A black and yellow clad prophet once said, "Shabazz Palaces' obstinately original oeuvre emanates from a fully formed higher conscious, they plant their flag in the outermost realms of the hip hop global soundscape where vibrations throb into beat-heavy explorations, chrome covered constellations of higher reveries each offering its own sonic boom." This sonic boom doubled this past week when Ishmael Butler and Tendai "Baba" Maraire released not one, but TWO “monozygotic twin” albums: Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines, described perfectly by Spin Magazine as "astral transportation vehicles."

If these records are spaceships, Shabazz Palaces' live set in Nashville in January 2015 was history's dopest test launch. If you weren't in our blue-hued sensory deprivation chamber for this superlative performance, we highly suggest you pick up the Live at Third Man Records 12" LP and take it for a spin on your turntable immediately. It's available as our Record of the Week (only $13!) for a limited time in celebration of Shabazz's extraordinary double release, which we also highly suggest you pick up at a record store near you or directly from our friends at Sub Pop. We are all part of the same universe in which these celestial vibrations reverberate and we all better start acting like it. Do it.

DETROIT-MADE COLLABORATION ZGTO SHARES NEW TRACK "BAND MAN"

DEBUT LP, A Piece of the Geto, OUT AUGUST 4TH VIA GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL & THIRD MAN RECORDS

Pre-order the 12" LP on Smoke Marbled Limited Edition Vinyl HERE!

“It’s a representation of what two brothers from completely different environment can give each other,” explains Shigeto. “The music is freedom for us. It’s a chance to say that all of those rules that you thought existed, don’t exist.”

In a city famed for its disparate and varied musical excellence, the Detroit-based alignment of feted electronic artist and producer Shigeto aka Zach Saginaw and rapidly rising Bruiser Brigade member ZelooperZ is an entirely natural thing. Introduced by mutual friends in the city, an instant bond was formed, and ZGTO was born. For Shigeto, it is the first time he’s musically stepped out the box of a solo artist and exclusively worked with a vocalist on a project. A Piece Of the Geto is out August 4th on Ghostly International, with a limited edition vinyl pressing by Third Man Records, which can be pre-ordered via the retailer of your choice here.

Over a two-year period, ZelooperZ and Shigeto would collaborate and experiment, honing their sound without any preconceived notions of its final form or an eventual release. Eventually and inevitably though, a full length record transpired. Following the bugged-out video for the track "Off Dat," today the second ZGTO album track "Band Man" surfaces. Shigeto's minimal production style on the track somehow provides a full backdrop for ZelooperZ's verbal interplay to bounce around in impressive style. Check it out below via Soundcloud.

A Piece Of The Geto is not exactly like any other album. There is a “less is more” philosophy with the production where the vocals of ZelooperZ are seamlessly interlaced into the fabric of the beats. It’s minimal in a sense, but the emotion felt through the words of ZelooperZ makes the songs as a whole intense and heavy with sentiment.

“I think our music makes people feel things,” says Shigeto. “To be yourself, to be who you want to be, and to be friends and have love for who you want to have love for.”

Pre-order the 12" LP on Smoke Marbled Limited Edition Vinyl HERE!

Nashville's Civil Service Commission made us proud last week voting unanimously to approve a paid family leave plan for Metro Nashville employees granting 6 weeks of paid time off upon the birth or adoption of a child. Here at Third Man, we applaud Mayor Barry's leadership on seeing this legislation through. Since 2015 Third Man has employed 6 month paid maternity/3 month paid paternity leaves, as well as a $15 minimum wage and health insurance for all full time employees. We are heartened to see our local government affording more fair and humane policies for its workers. Our founder Jack White, who works as an advisor with Mayor Barry on the 45-member Council on Gender Equality, was heartened at the news that the city was following Third Man's lead.

"This new benefit makes business sense for the city. Paid family leave promotes strong families. Strong families make stronger organizations and stronger communities."

Hear, hear, Jack. Congratulations to all Metro employees and to the city of Nashville at large for joining us in strengthening our fine hometown one new life at a time!

Next month’s Peripheral Visions, co-presented by The Belcourt will be a commemoration of the late, great horror director George A. Romero. On August 8th, we will be showing his 1968 cult horror film, Night of the Living Dead, on 16mm. Romero built the modern zombie drama in 1968 when he made the film with a budget of only $100,000. In an interview with NPR Romero said, “I have a soft spot in my heart for the zombies… They are multipurpose, you can’t really get angry at them, they have no hidden agendas, they are what they are. I sympathize with them.”

His family released a statement saying Romero died on Sunday, July 16th, at the age of 77 after “a brief battle with lung cancer." We will be screening Night of the Living Dead Tuesday, August 8th. Doors 7:30pm, screening at 8pm. Get your tickets here. 

Third Man Records is proud to announce the arrival of The White Stripes The First Show: Live On Bastille Day, a recording of the band's first-ever performance, on digital and streaming services for the first time ever to celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary. The performance, which took place during The Gold Dollar Detroit's open mic night on Bastille Day 1997 — 20 years ago today — sees the Stripes powering through an abbreviated set of "St. James Infirmary," "Jimmy The Exploder," and "Love Potion #9." The First Show: Live On Bastille Day is now available to purchase and stream HERE.

Recorded in crystalline soundboard quality, this first glimpse into The White Stripes unique sound world — which was previously available only as a 7" in Third Man Vault Package #13 — brims with childish charm and a heartwarming awareness of how far Jack and Meg White would journey from such an unassuming start.

From the same era of The White Stripes first show, this photo (previously only published in grainy black-and-white) highlights a wall in Detroit emblazoned with the phrase "Silk, Satin, Suede" which was originally slated to be the title of the White Stripes' first album.

Third Man will be celebrating The White Stripes 20th anniversary all year. Fans are reminded to check out the details of their latest massive Vault package, #33, The White Stripes Icky Thump X, HERE. Registration to receive this package will be open until July 31st.