Sub Pop will release Shabazz Palaces’ Robed In Rareness, a new seven-song effort, worldwide on October 27th, 2023. It is the first full collection of new material since The Don of Diamond Dreams, their critically acclaimed LP released in 2020.
 
Shabazz Palaces is masterminded by vocalist and producer Ishmael Butler, whose unstinting drive to reimagine hip-hop - even as he enters his fifth decade on Earth - remains undimmed. With Robed In Rareness, there’s a respectful eye on the past, an embrace of an ever-evolving present, and its feet are firmly planted in the future. It features collaborations with the likes of Seattle’s Royce The Choice and Porter Ray, Colorado Springs’ O Finess, Bronx’s Geechi Suede (of Camp Lo), and Butler’s son, the incomparable Lil Tracy.
 
Get lost in the animated visualizer for the Robed In Rareness lead single “Binoculars (feat. Royce The Choice),” directed by Jacob Kasar.
 
Robed In Rareness was produced by Shabazz Palaces, mixed by Erik Blood, and engineered by Ishmael Butler and Blood at Studio4 West in  Venice, California, with mastering by Warren Defever at Third Man Mastering.
 
Shabazz Palaces’ first round of touring in support of Robed In Rareness begins with a short run of east coast dates on Wednesday, September 27th, in Kingston, NY at Tubby’s, and runs through Sunday, October 1st, at DC9.  The group will also appear at My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday event in Quintana Roo, MX, on April 4th, 2023—additional live dates to be announced soon.

2023
Wed. Sep. 27 - Kingston, NY - Tubby’s
Thu. Sep. 28 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall
Fri. Sep. 29 - Montreal, QC - Entrepot 77 (Late)
Fri. Sep. 29 - Montreal, QC - POP Montreal Festival (Early)
Sun. Oct. 01 - Washington, DC - DC9
 
2024
Thu. Apr. 04 - Quintana Roo, MX - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Fri. Aug. 05 - Quintana Roo, MX - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Sat. Aug. 06 - Quintana Roo, MX - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Sun. Aug. 07 - Quintana Roo, MX - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

The Query: Shabazz Palaces discusses
Robed In Rareness with Larry Mizell, Jr.:

 
“Every time I bless a script it’s a precedent
Of the jiggy OGs I’m the President.”
 
Query: Who, or what, is Robed in Rareness?
The new Shabazz Palaces EP, first in a series, something like a SpaceX-Age Hustlers Convention for the time.
 
Background, please. Context. Approximate narrative style—keywords: myth, rare, jiggy.
 
Loading…Contains errors.
 
Go ahead.
 
It’s been a throuple lifetimes, like 14 scoops, since Earth first perceived the light beams of Shabazz Palaces. A solar fortnight since we witnessed one of the culture’s coldest reinventions to date. The forms may flicker depending on your dimensional positioning: Palaceer Lazaro, Butterfly, “the laser lord light rider Ish Boogie at your service.”
 
Ishmael Butler.
Affirmative.
 
For the record, Mr. Butler, better than anybody of his generation standing, exemplifies an authentically integrated aesthetic link between the golden era and the now. Actual, lived in, but fresh and unerringly curious. The things rappers clamor for today are things he found at the start of his career, some three decades past, leaving him since free to freak his shit off with zero fear or desire of fitting in…after all, it behooves the hotly pursued to stay cool and lose followers.
 
And now?
Now in 2023, on their eighth go, Shabazz is icier than ever, pushing the limits of style and wit for the hottest days on record. Hydroplaning over molten asphalt on a cloud of arctic vapor, distilling a sparkling vintage too complex for amateur palates, it’s the Palaces. Built by hands divinely guided by practice-honed instinct—for the wonder and inspiration of generations coming behind.
 
Where’s he at?
He’s in his smooth phase; peep the vet maneuvering, as if to answer his younger self’s asking “slow down for what?” Precision and detail, a myth-map meant to elevate those for whom it’s meant. This is auteur rap for an artless era, from a director that’s epitomized slickness over four decades, forever original and unadulterated. That’s what type of time he’s on.
 
Robed in Rareness pushes the Black Constellation gang line while deepening the ranks and harkening back to the spare, icy menace of those first Shabazz EPs back in 2009. (Note: RIP SILK DOUGIE.)
 
Clarify: Black Constellation.
A collective of active makers and reality shapers pulled into orbit by the gravity of Shabazz’s formation. Check KEXP’s award-winning podcast Fresh off the Spaceship for more family values.
 
“All I wanna do is see the girls get a chance. All I wanna do is see the bros getting bands”
 
Community stays a key motif of Ish’s creative endeavors. Over the mini album’s 25 minutes, he holds court alongside a cohort of chosen comrades, whether it’s Town favorites like Royce the Choice or his Stellie Porter Ray, his twin Lavarr the Starr, ice-cold Rockies rep O Finess, or longtime Geechi Suede. He even swings lanes with the one he calls his idol: his only son, the rising superstar Lil Tracy.
 
“Any n**** fuck w me, he always earn
You don’t know by now I’m the Don?
You’ll never learn
Did you make money for your folks?
Or did you burn em’?
Gotta MFA in this game, n****
Stay learning.”
 
Peep the pedigree of a forever-student OG, a 23rd Century Lightnin’ Rod hailing from 23rd Ave E, spitting gold-breaded game with pimpish disdain. Robed in Rareness, the newest brick in the Palace wall.
 
Let’s get it on.

Shabazz Palaces
Robed In Rareness
 
Tracklisting:
1. Binoculars (feat. Royce The Choice)  
2. Woke Up In A Dream (feat. Lil Tracy) 
3. P Kicking G (feat. Porter Ray)     
4. Cinnamon Bun (feat. Lavarr the Starr)
5. Scarface Mace (feat. O Finess)  
6. Gel Bait (feat. Geechi Suede)     
7. Hustle Crossers

Sub Pop, feeling even more self-congratulatory than usual, is pleased to announce the opening of its Mega Mart 2, the brand new, first-ever, almost entirely functional and fully computerised sibling site to the world famous Sub Pop Mega Mart, catering specially to fans and customers who live outside of North America. Warehoused in the UK and stocking an array of Sub Pop goods (vinyl, CDs, and T-shirts), fans on this side of the pond who have long been suffering from outrageous (though totally real) shipping charges can finally rejoice! 

As if opening Mega Mart 2 wasn’t enough incredible news, Sub Pop is also announcing a 20th Anniversary remastered reissue of The Shins’ classic 2003 album Chutes Too Narrow, featuring new, custom die cut artwork. Chutes Too Narrow, the band’s heavily anticipated follow-up to their debut, Oh, Inverted World, was recorded in James Mercer’s basement home studio, with later mixing assistance from Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, David Cross, Les Savy Fav, etc.). And, with 10 songs, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the record is a brief yet entirely scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective and perfectly skewed pop innovation. This new, anniversary reissue will be available on limited edition coloured LP (Transparent Sun Yellow), Black LP, CD and DSPs on Oct 20th and is available for pre-order now: https://europe.subpop.com/

Chutes Too Narrow was released to widespread acclaim in 2003, garnering Pitchfork’s Best New Music, four stars from Rolling Stone, and raves from The New York Times, MOJO, The Village Voice, SPIN, and tons more. It subsequently made best-of-the-decade lists from The AV Club, NME, Paste, Pitchfork and Uncut.

Mercer says of Chutes Too Narrow, “I was very aware at the time that I had struck gold with the first record, and it was unlikely to happen again. ‘Sophomore slump’ and all that. The pressure to prove myself as a viable writer had never been so pronounced. Midway through the mixing process, I realized one of the songs would not work, so I stayed up after everyone went to bed and wrote ‘Young Pilgrims.’ And with Ek’s help, it worked! Such a stressful but beautiful experience!”

In other reissue news, on October 6th Sub Pop will be releasing Mudhoney’s seminal Superfuzz Bigmuff vinyl EP AND their ’Touch Me I’m Sick’ 7” on limited edition new colour variants (Mustard Yellow for Superfuzz Bigmuff and Neon Orange for ‘Touch Me I’m Sick’) . Both are available to pre-order now from, yes you guessed it, Mega Mart 2: https://europe.subpop.com/

Head over to Mega Mart 2 now to find not only these but all manner of Sub Pop releases old and new, including the “first ever time on vinyl in its original form” reissue of The Vaselines’ The Way Of The Vaselines (due Sept 8th), CHAI’s dazzling s/t fourth album (Sept 22nd), a first-time vinyl pressing of The Postal Service’s Everything Will Change live album (Sept 8th) and Deeper’s Sub Pop bow, and third album proper, Careful! (Sept 8th).

More about Sub Pop, by Sub Pop:

Founded in 1988, Sub Pop Records is a medium-sized independent record label based in Seattle, WA. With early releases by Nirvana, Mudhoney, Soundgarden and TAD, the label is often associated with something called “the grunge movement.” Exploitation of this association has frequently proven financially fruitful. Later years saw album releases from such moderately-to-somewhat-well-known artists as: Sunny Day Real Estate, The Murder City Devils, The Shins, Iron and Wine, The Postal Service, Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes, Sleater-Kinney, Beach House, Washed Out, Shabazz Palaces, The Head and the Heart, Weyes Blood, Clipping, Suki Waterhouse and Father John Misty, among many other very talented and deserving artists whose managers will be contacting us shortly about inclusion in the preceding list. 

At Sub Pop Records, it is our intent to market and sell the recorded music (and related merchandise) of artists whose music some shifting definition of “we” really and truly love. We mean to represent these artists as faithfully and diligently as possible and hold out hope that this is enough for us to remain solvent in the face of the well-documented collapse of the music industry at large. We also enjoy laughter, good times and the company of friends.

Mega Mart 2 Possibly Asked Questions:

Q: What is the Sub Pop Mega Mart 2?
A: It’s Sub Pop’s new online store, shipping from a warehouse based in the UK.

Q: Will this be less expensive for me?
A: Maybe! Depends on where you live. But, why not check?

Q: Will there be different products available at MM2 vs MM?
A: Sometimes, yes!

Q: Where should I shop, MM or MM2?
A: Whichever you prefer!

Q: Wait… What is “MM” and “MM2”?
A: “MM” is an abbreviation for “Mega Mart,” and “MM2” is an abbreviation for “Mega Mart 2,” both of which are web stores operated by Sub Pop Records.

Q: Don’t you have an actual MM2 FAQ?
A: We do! Mega Mart 2 FAQ

Q: What if I have read these dumb “Possibly Asked Questions,” and also the actual MM2 FAQ and I still have questions?
A: Try here: https://support.ochre.store/hc/en-us

On October 20th, 2023, Sub Pop will release a 20th Anniversary edition of The Shins’ beloved second album, Chutes Too Narrow.
 
Remastered by Adam Ayan, under the watchful eye of the band’s prime mover/singer-songwriter James Mercer, this special release features a lovely new, custom die-cut cover for the CD and vinyl formats of the album.
 
Chutes Too Narrow, the heavily anticipated follow-up to The Shins’ beloved debut, Oh, Inverted World, was recorded in James Mercer’s basement home studio, with later mixing at Seattle’s Avast! Recording Co. with assistance from Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, David Cross, Les Savy Fav, etc.). With ten songs clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the record is a brief yet scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective, and perfectly skewed pop innovation.
 
Chutes Too Narrow was released to widespread acclaim in 2003, garnering Pitchfork’s “Best New Music,” four stars from Rolling Stone, and raves from the New York Times, MOJO, the Village Voice, and SPIN. It subsequently made best-of-the-decade lists from The AV Club, NME, Paste, Pitchfork, and Uncut.
 
The 20th Anniversary remastered reissue of Chutes Too Narrow can now be pre-ordered worldwide from Sub Pop and The Shins merch store. LP pre-orders in North America at the Sub Pop Mega Mart will receive the limited “Loser Edition” on transparent orange vinyl. In the UK and Europe, pre-orders from Mega Mart 2 (the brand new and first-ever sibling site to the Sub Pop Mega Mart!) will receive the Loser Edition on transparent sun yellow vinyl (both Loser Editions are available while supplies last).
 
Mercer says of Chutes Too Narrow, “I was very aware at the time that I had struck gold with the first record, and it was unlikely to happen again. “Sophomore slump” and all that. The pressure to prove myself as a viable writer had never been so pronounced. Midway through the mixing process, I realized one of the songs would not work, so I stayed up after everyone went to bed and wrote ‘Young Pilgrims.’ And with Ek’s help, it worked! Such a stressful but beautiful experience!”

The Shins
Chutes Too Narrow (20th Anniversary Remaster)
1. Kissing the Lipless
2. Mine’s Not a High Horse
3. So Says I   
4. Young Pilgrims   
5. Saint Simon   
6. Fighting in a Sack
7. Pink Bullets   
8. Turn a Square   
9. Gone for Good   
10. Those to Come 

Today, Wednesday, August 16th, marks the release of new Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 contributions from Thrash Palace, Gaye Su Akyol, and a collaborative project from Clipping’s Jonathan Snipes and singer Jessica Winter – each available now on all DSPs and as limited-edition vinyl 7” singles.

Thrash Palace is the new supergroup composed of Erika M. Anderson, Vice Cooler, and Sarah Register. In 2022, guitarist Register (Talk Normal, Kim Gordon, and UK-based trio Better Corners), LA-based producer Cooler (XBXRX, Kim Gordon, Peaches, Louisahhh, AH-MER-AH-SU), and Anderson (aka EMA, also of Gowns, Amps for Christ) pulled off a 48-hour recording session at Cooler’s studio, thus birthing Thrash Palace. 

Two songs from the session form Thrash Palace’s debut single. On the anthemic “Go,” Anderson’s growling voice rides alongside Register’s barnstorming guitar and Cooler’s stadium-ready drums, pounding out an urgent heartbeat. The contemplative B-side “Teenage Spaceship” highlights the interwoven vocals of Anderson and Register. The two songs offer a tantalizing taste of what’s to come from the trio.

Gaye Su Akyol is a singer, painter, and anthropologist from Istanbul, Turkey. Her two new, self-produced tracks for the Singles Club fuse hard rock, surf, and electronic music to push at the boundaries of rock and Anatolian psychedelic music (see New York Times Dec. 2019 feature).

Their single leads with a cover of “Love Buzz,” originally by the Dutch psych band Shocking Blue, and famously covered by Nirvana on their 1988 debut single. It is a fitting tribute to the huge impact Nirvana had on Akyol in at a young age. The B-side, “‘Böyle Olur Mu,” breathes new life into the song with hard-to-forget electro baglama, thick bass riffs, heroic guitars, and dark beats. Akyol has a series of US dates in September that includes stops in Philly, DC, Boston, NYC, SF, and Seattle. 

Jessica Winter is a musician and producer from the UK. She has produced Mercury Prize winners The Big Moon, and remixed Metronomy, among others. She’s an electronic pop artist but has toured with the likes of Death Grips. Jonathan Snipes is an LA-based composer and sound designer for film and theater, occasional sound-design teacher at UCLA, and member of the rap group clipping.

The pair’s Singles Club Vol. 8 release, “All I Need” b/w “Finish Line,” resulted from a collaborative session, about which Winter says: “We made these songs in Jonathan’s studio on a short stay in Los Angeles. His studio is wall-to-wall modular synth and analog drum machines. I’d come straight from a party in downtown where most people were on crystal meth, and so I was inspired by this new culture I’d stumbled upon. Thinking about the basic needs of life and what things reduce to, ultimately.”

Subscribe to the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 now to get twelve super-limited 7” vinyl records featuring exclusive music by today’s finest musicians! It’s limited to a mere 835 subscriptions, because it’s volume 8, and 2023 is Sub Pop’s 35th birthday! You’ll get 7”s by Thrash Palace, Gaye Su Akyol, Jessica Winter & Jonathan Snipes, along with Margarita Podridas, Brontez Purnell, Vanishing Twin, Suki Waterhouse, and more. And, to top it all off, you’ll get a lavish storage box, with art by @oldsweaty, to keep the records together. 

You will get two singles in the mail roughly every other month though February 2024. Computer users: fear not! You will also get digital downloads of the tracks through your Sub Pop Mega Mart account. Hear music from the series via the Singles Club playlist, and subscribe here.

Thrash Palace 

“Go” b/w “Teenage Spaceship”

Gaye Su Akyol
“Love Buzz” b/w “Böyle Olur Mu”

Jessica Winter & Jonathan Snipes

“All I Need” b/w “Finish Line”