Over the past few years, Seattle, WA-based hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces — comprised of former Digable Planet, Ishmael Butler and multi-instrumentalist Baba Maraire — have become JOVM mainstay artists for an uncompromisingly difficult to pigeonhole sound and aesthetic. After anonymously self-releasing two EPs, the duo was quickly signed to renowned indie label Sub Pop Records , who released their critically applauded full-length debut Black Up!
Two years ago, Sub Pop Records released their critically acclaimed sophomore effort Lese Majesty, an effort which further cemented the duo’s reputation for being relentlessly and fearlessly experimental; in fact, Lese Majesty‘s sonically focuses on intricately nuanced, ethereal and psychedelic soundscapes as the duo incorporates shimmering synths, a complex and playful array of samples and found sounds. And it gives the album’s material a mind-bending, hallucinatory sensibility. Album single “Forerunner Foray” much like “#CAKE” is a single that effortlessly morphs and shifts seemingly at will; however, there’s a subtle trap influence as the song possesses enormous boom-bap beats that pair perfectly with Butler’s ridiculous flow.
Although the album was released some time ago, the recently released music video is a gorgeously shot video which focuses on cosmic and global phenomenon — and looks as though it should have been part of the Cosmos reboot featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson.