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After the release of two EPs in 2009, Shabazz Palaces, a sub pop group that until recently was shrouded in mystery but is now known to be formed by Palaceer Lazaro, aka Ishmael Butler, a former member of the Digable Planets (a jazz hop group from the '90s), and his collaborator, percussionist Tendai Maraire, return with a new album, Black Up.
Describing the album as a simple hip hop work would not even remotely convey what it truly is; theirs is, in fact, a mix of hip hop, soul, and synthetic effects, all creating a psychedelic and dreamlike atmosphere.
To get a better idea of their sound, simply analyze the first track "Free Press And Curl", a song that begins with a base of percussion and synthetic effects, which is then joined by the hypnotic rap of Ishmael Butler, all seasoned with the insertion here and there of an oppressive choir that seems to have been taken directly from "Medulla" by Bjork (we will often find sounds or choirs of this kind). Black Up can also be described with this piece, as all the tracks on the album aim to create this type of atmosphere, although gradually it will undergo some changes, becoming increasingly engaging and paranoid.
The only weak point of the album is that sometimes it feels like the tracks continue with too much linearity, a feeling largely canceled out when special high-level guests like Flying Lotus or Tokimonsta make their appearance, capable of giving greater variety and expressiveness to the work. In short, Shabazz Palaces offer a sub pop with dark undertones, as complex as it is innovative, able to satisfy many lovers of the genre and beyond, provided the right time is dedicated to it.
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