Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star will be released July 14th through Sub Pop.
Shabazz Palaces just dropped a new track “Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad) [Feat. The Shogun Shot],” from the group’s forthcoming illustrated album, Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines – the monozygotic twin to Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star – both available on July 14th.
…And Quazarz asked of Jules ‘Voz Brillo to exalt and raise a joy cry with on this beat; And Jules said “I shall” and did so, and in his heart, he bade Quazarz well. And for Shabazz, he laid up a crown of light, ‘beyond’ was his ascending refrain, and it was icy; Alas, Quazarz waking lucid inside a Jules diamond dream, pondered deeply the celestial humectation of his most favorite fruit.
And an “ode to a bad” is born.
- An excerpt from The Quazarian Sagas Volume 4: The Wisdoms; Date unknown.
[This “Julian’s Dream” illustration is part of the special-edition illustrated album - Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines - drawn by cartoonist Joshua Ray Stephens. The full-color, 32-page book includes a download code for the full album, and is available for preorder right here.]
“Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad) [Feat. The Shogun Shot]” was produced and recorded by The Palaceer Lazaro and Sonny Levine at Dror Lord Studios, with mixing by Kamal Humphrey at Kamal’s House.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star will be released on July 14th on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (…Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; …Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum) [read more about it.].
Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star with North American tour dates that resumes July 13th-16th at Cascadia Festival in Granite Falls, Washington and run through September 15th-17th for Chicago’s Riot Fest. Additionally, Shabazz Palaces is one of the three curators (alongside Grouper and Perfume Genius) at this year’s Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands, to be held November 9th-12th.
Jul. 13-16 - Granite Falls, WA - Cascadia Festival Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater* Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre* Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom* Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow* Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)* Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada* Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon* Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West* Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm* Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle* Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups* Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club* Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace* Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount* Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair* Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw* Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat* Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar* Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Nov. 09-12 - Utrecht, NL - Le Guess Who? Festival *w/ Porter Ray
“Since C.A.Y.A.” features dazzlingly funky bass licks by the magnificent Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner and was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood), recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.
In this newly discovered excerpt from the renowned underground publication Purple Cliffs Quarterly,* The Palaceer reminisces to singer/writer Lou Monk about the epiphany he had at the C.A.Y.A. community center:
“In the era of Quazarz youth, The Central District of Seattle, Washington shone wildly vibrant and pulsed strong like the muscles of the heart. Brave Forerunners, from warm points south, had arrived settled and soon began to born and unleash dazzle of all sorts from this green remote. It was here on a sunny, July day over a free lunch at the C.A.Y.A. baseball field watching the Frontiersman smash an east side club to dust, that Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star – with confused terror then resolute determination – first looked his dreams in the eye. Thee rest as they say, is mystery. The Heritage House, Lowe’s Grocery and One Stop Burgers are gone; fact is, from that glorious epoch there remain few vestiges… I’m one of them.”
Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machineswill be released on July 14th on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop right over here. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (…Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; …Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum). Both albums can be purchased together as a special bundle, and there are also new T-shirt designs associated with each release (one for …Born on a Gangster Star and two for …vs. The Jealous Machines) (read more at Sub Pop).
[Photo Credit: Victoria Kovios]
Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines with North American tour dates that resumes July 13th-16th at Cascadia Festival in Granite Falls, Washington and run through September 15th-17th for Chicago’s Riot Fest. Additionally, support for these shows (August 16th-September 9th) will come from labelmate Porter Ray.
Jul. 13-16 - Granite Falls, WA - Cascadia Festival Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater* Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre* Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom* Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow* Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)* Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada* Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon* Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West* Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm* Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle* Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups* Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club* Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace* Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount* Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair* Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw* Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat* Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar* Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park *w/ Porter Ray
Now Listen to lead single “30 Clip Extension” off newly revealed album ‘Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines’. [Lyric video directed by Cristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of Clipping.]
Shabazz Palaces will release Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s fourth album and extra-spatial twin to Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star, worldwide July 14th through Sub Pop Records. The album, featuring highlights “30 Clip Extension,” “Julian’s Dream (odeto a bad)” and “Effeminence” includes guest appearances from Fly Guy Dai of Chimurenga Renaissance, Amir Yaghamai, John Carroll Kirby, Thaddillac, Morgan Henderson, The Shogun Shot, Laz, and Purple Tape Nate.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines is a second, fully-realized album of new material that expands the Quazarz universe, and tells the tales of Quazarz, that sent sentient from some elsewhere. A wave warrior wielding his sonic sword. Posted to the turnt-up states of Amurderca here on the Gangster Star to chronicle, explore and enjoy as a musical emissary. He discovers a world where humankind’s relationship with their tech-devices has become weirdly sensual, seducing a sedentary seamlessness with humans, while capturing and incarcerating the results of their imagination. Quazarz vs The Jealous Machines finds our protagonist with his dazzling cohorts rising a collective Nah to the device and the guilds that proliferate them.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines was produced by the Palaceer Lazaro and Sunny Levine, recorded in Seattle at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space and in Marina Del Rey at Dror Lord Studios, and mixed by Levine and Kamal Humphrey at Kamal’s House Studio.
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and …Born on a Gangster Star will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop right here. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (…Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; …Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum). Both albums can be purchased together as a special bundle, and there are also new T-shirt designs associated with each release (one for …Born on a Gangster Star and two for …vs. The Jealous Machines).
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will also be available as a special-edition illustrated album: illustrated by cartoonist Joshua Ray Stephens this full-color, hand-numbered, 32-page book includes a download code for the full album. Joshua Ray Stephens worked directly with Shabazz Palaces to interpret the album track-by-track, creating a cohesive whole that synchronizes music and image. Printed in a large 11” x 17” format, with saddle-stitch binding, this limited-edition art piece further expands the ambitious universe of Quazarz and Shabazz Palaces. The illustrated album version of Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will be released in collaboration with Fantagraphics Books on Friday, August 18th.
Book Cover
“30 Clip Extension”
Read more about Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born On a Gangster Star right over here.
1. Welcome to Quazarz 2. Gorgeous Sleeper Cell 3. Self-Made Follownaire 4. Atlaantis 5. Effeminence (feat. Fly Guy Dai of Chimurenga Renaissance) 6. Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad) (feat. The Shogun Shot) 7. 30 Clip Extension 8. Love in the time of Kanye (feat. Purple Tape Nate) 9. Sabonim in the Saab on ‘em 10. The SS Quintessence 11. Late night phone calls (feat. Laz) 12.Quazarz on 23rd
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star Tracklisting: 1. Since C.A.Y.A 2. When Cats Claw 3. Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac) 4. Dèesse Du Sang 5. Eel Dreams (feat. Loud Eyes Lou) 6. Parallax (feat. The Palaceer Lazaro) 7. Fine Ass Hairdresser 8. The Neurochem Mixalogue 9. That’s How City Life Goes 10. Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius) 11. Federalist Papers
Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines and Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star with North American tour dates that currently span May 13th through September 17th. New cities for the the tour include El Paso, Toronto, Quebec City, and Baltimore. Additionally, for the dates from August 16th to September 9th, support will come from labelmate Porter Ray.
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017 Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater* Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre* Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom* Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow* Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)* Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada* Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon* Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West* Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm* Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle* Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups* Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club* Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace* Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount* Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair* Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw* Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat* Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar* Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park *w/ Porter Ray
Today in spectral news: Shabazz Palaces will release Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star - follow up to Lese Majesty, the group’s critically acclaimed album - worldwide on July 14th through yours truly, Sub Pop Records. The new album featuring highlights “Shine A Light” (ft. Thaddillac), “Since Caya,” and “Moon Whip Quaz” (ft. Darrius) was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood), recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle.
The “Shine A Light” lyric video (as seen above) was directed by Cristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of Clipping.
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star serves as both an introduction and tells the tale of Quazarz, a sentient being from somewhere else, an observer sent here to Amurderca to chronicle and explore as a musical emissary. What he finds in our world is a cutthroat place, a landscape where someone like him could never quite feel comfortable amidst all the brutality and alternative facts and death masquerading as connectivity.
The Palaceer of Shabazz Palaces says of his extraterrestrial persona: “I, Quazarz, Born On A Gangster Star, son only of Barbara Dream Caster and Reginald The Dark Hoper - he who rides on light - dreamer of the seventh dream and kissed eternal by Awet the Sun Scented - who far from home I found my same self differents in those constellies that be Dai at my weap-side immediate and all us Water Guild affiliates who revelries in the futures passed recordings and ceremonies flexing resplendent in the Paradise Sportif armor - raising these musics a joy/cry that way into these aquadescent diamondized ethers of the Migosphere here on Drake world. Welcome To Quazarz.”
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star is now available for preorder on CD / LP / DL / CS from Sub Pop right over here. LP pre-orders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited Loser edition on colored vinyl. There will also be a new T-shirt design available.
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star Tracklisting: 1. Since C.A.Y.A 2. When Cats Claw 3. Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac) 4. Dèesse Du Sang 5. Eel Dreams (feat. Loud Eyes Lou) 6. Parallax (feat. The Palaceer Lazaro) 7. Fine Ass Hairdresser 8. The NeurochemMixalogue 9. That’s How City Life Goes 10. Moon Whip Quäz (feat. Darrius) 11. Federalist Papers
Shabazz Palaces will support Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star with North American tour dates that currently span May 13th through September 17th. The tour will include stops in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Montreal, Brooklyn, Washington, D.C. Philadelphia and more. Additionally, festival appearances include Upstream Music Fest (May 13th), and Chicago’s Riot Fest (15th-17th).
May 13 - Seattle, WA - Upstream Music Fest + Summit 2017 Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage) Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 16 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Sep. 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park
More on Shabazz Palaces Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star
On the eve of his debut album release on Sub Pop, rising Seattle rapper Porter Ray drops a dream-like video for previously unheard track, Past Life.
Filmed in Porter’s hometown of Seattle, the visual is directed by Patrick O’Brien-Smith. The bittersweet PastLife - featuring Cashtro and Black - finds Ray reflecting on his eventful teenage years, lost family and friends, highs, lows, misadventures and more. The rapper’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Porter Ray signed to Sub Pop after catching the attention of Shabazz Palaces founder and label A&R Ishmael Butler, his debut album Watercolor drops tomorrow AND he plays at SXSW next week.
Porter Ray’s current live dates include multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. Additional live dates will be announced soon.
Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive Patio Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Dozen Street - Kosher Dillz Show May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
Watercolor is out tomorrow, March 10th, on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop right over here and in finer independent record stores the world over. LP orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] – MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring ShabazzPalaces, Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] –Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great StasThee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
Uproxx says of “Lightro…” and Watercolor, “Over a wafting cloud of synthy production Ray tackles the grimness of death and the fleeting nature of life, before the track bleeds into Stas’ starlit harmonies....When he starts spitting, you know it’s him immediately. He runs through various cadences and countless rhythms like it’s nothing to change up, but never loses a sense of cohesion in his rapping…In many ways, Watercolor is a distillation of Northwest rap told through the region’s most promising newcomer (see premiere February 21st).”
Porter Ray’s current live dates include a hometown release show on March 8th at Barboza (with guests Jarv Dee, Cam the Mac, and Bruce Leroy), multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. More live dates coming soon.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA – Crocodile (w/ Pickwick for ACLU Benefit) Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA – Barboza (Watercolor Release Party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
“Lightro…,” and the forthcoming Watercolor, find Ray blending thoughtful portraits of Seattle streets with cathartic biographical accounts of an eventful adolescence and early adulthood, during which his father passed away, his brother was shot and killed, he became a father, and saw his son’s mother go to jail. Possessing insight beyond his years, Ray’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Watercolor is available for preorder in all your favorite formats. LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Stas Thee Boss, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
What are “The People” saying about Porter Ray? Well, since you asked:
“A star in the making.” [Watercolor] - Uncut
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] -MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring Shabazz Palaces,Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great Stas Thee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
