Weekly Release Spotlight: Shabazz Palaces
Posted on 7/10/2011
Shabazz Palaces
Black Up
Sub Pop
Black Up
Sub Pop
Appearing seemingly out of nowhere in 2009 with two EPs, little was known about Shabazz Palaces. After listening to the Seattle trio, two things became immediately evident. The rhymes flowing from MC Palaceer Lazaro were that of a matured Ishmael Butler (formerly of Digable Planets). Also apparent was the raw talent of Shabazz Palaces. Record label Sub Pop was quick to recognize their talent, and in September of 2010 news broke that the Sub Pop signed Shabazz Palaces to their label. This marked the first time in the 25 year history of the record label a hip-hop group was signed, a high honor bringing with it high expectations. Black Up is the resulting album, and it does not disappoint.
The depth and complexity of Black Up extends well beyond the track names. Shabazz Palaces interweaves elements of funk, psychedelic, and African beats into their alternative hip-hop sound effortlessly throughout the 35 minutes of Black Up. The group takes the strongest elements of dubstep, including thick, vibrating bass and drums, without sounding overly repetitive, a common pitfall of the genre. In fact, despite incredibly catchy hooks on songs like the album’s opener, “Free Press and Curl,” Black Up is anything but repetitive. Three minutes into the opener, the tempo ramps down to the point of sounding like a new song entirely. The once omnipresent bass riff drops out, along with the crooning backing vocals. Butler delivers his lines softer and with less attack but always with an air of eeriness, a recurring element in the album. The journey of sound continues on the next track “An Echo From The Hosts That Profess Infinitum.” A minute into the song, the lyrics stop along with the instrumentation, making way for an mbira solo and continuing the trend of genre blending and cultivating an almost supernatural sound.
Shabazz Palaces remains relatively cloaked in mystery, preferring to stay out of the media spotlight. Their lyrics reflect their disposition. Lazaro spits, “Now, if you talk about it, it’s a show/But if you move about it, then it’s a go,” in the opening hook of the album’s closing number “Swerve… The Reeping Of All That Is Worthwhile.” Despite their immense talent and incredibly unique sound, Shabazz Palaces offers an incredible level of humility in a genre often associated with self-aggrandizing. The final minutes of Black Up defer lyrical responsibilities to guest duo THEESatisfaction. While their humility is impressive, their sound is doubly so. It’s the catchy hooks, unique instrumentation, and the overall depth of the album that will have listeners coming back for more.
Stream: Shabazz Palaces - "Swerve"