Seattle, better known as the birthplace of grunge, doesn’t get the credit it deserves for its vibrant hip-hop scene. But Monday night found hosting an unofficial showcase for the Pacific Northwestap rhyme hub.
Malitia Malimob, and all hail from the Emerald City, which has gained some notoriety thanks to the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Thrift Shop” explosion, and showed how Seattle’s scene differs from the rest of the west.
First to take the stage was the aggressive duo of Malitia Malimob, whose raps about gangster life and medical marijuana cards were at odds with the other two groups’ thoughtful content.
The venue filled out by the time THEEsatisfaction stepped up, and itap hard to imagine a better opener for Shabazz Palaces. The R&B duo, comprised of Catherine Harris-White and Stasia Irons, transfixed the crowd with synchronized dance moves, a commanding stage presence and, above all, killer voices.
The venue was nearly ready by the time Shabazz took their microphones, but the two openers couldn’t quite prepare the crowd for the sonic maze that the group brought. Their stage setup included a floor tom, conga drums, assorted shakers, drum pads and mixers. And Sub Pop’s flagship hip-hop act used every bit of it.
Shabazz Palaces have a maximalist approach to their production; every nook and cranny is filled with noise. The recorded effect is dense, challenging hip-hop that treats the beats with the same importance as the words. Live, the approach shrouded the vocals in waves of deep low ends and pitched-up vocals. Shabazz Palaces places such an emphasis on the texture of their sounds, though, that it worked.
Where most hip-hop shows can suffer from a lack of depth, both in performance and sound, Shabazz was a treat to watch as the duo struggled to hold everything together, juggling multiple instruments while gliding through tracks such as “Youlogy,” “Are You … Can You … Were You … (Felt)” and “Free Press and Curl.”
At times the sound touched on overpowering, leaving audience members with rattled rib cages. But based on the smiles flashing throughout the crowd, few minded feeling like a human tuning fork.
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Nic Turiciano is a writer and photographer in Fort Collins who is also an intern at the Denver Post. You can follow him on Twitter at or email him at nturiciano@gmail.com.
