Afrofuturist experimental duo Shabazz Palaces have returned from their slumber to bring us a brand new track, announcing a brand new album alongside it.
Underground experimental hip-hop legends Shabazz Palaces, the duo of Ishmael Butler (a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro) and Tendai Maraire, are officially back. Known for their incredible aesthetic and popular set of photos such as this one, the band have, in recent years, garnered quite a bit of attention.
Now, on April 17, Shabazz Palaces will return with a new album called The Don of Diamond Dreams, and today sees the release of the first single ‘Fast Learner’ featuring Purple Tape Nate. It’s a psychedelic groove, chopped and screwed in the fifth dimension. Check it out below.
The Don of Diamond Dreams will be the first new project from Shabazz Palaces since 2017, when the group dropped two LPs in Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines.
The Don of Diamond Dreams features contributions from singer/keyboardist Darrius Willrich, percussionist Carlos Niño, Knife Knights collaborator OCnotes, saxophonist Carlos Overall, and bassist Evan Flory-Barnes.
In an interview with Guardian, the rap duo explained how they fuse unique elements together in their music:
The duo signed to Sub Pop, releasing Black Up in 2011 and Lese Majesty three years later. Both records married their uncompromising vision of hip-hop with the DIY mentality of alternative rock. “We’ve got those sensibilities,” says Butler. “We listen to that music and we might not use the same elements – guitar, drums, etc – but we get the concepts.” In 2013, Butler became part of Sub Pop’s A&R team, bringing futuristic R&B group THEESatisfaction and rapper Porter Ray to the label.
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You can listen to the brand new Shabazz Palaces track ‘Fast Learner’ below.
The Don of Diamond Dreams:
01 Portal North: Panthera
02 Ad Ventures
03 Fast Learner [ft. Purple Tape Nate]
04 Wet
05 Chocolate Souffle
06 Portal South: Micah
07 Bad Bitch Walking [ft. Stas THEE Boss]
08 Money Yoga [ft. Darrius]
09 Thanking the Girls
10 Reg Walks By the Looking Glass [ft. Carlos Overall]