and a dj? Piece of Oreo cookie cake. I was not going to be like Van and Long, who were likely gong to have a drooling mop up session right in front of the Scholars.

Wrong! As I stepped into Geo’s and Sabzi’s green room, I transformed into a dumbfounded girl struck by stardom. This looks just like it does on T.V. Holy crap, there’s Geo with his rocking kicks! He is so mellow. Sabzi, he is so cute. Long was right. His hair is dope. They both got up to greet us. Sabzi even gave me, or what I believed to be, a soft glance. I melted. Right then was when I forgot how to interview or even how to talk. Long began the questions, Van started rolling on the camera, and I… well, I just SAT there. For twenty minutes I nodded, laughed, stared admiringly, and stayed silent. Long tried to share the show with me, but I stupidly shook my head, no… No, I had nothing to add. I was not prepared for this interview. I could not think of any intelligent questions on the spot. There was one time when I attempted to speak with the Scholars. Did they want to know anything about Boston? Any questions before they made their way to perform at Northeastern University? Sabzi brushed over the question, “Nope, nothing at all,” he said. Darnet… Oh well, I did get another soft glance (or what I thought to be one) when we exited the Blue Scholars’ green room. As I left, I gave one last glance back to see if we could possibly stay until they went on stage.

Van on the Video:
First of all, I’m a rookie with the video camera, okay, I suck at it, but I don’t think you will need to take any dramamine to watch this. Yes, we were a little nervous—can you blame us? I was so nervous that, uh, when I was handed the camera and told it was ready, I failed to notice that the red light was not on. Damn… what had happened was… The interview picks up where Geo talks about APA activism. From there, some of the other topics that come up are the media, sports, peanut butter and jelly, socks, Tila Tequila, and love for Boston Progress. Scholla! The video is 23 minutes and unedited.

Last 5 posts by jess

• Impressed - November 16th, 2009
• Prompt! In a Quick Minute - June 4th, 2009
• Alfa's "Second Skin" - May 21st, 2009
• A Book Review: "Miles From Nowhere" - April 6th, 2009
• Sophia Moon, Music Keeps it Simple - February 20th, 2009

Tags: Interview, Video.