Matson on Music
Music news, concert reviews, analysis and opinion by music writer Andrew Matson.
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
Shabazz Palaces announces first-ever Seattle concert Jan. 8 at Neumo's
Posted by Andrew Matson
The best hiphop song out of Seattle this year is "A Mess..." by Shabazz Palaces. The beat and rhymes come from Ishmael Butler, the man behind Grammy-winning jazz-rap act Digable Planets. Shabazz Palaces plays its first-ever Seattle concert Jan. 8 at Neumo's. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
For a 20-minute live set from Shabazz at the KEXP studios, click here. For a breakdown of the Shabazz song that most sounds like the Central District at night, "Capital 5...," click here.
Below is the masterful first verse to "A Mess...," and after the jump, the song's untouchable early-Spike Lee-esque music video.
Yeah, I know I'm a mess
Take a minute to think
Take an hour to dress
Got this pain in my neck
Came from staring at stars
Can't find the remote
Drinking driving my car
Keep looking for love
Finding beautiful pain
Told myself I should stop
But I'm at it again
Stirring up my Kool-Aid
Watch these gangstas parade
Pretty sisters get shunned
Bitch ni**as I fade
See, I'm from up the block
Wear my hat with a cock
Sometimes I hate my life
Wish I ain't love it so much
Addicted to her touch
Trying to find me a place
Trying to shine get my taste
Drinking dance to the cuts
Got issues with trust
Stay wondering why
Trying to feel it in here
Before I'm up to the sky
So what's ever your mic
Spit your game do it tight
Y'ain't promised daylight
So I'm stepping tonight
To go where
We
All
Go
Shabazz Palaces - "Belhaven Meridian" [OFFICIAL] from Kahlil Joseph on Vimeo.
Dec 31 - 6:30 AM Premiere: 'Seattle Party' by Chastity Belt
Dec 31 - 6:00 AM 'Stop Biting' night at Lo-Fi now an album, mini doc
Dec 29 - 11:52 AM Were you there? 'The Rolling Stones' and Shabazz/THEESat
Dec 28 - 6:00 AM Top 40 of 2012, Seattle and beyond
Dec 27 - 6:00 AM Shabazz / THEESat: a history of high-concept Seattle shows


- ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
- Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- No quick fix for downed bridge on holiday weekend
- As car sinks, young man keeps cool, finds escape
- More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
- Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online
- Percy Harvin already impressing Seahawks teammates, coaches
- Game thread, Mariners vs. Rangers, May 24
302 - Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment
235 - Stunning I-5 bridge collapse
213 - Scouts’ vote on gays met with celebration, sadness
184 - Zimmerman lawyers release Trayvon Martin’s texts about smoking pot, guns
101 - Here's what's going on with Robert Andino
96 - Mariners options for rotation help getting thinner by the day
91 - Detour route already crowded; avoid it or leave early, officials say
85 - Some unions now angry about health care overhaul
59 - Inslee: State looking at possible quick fix to bridge
46
- ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
- More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
- Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
- McNerney: Boeing will squeeze suppliers and cut jobs
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- Shopping-mall kiosks are little gold mines
- Von’s goes for gusto with big food, cheap drinks | Restaurant review
- Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online



