Genealogy of a Remix: Blue Scholars - New People (Empire Remix)

Inspired by a grooving new remix built from two excellent sources and a hot new solo track from a related artist, this post will take a page from Amanda's book and trace the genealogy of "New People (Empire Remix)" to its source material and a couple degrees beyond that, eventually linking it to "Circus Hounds (Superfly Gettin High)".

The remix that spawned this post, Seattle hip-hop frontrunners Blue Scholars take "New People" from their recent Oof! EP and mix the riff from the feel-good 2008 classic "Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun into a funky backbone.

Blue Scholars - New People {Empire Remix}

One half of the remix, "Walking on a Dream" is an instant classic MGMT/Phoenix style electro-pop piece emerging from Australians Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore all the way back in summer 2008.

Empire of the Sun - Walking On A Dream

Taking it one more step back, Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun made his name fronting Down Under group The Sleepy Jackson in the earlier half of the decade. From the 2003 album Lovers, here is standout psych-pop track "Good Dancers" (given heavy airplay by Seattle indie radio station KEXP back in the day).

The Sleepy Jackson - Good Dancers

The other half of the featured remix, the Blue Scholars dropped these lyrics originally on this track from the Oof! Ep, recorded in MC Geologic's native Hawaii in 2009.

Blue Scholars - New People

Blue Scholars (composed of an MC, Geologic and a DJ, Sabzi) cemented their reputation as hip hop future stars on 2004 release Blue Scholars - check standout tracks "Blink" (the politically charged one) and "The Inkwell" (the pretty, Northwest-representing one).

Blue Scholars - Blink
Blue Scholars - The Inkwell

Common Market is another big name in contemporary Seattle hip hop, consisting of MC RA Scion paired with DJ Sabzi from the Blue Scholars. Here, Common Market remixes their track "Every Last One" with help on the mic from MC Geologic of Blue Scholars and fellow Seattle rapper Gabriel Teodros (of Abyssinian Creole). The three groups currently run the co-op Seattle label MASSLINE - stay tuned for future releases.

Common Market - Every Last One (Cornerstone Remix f/Geologic of Blue Scholars and Gabriel Teodros)

RA Scion (the MC from Common Market) has recorded an album with Everett-based beatmaker MTK that is just now making the rounds, named after RA Scion's alter ego Victor Shade. Check brand new track "Circus Hounds (Superfly Gettin High)" to hear their sound and the end point of today's arcing trajectory.

RA Scion - Circus Hounds (Superfly Gettin High)