Knife Knights is a new collaborative project between Shabazz Palaces’ Ishmael Butler (Digable Planets) and former Seattle, now LA-based producer, Erik Blood. This week the pair released the digital single and video “Give You Game” (Sub Pop). Recorded during and between the Palaces’ Quarzarz sessions, touring schedule and Blood’s production/engineering commitments, the track features vocal contributions from Marquetta Miller (Breaks & Swells) and former THEESatisfaction member Stasia Irons, as well as guitar work from Thaddillac.
The video for the cut is directed by Justin Henning. From its initially surreal opening inside a warehouse containing giant Renaissance-era like sculptures draped in black paint, we follow as the camera passes thru a cracked door out into moss covered forest. As the camera continues on a steady trajectory thru the emerald colored woodland, we watch a slow gathering throng of naked forest dwellers as they make their way to a place in the woods where the Palaceer and a strangely visaged cohort hold court for an undoubtedly deep wisdom session.
