The quality is not excellent but this video partially captures the wonder that is a live Shabazz Palaces show. Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler and his bongo-wielding partner piece together passionate manifestos. Emotional outpourings of deep bass, electric stabs, poetic musings, and synchronized dance movements. One could be forgiven for assuming that the intricate and effect-heavy songs on Black Up would feel flat in a live setting. But one would be wrong. Butler commands the beat pad with authority and the inclusion of live instruments lends depth and a human element to the sound. Here you can see how one of the more simple tracks on Black Up is reworked to form a stunning live arrangement.
In the video it’s clear that when Butterfly moves away from the electronics, approaches the audience, and delves into his verse there is a profound energy in his face. He is a general making his case for war. A beat poet deriding social injustice. In Butler’s own words, “the shit [he] pops is heated because [he] loves it and [he] means it.”
Most hip-hop fans will bemoan the fact that the quality of a group rarely comes through live. In the case of Shabazz Palaces the music is elevated. Its power reaches every corner of the room and, if only for a moment, it makes you forget about that crappy De La gig you saw last year. Shabazz Palaces’ website is here. You can stream Black Up here.
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