A couple years ago, Shabazz Palaces joined up with Flying Lotus and Thundercat to form a supergroup called WOKE, and that wasn’t the only time we’ve heard from some combination of the three, since they seem to be a trio of good buds. They’ve collaborated a bunch over the past few years, and now, Thundercat has brought his talents to Shabazz Palaces’ upcoming record Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star. More specifically, he played bass on “Since C.A.Y.A.,” a new song that the group just shared today.
Shabazz Palaces’ Ishmael Butler told Entertainment Weekly that the track came about while hanging out at Flying Lotus’ house with Thundercat and Herbie Hancock:
“I call Flying Lotus’ house the Wizard’s Nest, because he’s a wizard, man. He’s just sitting up there in his crib making the illest music. We’d all just be sitting in there making songs and jamming out. Once during one of those sessions, I pulled up one of my beats and Thundercat played on it and that was that song, ‘Since C.A.Y.A.'”
The art for the track is based on a photograph of Los Angeles artist Noah Davis, who passed away at 32 years old in 2015 due to cancer-related complications and was known for establishing The Underground Museum, an art space in Arlington Heights.
“The image above chosen to chaperone this song through its life’s is of the great American person Noah Davis renowned for his paintings,” the band wrote in the video’s description. “He comes from a resplendent illustrious family it was them who allowed us to make this use of it. Thanks ya’ll. Thank you Noah.”
Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star isn’t even the only Shabazz Palaces album being released on July 14, since the band recently announced that companion project Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines would also be coming out that same day. In case the hype wasn’t already hype enough, they also shared a song from that project, “30 Clip Extension.”
Listen to “Since C.A.Y.A.” above, and pre-order Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star here.
