Shabazz Palaces announce European, US + UK Tourdates Spring 2012 | Music News

When Shabazz Palaces truly announced their presence with last year’s release Black Up, hip hop didn’t quite know whether to duck from yet another genre-skewing experiment or embrace whatever noises that were reverberating from the package.

The outcome was somewhere in the middle (picture a snapshot of someone’s face the moment they’re about to sneeze) but collective head-nodding was an ultimate certainty.

Unless you’ve actually gone out (by that, I mean typing “google” into your browser) and bought (probably downloaded) Black Up, more than likely you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about.

The Seattle-based outfit, consisting of Ishmael “Palaceer Lazaro” Butler (yup, Butterfly from Digable Planets) and Tendai “Baba” Maraire, kinda took a shit in rap’s toilet by journeying into the genre equipped with nothing but experimental, psychedelic and borderline-Dubstep (but not that “real” Dubstep, as the die hards will tell you) sounds. The album gives the production credit to “Knife Knights.plcrs at Gunbeat Serenade Studio in Outplace Palacelands”, which explains a lot.

Peculiarities aside, Black Up is an immensely interesting listen. Digable Planets aficionados need no excuse to tune in after spotting Butterfly‘s name championing the product; and newcomers needn’t either.

A quick play of cuts like “An echo from the hosts that profess infinitum” or “Endeavors for Never (The last time we spoke you said you were not here. I saw you though.)” [batshit titles must be "in" these days] cater to fans of both eery, experimental rap or that classic Jazzy hip hop sound, whatever your dynamic.

So if I’ve succeeded in selling you on Black Up (if not – let me find some zanier adjectives and I’ll get back to you), you’ll consider it splendid news that Shabazz Palaces will be transporting their trippy set over the Atlantic this May. Their short tour will kick off on May 10th in Brighton and wrap up on the 22nd in Sheffield.

You can see below for the full scoop, and be sure to buy Black Up if you haven’t already. No one likes those tag-alongs at gigs that always end up in prime position yet bare a look that suggests dominoes with your Nan would be more entertaining.

UK Tour Dates, Spring 2012:
May 10 – Brighton (The Great Escape)
May 11 – Bristol (Start The Bus )
May 16 – Manchester (Islington Mill)
May 17 – London (XOYO)
May 18 – Dublin (Twisted Pepper)
May 19 – Cork (Pavillion)
May 20 – Glasgow (Arches)
May 21 – Leeds (Brudenell)
May 22 – Sheffield (Harley)

European & US Tourdates, Spring 2012:
Fri, 24th Feb – Palace – St Gallen, Switzerland
Sat, 25th Feb – Stall 6 – Zurich, Switzerland
Wed, 29th Feb – Astoria – Turin, Italy
Thu, 1st March – Circolo degli Artisti – Rome, Italy
Fri, 2nd March – Bronson – Ravenna, Italy
Sat, 3rd March – Studio 2 – Vigonovo, Italy
Tue, 3rd April – The Whole – Minneapolis, USA
Wed, 4th April – Mad Planet – Milwaukee, USA
Thu, 5th April – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, USA
Fri, 6th April – Magic Stick – Detroit, USA
Sat, 7th April – The Horn Gallery – Gambier, USA
Sun, 8th April – The Shadow Lounge – East Liberty, USA
Tue, 10th April – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, USA
Wed, 11th April – II Motore – Montreal, USA
Thu, 12th April – Iron Horse – Northampton, USA
Fri, 13th April – SOB’s – New York, USA
Sat, 14th April – Brooklyn Bowl – New York, USA
Wed, 25th April – Gabe’s – Iowa City, USA
Fri, 25th May – Sonique Festival – Parc de la Villette, Paris