After releasing several recordings themselves on small time labels, in 2010 they contracted to release an ep with Sub Pop and have collaborated in recordings and on stage with artists such as MC Silk, and THEESatisfaction. They deliver sincere and radical lyrics with sounds and beats that include sounds from around the world. Containing echos of funk, minor-key jazz, London dubstep and mbira sounds they structure their songs outside the 16-bars/chorus/repeat form of much hip hop.Their music won them the first ever Music Genius award from The Stranger in 2010.
The group which also features mixing engineer Erik Blood, often dress in elaborate costumes and masks for their live performances.
For Butler, who never stopped making music since he released his classic album by Digable Planets , ''Blowout Comb'', Shabazz palaces is his latest place to play with ideas. Those ideas have always been simultaneously global in their expansiveness and basement ceiling low in their commitment to hip-hop’s bottom line.
Their video for Belhaven Meridian is a one-shot bw music video, shot in Watts, LA, homage to the 1977 classic film Killer of Sheep, a film set around the Watts Riots. It features a cameo by Ernest Wadell from The Wire.
Dope.
Free Press and Curl
Shabazz Palaces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the brown
Juicy lips
Watchin' glow
In the sauce
Ah
I cried with mooch at Papi's wake
When the pigs came round to make they case
I looked them dead up in they face
I never heard of none of that
Soon's I will it's running back
I run on feelings, fuck your facts
Deception is the truest act
With poise I twirl the bluest slack
Dougie hold the ooh-est sacks
I danced a move to play the back
I dipped she asked him, who was that?
I ain't showed off I just showed up
Great my peoples fill they cup
Transmit heat on pillows plush
I mean it though
I lean and flow
I gleam and glow
I'm clean and oh you betcha
That I get it grow inside the glow
Just not for show
Green beans purples indigo
Catchy yes but trendy no
Never finished scheming though
That's beneath Barbara Jean offspring with po
I never seem to know
Gun beats comprise arsenal
Up or don't toss it at all
Up or don't toss it at all
Up or don't toss it at all
Up or don't toss it at all
Yeah up or don't toss it at all
Philosophy is cruelty
And both musically and bitch-wise too
I lost the best beat that I had
Now my heart just smash and dash
Warm inside I catch a cab
It's boring out I'm to the lab
These robots grant us internets
Program racist sequences
Don't compare my beat with his
He ain't up off these streets
He slid
I'm free
Shit you know I'm free
Nigga I'm free
Yeah you know I'm free
Shit I'm free to be unsly to all these things I can't escape
Trapped inside imaginations tickling at my face
You know I'm free
Bitch you know I'm free
Face it girl I'm free
Yeah you know I'm free
Okay I'm free yeah
Free to chain my will onto the wings of my instinct
And wander round this box you know I'm inextricably linked
You know I'm
Free
I'm free
I'm free
Shit you know I'm free
That's right I'm free to make a sooth to catch some stuff that holds me down
To capture my desires fashion out a viscid crown
You know I'm free
Shit you know I'm free
Pigs you know I'm free
My tongue these niggas I'm free
I never leave I'm super free
To fill my smiles up with the tears that I forgot
And haunt myself beside these pretty ghosts that float my heart
You know I'm free
Fow show
Bask in the light of my phone screen glow
Dons realize everyone I know
Freedom's cold newest episode yeah
One more smile and they undertow
Let's go let's go let's go let's go let's go
Gospel
Took minds in for a fresher world
Old school hood nigga best and crust
Eyes like moons when I kiss my girl
Get flunked out wish I was in Africa
Con jo con jo con jo con jo con jo
The lyrics to Shabazz Palaces's song Free Press and Curl are both abstract and poetic in nature. The song's lyrics carry a message of freedom and liberation, mixed with a sense of sadness and rebellion. The opening lines, "Dance machine, in the brown, juicy lips, watching glow, in the sauce, ah," capture the essence of the song and are both rhythmic and poetic in nature.
The verse talks about the singer's experiences with the police and their efforts to enforce the law. The singer talks about how deception is the truest act and how he runs on feelings, not facts. The verses also describe moments of joy, like when the singer sneaks an extra slice of cake at a funeral or dancing with a girl who he later leaves wondering about who he is. The song ends with the lines "Let's go let's go let's go let's go let's go, gospel, took minds in for a fresher world, old school hood nigga best and crust, eyes like moons when I kiss my girl, get flunked out wish I was in Africa, con jo con jo con jo con jo con jo" which are both enigmatic and open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Dance machine
I'm a skilled dancer
In the brown
Being Black
Juicy lips
Full, moisture-rich lips
Watchin' glow
Observing and admiring the aura and energy of the atmosphere
In the sauce
Confident and saucy in my demeanor
I cried with mooch at Papi's wake
I mourned and shed tears at my friend's father's funeral
Snuck a extra slice of cake
Took an additional piece of cake secretly
When the pigs came round to make they case
When the police were around building a case against us
I looked them dead up in they face
I stared straight into their eyes with defiance
I never heard of none of that
I'm unaware of any wrongdoing
Soon's I will it's running back
As soon as I figure it out, I’ll address it
I run on feelings, fuck your facts
I'm driven by emotion, not logic
Deception is the truest act
Lying is the purest form of communication
With poise I twirl the bluest slack
I gracefully move in my stylish suit
Dougie hold the ooh-est sacks
My associate has the best weed
I danced a move to play the back
I made a subtle move to stay out of the spotlight
I dipped she asked him, who was that?
I confidently walked away from a woman, leaving her to ask about me
I ain't showed off I just showed up
I didn't flaunt my presence, I just arrived
Great my peoples fill they cup
My friends are enjoying themselves
Transmit heat on pillows plush
I provide comforting warmth
I mean it though
I'm serious about what I'm saying
I lean and flow
I move with ease and grace
I gleam and glow
I shine and radiate happiness
I'm clean and oh you betcha
I'm refined and classy
That I get it grow inside the glow
My confidence grows and shines through me
Just not for show
My confidence is genuine, not for showmanship
Green beans purples indigo
I see beauty and color in everything
Catchy yes but trendy no
My style isn't trendy, but it catches people's attention
Never finished scheming though
I'm always planning or strategizing for my next move
That's beneath Barbara Jean offspring with po
I'm above foolishness and drama, I have class
I never seem to know
I'm often unsure of things
Gun beats comprise arsenal
Weapons are a key part of my skill set
Up or don't toss it at all
Do it right or don't do it at all
Philosophy is cruelty
Philosophy can be harsh and unforgiving
And both musically and bitch-wise too
This applies to my music and interactions with women
I lost the best beat that I had
I had a great musical inspiration that I lost
Now my heart just smash and dash
I'm heartbroken and reckless
Warm inside I catch a cab
Despite my emotions, I need to keep moving forward
It's boring out I'm to the lab
I need to find inspiration and create new music
These robots grant us internets
Artificial intelligence gives us access to the internet
Program racist sequences
The technology used to run the internet is racist
Don't compare my beat with his
My music is unique and shouldn't be compared to anyone else's
He ain't up off these streets
He isn't as respected in the streets as I am
I'm free
I'm liberated and independent
Shit you know I'm free
I'm unapologetically free
Nigga I'm free
My Blackness doesn't limit me, I'm free
Yeah you know I'm free
Everyone knows I'm free
Shit I'm free to be unsly to all these things I can't escape
I can't escape certain situations, but I'm free to be myself and not conform
Trapped inside imaginations tickling at my face
I'm imaginative and creative, but sometimes it's overwhelming
Bitch you know I'm free
I won't let anyone limit me, I'm free
Face it girl I'm free
I'm free and unafraid to show it
Okay I'm free yeah
I'm absolutely free
Free to chain my will onto the wings of my instinct
I'm free to follow my instinct and make my own decisions
And wander round this box you know I'm inextricably linked
I'm free to explore within the limits of my current situation
Pigs you know I'm free
The police can't constrain me, I'm free
My tongue these niggas I'm free
I can speak my mind, these people can't hold me down
I never leave I'm super free
I'm always free, no matter where I am or what's going on
To fill my smiles up with the tears that I forgot
I can express all of my emotions, including sadness
And haunt myself beside these pretty ghosts that float my heart
I'm surrounded by memories of the past, both good and bad
Fow show
For sure
Bask in the light of my phone screen glow
I spend a lot of time on my phone, watching videos and scrolling through social media
Dons realize everyone I know
I'm a respected figure in my community
Freedom's cold newest episode yeah
I'm excited for what the future holds in terms of my liberty and independence
One more smile and they undertow
I'm afraid I'll get too caught up in my happiness and forget my struggles
Let's go let's go let's go let's go let's go
I'm ready to move forward and embrace the future
Gospel
The truth
Took minds in for a fresher world
I'm open-minded and want to make the world a better place
Old school hood nigga best and crust
I'm a traditional and authentic member of my community
Eyes like moons when I kiss my girl
I'm deeply in love with my girlfriend
Get flunked out wish I was in Africa
I feel disconnected from society and wish I could escape to Africa
Con jo con jo con jo con jo con jo
Nonsense words that add rhythm and flow to the song
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Written by: ISHMAEL REGINALD BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scottborden10
anyone who hasnt downloaded the entire album is severely missing out, every single track is phenomenal
@0412lennon
Not a rap fan at all but this is totally bad ass. Sick beats and effects with great flows. I'm a fan
@Nina513
I swear Shabazz Palaces is coming out on some new age shit... I am feeling their whole movement; love the album!!!
@MegaAndrewilson
Big up to "Dat Dude" Box for puttin' me up on this album. Undeniably one of the finest pieces of work in hip hop EVER. Ish has done it yet again. Masterful. Say "WORD!".
@asondh
This = Better than studio version. Love this project so much.
@Koopgeminikiller
DUDE, I grew up with nohting but HIPHOP now its all Indie Rock for me... THIS SONG AND THIS DUDE REVIVED RAP FOR ME.... The defining rap song of the new decade
@moresoduh
friggin visionaries...love SP.
@nstvotvzoso1
Wow....that is mind blowing
@desman101
i n i get most high off the vibe. ishmael is a genius
@soulicksoulsuck
'This shit is way too advanced...' Going to see them live in SF. Supa sexcited!