Both members, DJ/Producer Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC RA Scion (Ryan Abeo), had been active hip hop artists in the Pacific Northwest for three years before they combined their talents in 2005 to form Common Market.

RA Scion and Sabzi's paths crossed through the Northwest hip hop scene, where they bonded over their Baháʼí Faith contacts, and their political and spiritual approach to hip-hop music.

[1] After collaborating on a pair of 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 debut, released in October 2005.

"[2] 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.

[4] Shortly after the release of their debut album, Common Market gathered praise as Seattle Weekly's 2006 Best New Artist and performing slots on grand stages such as the Sasquatch Festival and The Capitol Hill Block Party.

Their debut album was also the first official new release of Mass Line, a co-op indie record label run by Common Market, Blue Scholars and Gabriel Teodros.