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Apr 25, 2017 Shabazz Palaces By Christopher Roberts

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Pacific Northwest hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces have announced a new album, Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, and shared a lyric video for its first single, “Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac).” Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star is due out July 14 via Sub Pop. Below is the lyric video, followed by the album’s tracklist and cover art, as well as the band’s upcoming tour dates.

Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood) produced Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and it was recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle. The album is the follow-up to 2014’s acclaimed Lese Majesty. It seems to be a science fiction concept album of sorts.

A press release describes the album as such: “Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star serves as both an introduction and tells the tale of Quazarz, a sentient being from somewhere else, an observer sent here to Amurderca to chronicle and explore as a musical emissary. What he finds in our world is a cutthroat place, a landscape where someone like him could never quite feel comfortable amidst all the brutality and alternative facts and death masquerading as connectivity.”

The Palaceer of Shabazz Palaces had this to say about his alien persona in the press release: “I, Quazarz, Born on a Gangster Star, son only of Barbara Dream Caster and Reginald The Dark Hoper - he who rides on light - dreamer of the seventh dream and kissed eternal by Awetthe Sun Scented - who far from home I found my same self differents in those constellies that be Dai at my weap-side immediate and all us Water Guild affiliates who revelries in the futures passed recordings and ceremonies flexing resplendent in the Paradise Sportif armor - raising these musics a joy/cry that way into these aquadescent diamondized ethers of the Migosphere here on Drake world. Welcome To Quazarz.”

Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star Tracklist:

1. Since C.A.Y.A
2. When Cats Claw
3. Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac)
4. Dèesse Du Sang
5. Eel Dreams (feat. Loud Eyes Lou)
6. Parallax (feat. The Palaceer Lazaro)
7. Fine Ass Hairdresser
8. The Neurochem Mixalogue
9. That’s How City Life Goes
10. Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius)
11. Federalist Papers

Shabazz Palaces Tour Dates:

May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017
Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater
Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre
Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)
Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm
Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club
Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park

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