With the release of their double album Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines, Shabazz Palaces blast light years into the future, expanding their vision and redefining the parameters of hip-hop. Butler is in top form, combining wicked stream of consciousness flows with poignant nuggets of relevant wisdom. A human feeling alien in an inhumane world.
Tendai “Baba” Maraire is essential in the direction of each album; if Butler is the mind of Shabazz Palaces, Maraire is the soul. His vision unlocks their inter-dimensional being, and adds a distinct atmosphere to Quazarz’s escapades. Together they create a magnetic and vivid story line; one full of mind-bending adventures. Two daring albums made of pure creative moxie.
‘Since C.A.Y.A.‘
Lyrical savageness from a rap Basquiat. There’s no singular thread to wrap the mind around, just a series of vignettes that capture a creative mind in flux. Baba crafts a wicked bitch’s brew that coats the senses in cosmic dust, and Butler obliges with a stream of consciousness flow. They’re both on a mystical journey home, a place where mind, body and soul are in complete harmony: [LISTEN]
‘When Cats Claw‘
Angular beats and spaced out melodies make way for scathing critiques. All the murder and mayhem has left Quazarz disorientated; unable to fathom the madness haunting the world. The rage is running rampant, and there is no hope in sight; the blind leading the blind. He’s trying to play it cool and let nature takes its course, but it doesn’t take long before he has to turn his head in disgust: [LISTEN]
‘Shine a Light‘
Replacing the abstract with sweet, easy to digest soul paves the way for much needed straight talk. They’re standing upon a mountain and placing a sun sized spotlight on the nonsensical ballyhoo polluting the airwaves. There’s nowhere to hide when the dynamic duo are on the hunt, and by the sound of it they’ve been craving blood for some time. A blistering lyrical assault from a rap savant: [LISTEN]
‘Eel Dreams‘
Swirling melodies and crashing waves of percussion simulate the ocean tides. Dreaming underwater Quazarz imagines himself courting a fellow martian. Her shiny purple eyes and blue lashes has him smitten, and he’s looking for a way to make the feeling last. He’s in a blissful state, weightless and without a care in the world. In her presence he is invincible; immune from life’s many woes: [LISTEN]
‘That’s How City Life Goes‘
A smattering of sounds has Quazarz reeling. He’s traversing through the city and at first it’s peaceful and melodic, an exciting adventure that enlivens his senses and invigorates his soul. But as the rat race descends and settles deeply into his marrow it poisons his mind and leaves his spirit drained. He doesn’t have any solution or answer to the chaos, only a salty feeling that won’t go away: [LISTEN]
‘Moon Whip Quäz‘
Pulsing synth work has Quazarz cutting the dance floor in two. He’s finally introducing himself and giving a brief synopsis of his handy work. He’s silver surfing across light waves, evading mental and physical slavery, and when he has time, destroying Death Stars. His pedigree is rich in flavor and the wisdom of the ancients are at as back, guiding his every move. A journeyman with miles to go: [LISTEN]
‘Welcome to Quazarz‘
Cavernous percussion and wayward winds transport the senses to a mysterious place called Quazarz. The description of this mystical land is more conceptual than it is physical, which suggests that it is all in the mind. He’s showing us the philosophy and the rules that have sustained it for centuries. Some of it is easy to understand, other ideas are foreign and hard to grasp: [LISTEN]
‘Gorgeous Sleeper Cell‘
A slow rumbling beat looms heavy over the horizon. The lightening cracks ominously, sending cold shivers down the spine. He’s analyzing the state of affairs and seeing a multitude of sheeple mindlessly going about their lives without a care in the world. The apathy and complete lack of awareness has left him dumbfounded. Uncertain if what he’s looking at is actually human: [LISTEN]
‘Self-Made Follownaire‘
Seething synth creates a hazy feeling of disenfranchisement. The people are stuffed and glassy-eyed, bloated with their own sense of self and unable to shake free. They are being deprived of their hearts, and told that liberation can be found at the end of a selfie stick. The egos are inflated and blinding their vision; lemmings heading for the edge unaware of what lies ahead: [LISTEN]
‘Atlaantis‘
Earth rattling bass clears the way for takeoff. He’s describing a journey to a mythical place, one filled with legend and lore. His relationship with this magical land is filled with uncertainty and the nostalgia injected into the beat suggests that all of it is a distant memory. It’s a ‘thank you’ letter of sorts, his way of acknowledging the lasting impression it has left on him: [LISTEN]
‘Effeminence‘
The mood softens and Quazarz lets his mind wander. He loses his sense of self giving way to a collage of memories and past lives. The life force is bringing his ideas into sharp focus, and suddenly the physical becomes conceptual. He wants more out of life, and looking for answers within. Once he focuses he sees that all is well and that everything he has been searching for is right in front of him: [LISTEN]
‘Juilian’s Dream (Ode to a Bad)‘
A supple beat with minimal percussion ushers in a vivid dreamlike sequence. The direction is unclear, waxing and waning like the moon. He delivers quick snapshots revisiting old flames and emotions that have been buried for years. It’s a fluid, stream of consciousness flow that moves in and out of sound with serpentine grace. A journey of self-discovery that delves deep into the subconscious: [LISTEN]
‘30 Clip Extension‘
An abstract beat full of wayward guitar licks and mystical drum breaks makes for fertile soil. There is an illusive game being played in rap, where talking heads (or puppets rather) are getting credit for another person’s hard work. It’s siphoning the originality out of the scene, and leading to some shoddy, godawful workmanship. The mainstream has given itself to a gang of imitators with no game: [LISTEN]
‘Love in the Time of Kanye‘
Trying to find love and meaning in a time where nothing is what it seems. What once came so natural is now processed through filters and Photoshop, a digitized reality that swaps blood for mercury. Even the sacred art of courtship is fake, and the cost of that harsh truth is leaving him bankrupt. The beat is light and tickles the eardrum, softly whispering inspiration to Quazarz: [LISTEN]
