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.
Swerve... the Reeping of All That Is Worthwhile
Shabazz Palaces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But if you move about it, then it's a flow
Now, if you talking bout it, it's a show
But if you move about it, then it's a go
Now, if you talking bout it (nah) that's for show
But a nigga move about it, then it's a go, yeah
Now, if you talking bout it, that's show
But if you move about it, it's a go, well
Dynamic electromagnetic style utensils
Golden-tempered circles enjoyed only by the members
Heat sparks, raining vodkas upon the spinners
Moving and proving smooth shit, you grooving, you a winner
Aqua-walking, languid-talking, just stepped in the cleanest
Upper levels, precious metals drip your neck and fingers
Fifty zillion pops shirts, wave this and leaners
The hard sounding peoples, ain't nothing can't get between us
Dances received from the splash signals so to swim in
Magical places we get and with the shiny women
Win our idle pink girl, our bodies by wraith division
The moonlight and donnin' cloud glistenin' glazed, that we giftin
Every sound, we trying to mash and attention
We bung the latest feelings, they just re-rap through the givens
Them are talk first, we are observe and listen
Then shit you off the fiction plots and friction to the pistons
Ladies that twistin' it, music's kissin', you forbidden
Rappers that's fake, make no mistake, you we are dissing
To dance on the floor, and around, that is our mission
No sittin', getting fit and shit
And enjoy your chew with them niggas from
The does where the block space flow
Black cats, freestyles, big bro
Fly, die high, super wise on the floor
Said it go out fast, but it come back slow
What you know? (what you know?)
That it come back slow
It go out fast, but it come back slow
Nigga, mind how you go, keep your swerve in control
'Cause it go out fast, but it come back slow
Boogie woogie with your body, feel free
My mind loses connectivity
Or with the years, and plenty of seed
Wiggle, move the cold in me (saying)
See, you reap what you sow
Gathering it knows really never gets old
Stories and dance around to be told
So I
Shiver me timbers, relax my spine
Play it then, let my soul unwind
Streams of energy now intertwined
To sway my ifs comes instinctively
Communication distinctively
To unchain those like minded with glee
To wig out philocaly
United negro, movement improvement, eh
Like you wanted when the groove went improved you, that
You were wanted on the dance floor and you move back
To the wall with all the ((chu nu sta sing kat))
You plant wildflowers, I was dancing back-to-back
Ch-ch-cheeky, no, we stay geek, asthma attack
As we sweat it out, we get it out, we deal to that
To a girl that make me say, "Bang my heel to that"
And there's no need to oppose or appeal to that
Once the rhythm hits the rhyme I'm a filled with that
Nigga down la sol lime, I'm Corneel, get that
We catch it on libid's fine, say the realest cats
And it was never dubbed our trance
Back to 3 dimensions and hands in our pants
It was such a force, I tried to stop it but I can't
So still it morphs, this shit is way too advanced
(too advanced, too advanced)
The song "Swerve...the Reeping of All That Is Worthwhile" by Shabazz Palaces talks about the difference between talking about something and actually doing it. The lyrics suggest that talking about it is just an act, while moving and acting upon it is real. The first verse repeats this theme four times, emphasizing that doing something requires action, and action means movement. The second verse is about partying and dancing. It speaks of the joy and the pleasure of dancing and of the grooving, which is the real reward.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, if you talking bout it, it's a show
If you only talk about it, it's just for show
But if you move about it, then it's a flow
But if you actually take action, then it becomes a flow
Dynamic electromagnetic style utensils
Innovative tools and techniques that are constantly evolving
Golden-tempered circles enjoyed only by the members
Exclusive and coveted circles restricted to a select few
Heat sparks, raining vodkas upon the spinners
Intense energy and excitement, with alcohol raining down on those who excel
Moving and proving smooth shit, you grooving, you a winner
Showing off your smooth moves and winning recognition for it
Aqua-walking, languid-talking, just stepped in the cleanest
Cool and effortless walking and talking, in the freshest and cleanest of environments
Upper levels, precious metals drip your neck and fingers
Reaching higher levels of status and wealth, with precious metals adorning your body
Fifty zillion pops shirts, wave this and leaners
Countless numbers of people wearing the same pop culture shirts, swaying and leaning in unison
The hard sounding peoples, ain't nothing can't get between us
The strong and resilient people who won't let anything come between them
Dances received from the splash signals so to swim in
Receiving and interpreting signals that lead to dancing and enjoyment
Magical places we get and with the shiny women
Going to amazing places with attractive women
Win our idle pink girl, our bodies by wraith division
Winning over our dream girl, with our bodies as our only asset
The moonlight and donnin' cloud glistenin' glazed, that we giftin
Creating a beautiful and special moment, like moonlight shining on glazed clouds
Every sound, we trying to mash and attention
Intensely focusing on every sound and trying to merge them together
We bung the latest feelings, they just re-rap through the givens
We bring new feelings and emotions to the forefront, while others just recycle the same old ideas
Them are talk first, we are observe and listen
Others talk and promise first, while we observe and listen to fully understand
Then shit you off the fiction plots and friction to the pistons
Disregard the fake stories and focus on what truly matters
Ladies that twistin' it, music's kissin', you forbidden
Women who are dancing with such passion, it's forbidden
Rappers that's fake, make no mistake, you we are dissing
We are calling out and criticizing fake rappers
To dance on the floor, and around, that is our mission
Our goal is to dance and enjoy ourselves to the fullest extent
No sittin', getting fit and shit
Don't stay idle, get up and get active
And enjoy your chew with them niggas from
Enjoy the experience with your friends
The does where the block space flow
The places where the energy and vibe is strong
Black cats, freestyles, big bro
Black cats, free-flowing styles, and a supportive brotherhood
Fly, die high, super wise on the floor
Dancing with freedom and wisdom, while feeling alive
Said it go out fast, but it come back slow
The energy peaks quickly, but fades out slowly
What you know? (what you know?)
That it come back slow
Do you understand that it fades out slowly?
Nigga, mind how you go, keep your swerve in control
Be mindful of how you move, and keep your energy under control
'Cause it go out fast, but it come back slow
Because the energy peaks quickly and fades out slowly
Boogie woogie with your body, feel free
Dance freely and with joy
My mind loses connectivity
My mind becomes disconnected
Or with the years, and plenty of seed
Either over time or with offspring
Wiggle, move the cold in me (saying)
Shake and dance away the negativity inside me
See, you reap what you sow
You get back what you put out
Gathering it knows really never gets old
The collective experience never gets old
Stories and dance around to be told
There are stories and experiences to be shared
Shiver me timbers, relax my spine
An expression of both excitement and relaxation
Play it then, let my soul unwind
Let the music play and allow yourself to unwind
Streams of energy now intertwined
The energy from the music and the dancers are now connected
To sway my ifs comes instinctively
My body instinctively sways to the music
Communication distinctively
Connecting with others in a unique and special way
To unchain those like minded with glee
To set free those who share the same mindset and bring them joy
To wig out philocaly
To dance wildly and passionately
United negro, movement improvement, eh
A call for unity and improvement within the black community
Like you wanted when the groove went improved you, that
As you wished when the music improved your mood
You were wanted on the dance floor and you move back
You were needed on the dance floor to bring the groove back
To the wall with all the ((chu nu sta sing kat))
To the wall with everyone who's not dancing
You plant wildflowers, I was dancing back-to-back
While you were staying still, I was dancing with someone else
Ch-ch-cheeky, no, we stay geek, asthma attack
We're not being cheeky, we're just being ourselves, even if it gives us an asthma attack
As we sweat it out, we get it out, we deal to that
As we dance and sweat, we release our emotions and deal with them
To a girl that make me say, "Bang my heel to that"
To a girl who makes me want to dance so hard, even banging my heels on the floor
And there's no need to oppose or appeal to that
There's no need to resist or try to change that feeling
Once the rhythm hits the rhyme I'm a filled with that
Once the music and dancing become synchronized, I will be completely consumed by it
Nigga down la sol lime, I'm Corneel, get that
I'm goin' down to the south side of Lima and feeling like my name's Cornelius
We catch it on libid's fine, say the realest cats
We capture the essence of life and love, and only the truest people understand it
And it was never dubbed our trance
It wasn't artificially created or fabricated, it was a genuine experience
Back to 3 dimensions and hands in our pants
Returning to reality and being idle
It was such a force, I tried to stop it but I can't
It was such a powerful energy that I tried to resist, but couldn't
So still it morphs, this shit is way too advanced
It continues to change and evolve, becoming even more complex and advanced
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Written by: ISHMAEL REGINALD BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
WhoEvenAskedYou
i am hip hop and i approve this message
MACMETALFACE
Yeah it is a blessing to have THEESatisfaction on a track with Shabazz and this whole album was a blessing picking it up last year holding it in my hand thinking damn really 6 years? 6 years Since I had anything new "Digable"(even that was a comp) to hold in my hand. This and awE naturalE been on constant rotation on the old boombox for months now. Finally dropping a line tho. Cheers! To all the real music lovers and makers!
Bananomon
HOLY SHIT. i certanly wasnt expecting this when i knew this was a kick ass hip hop album. this beat, oh this beat. this is awesome
Test name
My fav Shabazz song period.
Kevin Deauseault
Was the first album I heard of theirs and remains my favorite. I was bumping this song every day when it dropped.
ＩｍｐｅｎｄｉｎｇＲｉｏｔ８３
Ishmael Butler is class personified. The dude is a fucking master.
Taharkah X
Thank goodness! The members of Digable Planets had seriously fell off for awhile. It's clear that Ishmael was the source of a lot of that cosmic poetry that made them so awesome.
rob love
Just saw them live in Malmoe Sweden. AAAAWESOME!
18channel18
immediately when he came back, Tyler even comfirmed over twitter a looooong time ago that he wouldn't be on any future Odd Future tapes. they performed together once.
David Hues
This still my jam.