photos by Julie Schabel

The free construction and dub production of Shabazz Palace's music might make them seem like a headphones-only proposition. Not remotely so. The duo didn't give themselves much space to move--Maraire stood behind a pair of congas and at one point played a large thumb piano, as Lazaro switched between mike-stand effects box, waist-high laptop, and a couple other machines...

But the group had a nice little repertoire of choreographed moves (the best one was a high-five-on-the-backhand-side), and generated a lot of compressed energy, something the room returned in kind. The space filled up fast--zero to sixty in the 45 minutes between my 10:15 arrival and the headliners going on...

The show finished with "Recollections of the Wraith," whose chorus goes, "Clear some space out so we can space out," and by that point it was hard to move around at all--which, of course, isn't the same as the music being hard to move to. That was no issue at all. -[Capital NY]

That review, and the pictures in this post. come from Shabazz Palaces' headlining appearance at SOBs on April 13th (did you get in with your SOB's pass?), where the crew teamed up with Lavish and Malitia Malimob one day before Shabazz Palaces played a sold out Brooklyn Bowl to complete their two night run in the city.

Make sure to head out for Record Store Day on 4/21 to pick up your copy of the new Shabazz Palaces Live at KEXP 12". Culled from a live session on KEXP (no doy), the limited-to-2000 release comes on purple vinyl.

More pictures from SOB's are below.

Continue reading "Shabazz Palaces played BB & SOB's (pics), releasing RSD 12""

by BBG

GZA at ATP (more by Abbey Braden)

I already ran through some of the upcoming hip hop shows, many of them for CMJ (Ghostface, Audible Treats, Blacksmith & Duck Down included). Here are some more.

GZA will headline the Frankradio x Babygrande x iHipHop Distribution CMJ Showcase at Le Poisson Rouge alongside appearances from DJ Premier, Tabi Bonney, Trademark da Skydiver, Marz Lovejoy , Polyester the Saint, Lavish, Rocky Business, Christian Rich and as well as DJ Jasmine Solano. The show, which goes down Thursday 10/21 kicks off at 11PM and tickets are on sale (or use your CMJ badge).

Meanwhile, DJ Premier recently released a classic freestyle from the Stretch & Bobbito Show which features 10 minutes of Big L and Jay-Z. If you are a fan of either, it's a must (stream/DL it below). Listen closely though, as you can hear Jay-Z scheming to steal the line "all I got for chicks is hard dick & bubblegum" for his song "A Million & One Questions" (which came out two years after this freestyle).

Speaking of the late/great Big L, Return of the Devil's Son is the posthumous MC's new album which will feature "21 unreleased songs" and see release on 11/23 via Distrolord/SMC Recordings. Check out a reworking of the Big L classic "Danger Zone" called "Zone of Danger" stream/downloadable below courtesy RCRD LBL. Full tracklisting is below too.

And last but certainly not least, Knitting Factory will host the return of Leaders Of The New School on 12/23 with Son of Bazerk (who recently came back at Central Park), and DJ sets from Johnny Juice (Public Enemy) and J-Zone. Tickets are on sale. For the unaware, LONS was Busta Rhymes' first project before going solo with the monster hit "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check". LONS also is featured in the A Tribe Called Quest classic "Scenario".

UPDATE: grandgood reports that: "ccording to DJ Johnny Juice, Busta Rhymes is not part of this show. Only Dinco D, Charlie Brown and Cut Monitor Milo will be performing along with Son Of Bazerk. Still sounds like a dope show."

Those Big L tracks, the LP tracklisting and a bunch of videos are below. Big L, Rest in Peace!

Continue reading "GZA's CMJ show, new Big L, Leaders Of The New School back together & other upcoming hip hop dates & stuff"