Review: Shabazz Palaces – Lese Majesty

Shabazz Palaces

Lese Majesty

Sub Pop

Street: 07.29

Shabazz Palaces = Outkast + JJ Doom

Some rappers are out to rule their city, but Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler of Shabazz Palaces wants to rule the galaxy. “Constellation roll call, it’s a style sport,” Butler spits on “Forerunner Foray.” Despite Butler’s confidence, there are few memorable one-liners on here, but SP’s style is more of an overall sonic experience than a lyrical one.

That sonic experience is as abstract as space itself, but space is an easy place to get lost in, and Lese Majesty contains enough interludes to impede its full potential. The spoken word wanderings of “The Ballad of Lt. Maj. Winnings” lasts just under two minutes and sounds like a disoriented clash of Prince attitude with a Funkadelic interlude.

Despite these underdeveloped spacy wanderings, Lese Majesty has enough completed songs like, “They Come in Gold,” a galactic anthem packed with reverb, bass and SP’s untouchable style, to make this album well worth delving into. –Justin Gallegos