Blue Scholars - ＂Back Home＂ Music Video

What this video is

Released June 2007 alongside the album Bayani on Mass Line Media and Rawkus Records, 'Back Home' emerged during the peak of public opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Blue Scholars — MC Geologic (George Quibuyen, son of Filipino immigrants) and producer/DJ Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi, Iranian-American) — embedded the video in the social geography of South Seattle, a historically working-class and immigrant…

Why it matters

A defining artifact of mid-2000s Pacific Northwest conscious hip-hop, 'Back Home' represents the aesthetic and political apex of the Seattle underground scene prior to its mainstream breakthrough (e.g., Macklemore). Its documentary visual language, independent production, and explicitly anti-war…

The director

Iranian-American filmmaker born and raised in Seattle (grew up in Lake City, Kenmore, attended Inglemoor High School and the University of Washington). Began career directing music videos for Seattle hip-hop artists. In 2009 became the youngest-ever…