Aloha to hip-hop from the Blue Scholars

Aloha to hip-hop

from the Blue Scholars

Local hip-hop duo Blue Scholars are back with 12 tracks on an EP called "OOF!" It's a varied affair that may or may not sound like "hip-hop" to the average listener. There's cutesy reggae ("Cruz"), aerobics-paced synth pop ("New People"), and one minimalist experiment with tribal drums. No offense to the rhymes — which swing more than they used to — but "OOF!" is all about the beats. Six of the tracks are instrumental versions of the other six.

Geologic (words) and Sabzi (sounds) are known for pretty songs with positive social messages, but this time the Scholars deliver both with a twist: The lyrics are about Hawaii — where Geo used to live and the Scholars recently vacationed — and the backdrops are all over the place.

Physical copies of "OOF!" are available for purchase at Caffe Vita locations around Seattle, and also at Blue Scholars' "OOF!" EP release party at 10 tonight at 'Ohana Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Belltown, 2207 First Ave., Seattle; $5 (206-956-9329 or www.ohanabelltown.com). Coffee, sushi and hip-hop: What's weird about that?

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff reporter