Bahamadia and Shabazz Palaces: Two Giants of the Jazz Rap Scene Grace POP Montreal 2023

There are very few things that can make hip hop lovers stop dead in their tracks and this year POP Montreal was definitely held responsible for a skipped heartbeat or two. Whether fans got the news from the posters plastered around the city or from having their thumbs come to a sudden halt from the usual continuous scrolling, the word was out. Two giants from the jazz rap scene, Bahamadia and Shabazz Palaces were playing together for POP. 

Let’s catch up with Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler from Shabazz Palaces, a new moniker for his creative outlet, he is widely known as one of the three pillars of the monumental group Digable Planets. Bahamadia, one of rap’s unforgettable voices, is most famously known for her album Kollage from 1996, and has been releasing inspired music ever since. Both of these artists are innovators in the jazz rap scene, with their early releases confirming once again the renewable nature of hip hop and how personal and experimental a genre it can be. As professed by artist Hua Li, amongst the crowd at the Pop Symposium, these artists opened her and others' minds to the endless possibilities of creativity within the genre.

On the afternoon of September 29th, the two participated in a symposium moderated by hip hop journalist and author Dalton Higgins. The setting was very casual on the first floor of the Rialto Theatre with friends gathered around tables, chatting and enjoying the autumn afternoon. Above the buzzing conversation, inconspicuously, a tall man carrying a box of Bernie’s donuts under one arm walked through the crowd and sat in the front row. Once Bahamadia made her glowing appearance walking towards the stage, the man with the donuts popped up and revealed himself. As quietly yet markedly as his namesake butterfly - Ishmael Butler who had just been chatting and mixing with the crowd stepped up on stage. 

Feelings of royalty and humility were interchangeably present throughout the duration of the talk. The awe and admiration felt by long-adoring fans were happily balanced by the artists’ down-to-earth behaviour and warm sense of humour. Dalton Higgins expertly crafted the talk by asking questions that followed the two artists’ career paths while simultaneously asking for their critiques and opinions on hip hop culture. As the talk progressed, the questions reflected the changes in the scene through time, showcasing these artists as hip hop lovers, creators and experts. An interesting theme that came up was the path of inspiration and influence found in recent artists’ work. Bahamadia spoke of how artists like her don't often receive their flowers. She explained that sometimes the path of inspiration is hard to trace as the reinterpretation of one’s art can sometimes come out as a completely different product. She proclaimed that her and Butler’s works are becoming part of the “standards of hip hop” that directly or indirectly influence new creators.

Higgins also asked about their views on the future of hip hop, of which AI and other rising technologies were described as worrisome by both artists. Bahamadia said she felt uneasy about AI taking away from the value of human creativity but confidently professed that rappers and other artists can surely use it as a tool and welcomed using the technology correctly. Ishmael Butler continued on this point stating that throughout history humans tended to do things that were “anti-human” but that through education, compassion and lived experience we as a species always come around.

It’s no surprise that audience members left the talk with an energized excitement. Especially due to the fact that both Bahamadia and Ishamel Butler stuck around and welcomed fans taking selfies and chatting with them, of course with the fans blubbering over the right words to say. This good feeling was long-lived as it would only be in a few hours that the two artists would perform a few blocks away at L’Entrepot 77. 

The same fans now dispersed from the talk and gathered back for the artists’ evening show. Under the strung lanterns of the outdoor venue located in the heart of the Mile End, eager concertgoers huddled around the stage in the intimate setting. Shabazz Palaces were the first to perform with Ishamel Butler leading a group of four musicians on sax, bass, guitar, synths and drum machine. With crisp, clear sounds coming from the combination of new and old equipment, Butler rapped intricately and effortlessly as what he is most cherished for. Audience members were left in a trance with the succession of several downtempo tracks. Especially as the crowd began to mirror the rocking movement that all the musicians on stage danced in perfect synchronicity. Suddenly, as if the crowd was awakened from a dream, Butler quickly self-identified and gave thanks to the audience to end the show. After which he bounced off the stage and this time, albeit without donuts, once again mingled with the crowd. 

Bahamadia was set to take the stage next and the tension within the crowd was strung just right with a mixture of excitement and bewilderment. When the lights gleamed red and Bahamadia took the stage, the crowd, to put it simply - lost their minds. Accompanied by DJ Eclipse, Bahamadia brought her verses to life with ease, expertise, and a feeling of great determination to the crowd’s astonishment. Long-time fans cheered and rapped along to some of her biggest hits, with wide smiles perhaps evoked due to the many memories of how these songs accompanied them throughout their lives. The DJ often laughed to himself whenever he would play a sample from Bahamadia’s album Kollage as the crowd would react strongly with rowdy cheering. He soon took advantage of this and started to tease the audience by playing clips of iconic songs to get a rise out of the crowd. Bahamadia concluded her set with her biggest single “UKNOWHOWWEDU”, leaving most people speechless and wide-eyed once the house lights started to come on. 

The whole experience with the talk and concert combined felt like a dedication to the art of hip hop, in all its complexities. These two artists showed us through their words and work how they managed to navigate a larger-than-life culture while sustaining their mission to express their authentic selves.

Lisa Rupnik is the head music director at CJLO and co-host of The Last Stop. She is also an avid record collector, a “no nonsense” film lover and feels that her personality can be best defined by her two favourite bands: YMO and Sparks