Watch Shabazz Palaces’ “Shine a Light” official video from Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines illustrated 32-page book will be available this Friday
Shabazz Palaces’ defy expectation and convention once again by delivering a wonderfully surreal new video for “Shine a Light” (feat. Thaddillac) from Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star. The new visual, directed by Neil Ferron, tells the story of a half-human/half-goat baby that gets ritualistically sacrificed at a countryside, teenage wedding. The “Shine A Light” video poses the question, “In these times, what is truly weird?! [watch here].”
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums for 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS worldwide through Sub Pop.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will also be available as a special-edition illustrated album: illustrated by cartoonist Joshua Ray Stephens this full-color, hand-numbered, 32-page book includes a download code for the full album. Joshua Ray Stephens worked directly with Shabazz Palaces to interpret the album track-by-track, creating a cohesive whole that synchronizes music and image. Printed in a large 11” x 17” format, with saddle-stitch binding, this limited-edition art piece further expands the ambitious universe of Quazarz and Shabazz Palaces. The illustrated album version of Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will be released in collaboration with Fantagraphics Books, this Friday, August 18th.
LP purchases of Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines from megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers, and at Shabazz Palaces shows, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl ( …Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum;…Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple) (while supplies last).
Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, which includes “Shine a Light”, “Since Caya,” “When Cats Claw” and Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius),” was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood) and recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, which includes “30 Clip Extension” “Effeminence” and “Julian’s Dream (Ode to a Bad)” was produced by the Palaceer Lazaro and Sunny Levine, recorded in Seattle at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space and in Marina Del Rey at Dror Lord Studios, and mixed by Levine and Kamal Humphrey at Kamal’s House Studio.
Both releases follow up the group’s critically acclaimed 2014 release, Lese Majesty.
What people are saying Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and affiliated singles:
” The group’s most ambitious work yet.” – [4/5] – The Independent
“an epic exploration of technology,rapmusic and contemporary America” [8/10] – Drowned In Sound
“One of themostcolourful and explorative parallel dimensions in recent hip-hop history” [8/10] – Crack
“The power of Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs the Jealous Machines comes from the way they spike their dense, abstract sound with moments of accessibility: a band broadening what they do without blunting their edge or losing their uniqueness.” – [4/5, Album of the Week] – The Guardian
“The pair’s music sounds like rap music viewed through a prism – a psychedelic reverie of glittering electronic textures and unconventionalbeatsthat’s sensual, expansive and disorientating….Like interstellar guides, they’re always positioned a little further out than their peers, and these two records offer suggested routes to an infinity of possible futures.” [8/10] – Uncut
“A thrilling excursion, possessing an otherworldly ambiance and substance you’ll spend months decoding, every spin yielding something new. Adventurous ears, listen up!” [4/5 stars] – MOJO
“Set Quazarz to stunning.” [4/5 stars] – Q
“The ‘Quazarz’ suite is an unequivocal triumph.” [9/10] – Loud & Quiet
“Both of Shabazz Palaces’ new albums are meticulously crafted, with an obscure narrative and arrangements so vivid they beckon you to unravel them.” [4/5 stars] – The Skinny
“Best New Track” [“Shine a Light”] – Pitchfork
“It’s a gorgeous slice of soulful hip-hop with a touch of psychedelia, a timeless piece of music that defies current trends and of-the-moment styles.” [“Shine a Light”] – Pigeons and Planes
“…A lovely and dazed float of a song built from a Madlib-esque string loop.” [“Shine a Light”] – Stereogum
“…Even with its soulful underpinnings, the song pushes out toward the cosmic darkness Shabazz’s music has always surged into.” [“Shine a Light”] – Uproxx
“An aurora borealis of rap…” [“Shine a Light”] – Noisey
