Common Market (band)
Encyclopedia
Common Market is a hip hop
duo based in Seattle, Washington with members RA Scion and DJ/Producer Sabzi. The two members were individually active hip hop artists in the Pacific Northwest
since 2002, but collectively combined their talents in 2005 to form Common Market.
Sabzi started his career as DJ and producer in another hip hop duo: Blue Scholars
. RA Scion gained musical skill while in Zambia
, but later began a solo career, playing a new style of hip hop with a spiritual message, inspired by his membership in the Bahá'í Faith
. RA Scion and Sabzi's paths crossed through their Bahá'í contacts, and their political and spiritual approach to hip-hop music.
In an interview on Seattle radio station 107.7 The End, the duo stated that their new album is titled Tobacco Road
and is scheduled for release "on your mom's 50th birthday." In preparation for the album, Common Market released the EP "Black Patch War" on May 20, 2008. Tobacco Road was released September 9, 2008, followed by a CD release party on September 11, 2008 at Neumo's in Seattle. In September 2008, Common Market released a music video for the single "Trouble Is". The video was shot by director Zia Mohajerjasbi and was filmed at sites around Monroe, Washington. Also Ra Scion has his first solo album known as "Live and Learn" and he announced his new solo album known as "Victor Shade" with producer MTK and it is currently available at his own website, but other online music store will be released sometime in 2010.
Common Market were winners in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards
for Rap/Hip-Hop Album.
, released in October 2005. An advance copy caught the ear of KRS-One
, who praised the album and RA Scion for “spitting in the Tradition of the conscious Hiphop movement.” KRS-One then drove up to perform at Common Market’s album release party in Seattle, then taking the duo on the road with him on the Temple of Hiphop tour.
Distinguishing this album from his previous body of work, Sabzi combined his talents as a DJ to RA Scion's lyrics and talents as a performer. The album was hailed by fans as a remarkable improvement over any of their previous works. Common Market takes on questions about religion, politics and the state of mainstream hip-hop. At the core of Common Market’s music is a critical, unapologetic world view that change is not only necessary, it is inevitable, and can only come about through having love for and serving the people.
In the brief time since Common Market released their debut album, the duo has gathered praise as Seattle Weekly’s 2006 Best New Artist and performing slots on grand stages such as Sasquatch Festival
and The Capitol Hill Block Party. They have shared the stage with KRS-One
, Zion I
, Ghostface Killah
, The Coup
, Guru of Gangstarr, and the Blue Scholars
. The album’s regional success, along with the rising tidal wave of Northwest hip-hop, has poised the group for a serious push into the national scene, as the Common Market LP has been mixed and mastered by Seattle music engineer Martin Feveyear and repackaged with new album cover art. Common Market will be the first official new release of Mass Line, a co-op indie record label run by Common Market, Blue Scholars
and Gabriel Teodros
. The label's mission statement includes the goal of using hip hop as a means of grassroots community organizing and youth outreach.
in 1974 and briefly attended Northern Kentucky University
before moving on to start a family. He has lived all over the globe, calling home to such places as Zambia
and Greece
before settling with his family in the Pacific Northwest
.
Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi (Sabzi) was born in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and graduated from the University of Washington
. He represents half of Common Market, as well as half of the Blue Scholars
.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
duo based in Seattle, Washington with members RA Scion and DJ/Producer Sabzi. The two members were individually active hip hop artists in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
since 2002, but collectively combined their talents in 2005 to form Common Market.
Sabzi started his career as DJ and producer in another hip hop duo: Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
. RA Scion gained musical skill while in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, but later began a solo career, playing a new style of hip hop with a spiritual message, inspired by his membership in the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. RA Scion and Sabzi's paths crossed through their Bahá'í contacts, and their political and spiritual approach to hip-hop music.
In an interview on Seattle radio station 107.7 The End, the duo stated that their new album is titled Tobacco Road
Tobacco Road (album)
Tobacco Road is the second album from Seattle-based hip-hop duo Common Market. It was released on September 9, 2008 via Massline Media. The album's title is a reference to the tobacco-producing region of North Carolina....
and is scheduled for release "on your mom's 50th birthday." In preparation for the album, Common Market released the EP "Black Patch War" on May 20, 2008. Tobacco Road was released September 9, 2008, followed by a CD release party on September 11, 2008 at Neumo's in Seattle. In September 2008, Common Market released a music video for the single "Trouble Is". The video was shot by director Zia Mohajerjasbi and was filmed at sites around Monroe, Washington. Also Ra Scion has his first solo album known as "Live and Learn" and he announced his new solo album known as "Victor Shade" with producer MTK and it is currently available at his own website, but other online music store will be released sometime in 2010.
Common Market were winners in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
for Rap/Hip-Hop Album.
Collaboration and first album
After collaborating on several tracks on RA Scion’s 2004 solo project, "Live and Learn", the duo began working in an attic-based studio for what would eventually become the 14-track self-titled debutCommon Market (album)
Common Market is the self-titled debut from Seattle-based hip-hop duo Common Market. The album was produced by Sabzi, who is also a member of another prominent Seattle hip-hop group, Blue Scholars....
, released in October 2005. An advance copy caught the ear of KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, who praised the album and RA Scion for “spitting in the Tradition of the conscious Hiphop movement.” KRS-One then drove up to perform at Common Market’s album release party in Seattle, then taking the duo on the road with him on the Temple of Hiphop tour.
Distinguishing this album from his previous body of work, Sabzi combined his talents as a DJ to RA Scion's lyrics and talents as a performer. The album was hailed by fans as a remarkable improvement over any of their previous works. Common Market takes on questions about religion, politics and the state of mainstream hip-hop. At the core of Common Market’s music is a critical, unapologetic world view that change is not only necessary, it is inevitable, and can only come about through having love for and serving the people.
In the brief time since Common Market released their debut album, the duo has gathered praise as Seattle Weekly’s 2006 Best New Artist and performing slots on grand stages such as Sasquatch Festival
Sasquatch! Music Festival
Sasquatch! Music Festival is a music festival held annually at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. It is presented by the House of Blues. There is an emphasis on indie rock bands and singer-songwriters, although there are also alternative rock, hip hop and comedy acts...
and The Capitol Hill Block Party. They have shared the stage with KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, Zion I
Zion I
Zion I are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I...
, Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
, The Coup
The Coup
The Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album but appears on the track "Breathing Apparatus" on...
, Guru of Gangstarr, and the Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
. The album’s regional success, along with the rising tidal wave of Northwest hip-hop, has poised the group for a serious push into the national scene, as the Common Market LP has been mixed and mastered by Seattle music engineer Martin Feveyear and repackaged with new album cover art. Common Market will be the first official new release of Mass Line, a co-op indie record label run by Common Market, Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
and Gabriel Teodros
Gabriel Teodros
Gabriel Teodros , is a hip hop artist and a member of the group Abyssinian Creole. He is of Ethiopian, Scottish, Irish & Native American descent, and was raised on Beacon Hill, Seattle, Washington...
. The label's mission statement includes the goal of using hip hop as a means of grassroots community organizing and youth outreach.
Members
Ryan Abeo (RA Scion) was born in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in 1974 and briefly attended Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
before moving on to start a family. He has lived all over the globe, calling home to such places as Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
before settling with his family in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi (Sabzi) was born in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. He represents half of Common Market, as well as half of the Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
.
Discography
- Common MarketCommon Market (album)Common Market is the self-titled debut from Seattle-based hip-hop duo Common Market. The album was produced by Sabzi, who is also a member of another prominent Seattle hip-hop group, Blue Scholars....
(Pacific Northwest release, 2005) - Common MarketCommon Market (album)Common Market is the self-titled debut from Seattle-based hip-hop duo Common Market. The album was produced by Sabzi, who is also a member of another prominent Seattle hip-hop group, Blue Scholars....
(national release, 2006) - Black Patch WarBlack Patch War (album)Black Patch War is an EP from Seattle-based hip-hop duo, Common Market. It is the group's second release. The title is a reference to the American Black Patch Tobacco Wars of the early 20th century, a continuation of the title of the group's forthcoming full-length album, Tobacco Road which takes...
(May 20, 2008) - Tobacco RoadTobacco Road (album)Tobacco Road is the second album from Seattle-based hip-hop duo Common Market. It was released on September 9, 2008 via Massline Media. The album's title is a reference to the tobacco-producing region of North Carolina....
(September 9, 2008 on Hyena/Massline) U.S. Billboard Heatseekers #50 - The Winter's End (March 24, 2009 on Hyena/Massline, digital only)