Oh reader, where does the time go? Can you believe that it’s actually been three years since Ishmael Butler and Tendai ‘Baba’ Maraire (a.k.a. badass rap super-duo Shabazz Palaces) released their year-end-list-friendly album Black Up?
I know I can’t. In fact, I outright fucking refuse to. So, whatever. It hasn’t been that long at all, as far as I’m concerned. IN FACT: I, for one, choose to be stalwartly ASTOUNDED that, according to Complex, those guys are already gearing up to release their second album… SO SOON! Crazy!
But yeah, it’s happening; they pretty much premiered the whole thing last weekend at their Seattle gig at the Pacific Science Center Laser Dome (1. yes, that’s a thing; 2. YES, there was definitely an accompanying laser show).
But, so, big whip, right? I mean, other than lasers and shit (which presumably won’t accompany the take-home version of the album), what’s all-that-different about LP2? Well, I guess mostly that this one is called Lese Majesty, and that it’s coming at us July 29 (of whatever year this actually is) via Sub Pop. Oh, and the title. It apparently comes from a French term “lèse-majesté,” which seems to sort-of mean an “attack against an injured state.” Hmm. Wait, does that mean this new album is going to be all “confrontational” and “political” and “in our faces” and whatnot? Because I’m pretty sure I speak for everyone everywhere at every point in history when I say that I only like rap music that’s about partying. Or lasers. Or even better, both at the same time.
Lese Majesty tracklist:
01. Dawn In Luxor
02. Forerunner Foray
03. They Come In Gold
04. Solemn Swears
05. Harem Aria
06. Noetic Noiromantics
07. The Ballad Of Lt. Major Winnings
08. Soundview
09. Ishmael
10. …down 155th in the MCM Snorkel
11. Divine of Form
12. #CAKE
13. Colluding Oligarchs
14. Suspicion of a Shape
15. MindGlitch Keytar TM Theme
16. Motion Sickness
17. New Black Wave
18. Sonic MythMap for the Trip Back
• Shabazz Palaces: http://www.shabazzpalaces.com
• Sub Pop: http://www.subpop.com
More about: Shabazz Palaces