Palestinian hip-hop duo Shabjdeed and Al Nather aka BLTNM just dropped a new release, a groundbreaking second album entitled SULTAN. More than three years in the making, SULTAN continues to push boundaries, with the now-established duo exploring new musical territories and expanding their sound.

Shabjdeed has been something of a shapeshifter since the beginning of his career, taking on multiple aliases and personas like Abu Othayna and Sindibad. Now, with the duo’s second release, a new alter ego has emerged: SULTAN. With a fatalistic take on life – where every question, every choice, every debate ends in destruction – his lyrics are full of abstract poetics, existential reflections about daily life in Palestine, and cutting commentary that holds all systems and authorities accountable.

“I’ve always opted for aliases, it’s just a habit of mine. It’s either a personality trait or names that simply just find me,” replies Shabjdeed, when asked about the meaning behind his latest pseudonym. “They usually represent a phase I’m going through or a minor mental illness or something that inflates my ego or adds it to all of the wanted and unwanted attention. Mix all that with my military/war and territorial expansion fantasies, and you’ll get yourself a self- proclaimed sultan over an imaginary wasteland. Also, who wouldn’t like to be a sultan?”

With its dark, apocalyptic atmosphere that’s simultaneously melancholic and hopeful, the new album is a restless soundtrack for current times. Elements of trap and drill are still there, but the album presents a new musical identity, one that brings a wide array of influences into the mix. The album takes in everything from downtempo hip-hop and bass music to broken down Arabic melody (a nod to Palestinian wedding music) and even post rock. One track in particular takes inspiration from Shabjdeed’s recent obsession with Russian post-punk band Molchat Doma, sparking a collaboration with a local musician in Palestine.

Across the album, ambient electronics and broken beats slowly build into towering poetic soundscapes with uplifting synth loops, melodic hooks, and disjointed drum kicks. Though it switches between BPM and musical styles, Shabjdeed and Al Nather’s second album seamlessly flows from track to track, creating its own world to get lost in.

Text excerpts and foto (top) taken from GQ Middel East, read the full article here.

SULTAN is out and available as stunning exclusive Vinyl edition at BLTNM shop.