Following his 2024 album Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, multi-instrumentalist Shabaka will release his next EP, Possession, on 6 December, accompanying his ongoing international tour.

Releasing only in a digital format, Possession is set to expand upon the London-born artist's latest effort. The first track of the EP, "Timepieces", which sees Shabaka pairing up with hip-hop stalwart billy woods, is out now. Listen here:

Possession represents the furthering of Shabaka's journey of "musical and emotional depth," according to the official press release. The EP serves as a vessel for the artist to explore "the free-floating liminal space which characterizes the transition from one-dimensional sphere of awareness to another."

With "Timepieces," Shabaka was influenced by "End of Innocence", the opening track off his 2024 release, which birthed the groundwork for the eventual collaboration with woods:

"My original plan for my album ‘Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace’ was to present the acoustic music as recorded in the Van Gelder and London studios, but also dissect and sample the material to produce an accompanying beats segment to the album ... 'Timepieces' is one of the results of this intention."

The track opens with somber keys coupled with a tranquil flute, crafting a contemplative sound before woods erupts. The New York-based rapper is joined by quick-hitting percussion, finding himself at home on the beat.

In addition to woods, Shabaka will be joined by an array of other special guests on this EP, including woods's Armand Hammer partner Elucid, as well as Esperanza Spalding, Nduduzo Makhathini, Brandee Younger, Carlos Niño, and Jason Moran. Along with this group, Possession features an unannounced collaborator that will be revealed upon the EP's release.

With his international tour in full effect, fans can catch Shabaka in a string of regions, including Europe, Australia, Asia, and the US. Check out the upcoming tour dates below, along with the tracklist for Possession.

Possession tracklist:

1. Timepieces featuring (billy woods)
2. I’ve Been Listening (featuring Elucid)
3. To The Moon (featuring TBA)
4. Cycles of Growth featuring (Esperanza Spalding)
5. Reaching Back Towards Eternity (featuring Nduduzo Makhathini)

Shabaka Tour Dates:

November 16, 2024 - JazzClub Hipnoza, Katowice, Poland (Sold Out)
November 19, 2024 - Hertz, Utrecht, Netherlands
November 23, 2024 - Flagey, Brussels, Belgium
November 27, 2024 - Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
November 28, 2024 - St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, UK (Sold Out)
November 30, 2024 - Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
December 12, 2024 - WWW X, Tokyo, Japan (solo date)
December 14, 2024 - Omni Space, Beijing, China
December 16, 2024 - B10, Shenzhen, China
December 18, 2024 - Modern Sky Lab, Shanghai, China
February 27, 2025 - The Blue Note (True/False Film Festival), Columbia, MO (solo date)
March 1, 2025 - Missy Lanes, Durham, NC
March 2, 2025 - Missy Lanes, Durham, NC
March 6, 2025 - Northcote Theatre, Melbourne, AUS
March 7, 2025 - Princess Theatre, Brisbane, AUS
March 8, 2025 - City Recital Hall, Sydney, AUS
March 10, 2025 – WOMADelaide, Adelaide, AUS
March 12, 2025 - Freo Arts Centre, Perth, AUS

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