Shabazz Palaces announce new album Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star, share video & tour dates

With their prior albums sounding like they were conceived astrophysically, and with Ishmael Butler’s prior character hailing from the renowned Planet Digable, is it any wonder that Shabazz Palaces would go all-in on an alien-themed narrative at some point in their work? The duo’s upcoming album is called Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star, and — just in case you were starting to feel bummed out by our society’s current dearth of humorous stories about extra-terrestrial tourism — its overarching narrative follows Quazarz, “a sentient being from somewhere else,” who’s sent to “Amurderca” for the purposes of “chroncling and exploring as a musical emissary.” His discomfort grows, however, when he realizes that Amurderca is a land characterized by “brutality and alternative facts and death masquerading as connectivity.” (Really? In Amurderca???)

Still confused? Oh, don’t worry: here’s an official statement from Quazarz himself:

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 Awet the 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 is due out July 14 on Sub Pop (pre-order it here), and it follows their previous albums Black Up and Lese Majesty, both of which received quite a bit of attention at the time of their releases. I seem to recall people throwing around possibly hyperbolic claims that Shabazz was the “future of hip-hop!” (Though really, I think people just appreciated the “future” aspect and decided to throw an “of” in there because prepositions are cool.) Either way, it’s hard to imagine a wave of acts suddenly imitating the Shabazz sound.

Don’t agree with me? Check out the Quazarz track “Shine a Light” down below, and then forecast the entire future of hip hop for yourself. Check out some supporting tour dates and full album tracklisting after that as well, if you’re not too exhausted.

Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star tracklisting:

01. Since C.A.Y.A
02. When Cats Claw
03. Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac)
04. Dèesse Du Sang
05. Eel Dreams (feat. Loud Eyes Lou)
06. Parallax (feat. The Palaceer Lazaro)
07. Fine Ass Hairdresser
08. The Neurochem Mixalogue
09. That’s How City Life Goes
10. Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius)
11. Federalist Papers

Datez:

05.13.17 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017
08.16.17 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater
08.18.17 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
08.19.17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre
08.23.17 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)
08.24.17 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
08.25.17 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
08.26.17 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
08.27.17 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm
08.28.17 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
08.30.17 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
08.31.17 - Detroit, MI - El Club
09.02.17 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
09.05.17 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
09.06.17 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
09.07.17 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
09.08.17 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
09.11.17 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
09.15.17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
09.16.17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park

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