Shabazz Palaces “Shine a Light” on Us With New Single featuring Thaddillac [Audio]

By Roseann V. Warren on May 27, 2017@muphoricsounds

Photo: Victoria Kovios

Alternative rap group, Shabazz Palaces continue to push boundaries in the genre of rap music. In 2009, Ishmael Butler aka Palaceer Lazaro member of Digable Planets and multi-instrumentalist Tendai “Baba” Maraire got together in their native state, Seattle and anonymously self-released two EPs, Eagles Soar, Oil Flows and The Seven New. They soon got the attention of Sub Pop independent label. Since then they have gone on to release two studio albums Black Up (2011) and Lese Majesty (2014) to much critical acclaim. The upcoming album, Quazarz that will come in two parts Born on a Gangster Star and The Jealous Machines and is what Butler describes as a exploration of their relationship to devices, in how they make a person live and present themselves, and use devices to manipulate. The first single, “Shine a Light” uses a 1965 record by Dee Dee Sharp called “I Really Love You” leaving the track in its original form as Butler’s rap juxtaposes between narrative wordplay and an hypnotic chant where, “Shine a line on the fake / This way my peeps can have it all” repeats. The official lyric video magnifies how Butler’s style is unchanged, and is universal to tackle the avant guarde against Maraire’s production. The album is expected to release August 17, and we are sure more tracks will sprinkle the market. Check out “Shine a Light” below.

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Roseann V. Warren

Founder + Editorial Director at Muphoric Sounds

Roseann V. Warren is a Brooklyn, NY-based freelance writer and developmental book editor who proudly calls herself a member of the Prince army and believes Hersey's chocolate is a crime against humanity. Follow her @webdiva3000