Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Subject: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Thu 18 Aug 2011, 12:06 pm

Finally heard this today via Spotify. I like it a lot. The production is definitely "different" but I thought most of the tracks had pretty catchy beats... although my idea of what is catchy is probably pretty warped at this point. Palaceer Lazarro (a.k.a. Butterfly from Digable Planets) does a pretty good job on the mic although sometimes his raps sound more like spoken word pieces, and then there are some occasions where he just fucks around with effects on his voice, sometimes burying it, and other times changing how it sounds completely. The lyrics seem to just discuss relationships and ordinary life, although there are some social commentary tracks and a track that seems like a critique of modern hip hop (what a surprise!). The tracks really blend together well and I honestly couldn't tell you which were the highlights, although the beginning and ending tracks did stand out. It seems to be marketed as some crazy experimental "hip hop for people who don't like hip hop" album, but I don't really get that impression. There are just some unorthodox beats at times... shouldn't be too hard for anyone on here to get into this if you ask me. I'll give it 4.25 stars.

Go Hawks Posts : 4016 Join date : 2009-09-24

I knew you would dig this, outerspace music. You should peep the EPs, I like them a lot more.

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Thu 18 Aug 2011, 12:50 pm

Bad Moon Rison wrote:: I knew you would dig this, outerspace music. You should peep the EPs, I like them a lot more.

I suppose I should have mentioned I heard the EPs. I prefer this to the EPs.

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Sun 28 Aug 2011, 11:46 pm

Bad Moon Rison wrote:: I knew you would dig this, outerspace music. You should peep the EPs, I like them a lot more.

How do you rate this by the way?

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Mon 29 Aug 2011, 3:58 am

I thought Jay-Z. Lil Wayne, Drake. Wiz Khalif already makes hiphop for people who don't like hiphop

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Mon 29 Aug 2011, 2:23 pm

Dang! Trotter wrote:: I thought Jay-Z. Lil Wayne, Drake. Wiz Khalif already makes hiphop for people who don't like hiphop

Lol yeah I guess so, as a college kid I see that shit firsthand.

Go Hawks Posts : 4016 Join date : 2009-09-24

Half wrote:

Bad Moon Rison wrote:: I knew you would dig this, outerspace music. You should peep the EPs, I like them a lot more.

How do you rate this by the way?

3.5ish...some of these beats are way too out there for me. I like the EPs a lot more.

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Tue 30 Aug 2011, 10:30 pm

Oh yeah I sampled this after I heard it was Buttafly from Digable Planets. And the shit is too out there for my ears. Nothing about it sounded good.

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Tue 30 Aug 2011, 11:27 pm

After spinning this about 4 times I think I'm gonna go with a 4.25 rating. Could change over time...but I love this shit. The beats on this are very different but in a very good way IMO. Are You...Can You...Were You? is definitely my favorite track. I can't stop listening to it!

Go Hawks Posts : 4016 Join date : 2009-09-24

Peep the EPs...they are better in my opinion.

Subject: Re: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up Wed 31 Aug 2011, 8:32 am

I did. Like Black Up better....for right now at least.