In the latest installment of Tendai "Baba" Maraire's Chimurenga Renaissance, the Shabazz Palaces emcee teamed up with newcomer Hussein Kalonji to drop the esoteric Zimbabwe-inspired project's debut full-length. The first we heard off riZe Vadzimu riZe came from first single "The B.A.D Is So Good" and spiraling synth-lead “Lean.” The full release officially dropped yesterday and with it came a tripped-out visual tour of Zimbabwe. The accompanying video album stream fuses sounds of the mbira and ngoma with off-the-wall production and surreal footage of Zim highways, Vic Falls, and Edgar's. The record rips through hip-hop and electronic genre boundaries, reaching into uncharted territory both futuristic and familiar. Look out for guest spots from Seattleites THEESatisfaction, M1 (Dead Prez), fellow Shabazz Palaces half Palaceer Lazarro, and Somali-American emcees Militia Mali Mob (MMM). riZe vadZimu riZe is out now via Brick Lane Records. Stream the beautifully mind-tripping visuals below.
