Released: October 16, 2015

Featuring: MF DOOM

[Narrator]
In the soft early hours as the day breaks
Shalim now makes his escape
He knew the king, though refusing to give it up
Was now effectively a little more than a sitting duck
He sidles up to the palace build on shattered homes
Scattered bones in the catacombs

[Shalim]
Upon dawn make a subtle escape
Taking bloodlust into every step that I make
Every breath that I take
Make a break for the palace outer walls
To avoid the main gates where the archers are
Rongon gone or not
It's the throne that will fall
Drop to the inner courtyard
Before I clutch grass with the palm of my hand, stand tall
Scope a king's guard at the corridor
Which I believe leads to the main hall
So I sneak behind
He hits the floor
And many more have gone along the same route
Sword stained red as I take them out
Can't wait to put my blade to the face of the tyrant
And make him bow down to the jade on my chain of my neck
While smiling
I've got to find him, where's he hiding

[Narrator]
Footsteps echo through the halls of the palace through the wall
He hears the faint scraping of talons
Too many gentle souls fall in the malice
One last lunge then light up the chalice
Only the sound of footsteps that ring
Only one thing that can make the caged bird sing
Only one way out, only one leads in
And stands face to face with the king

[MF DOOM as King Dumile]
No more applications for soldiers, all positions filled
The guards should've informed you that back at the citadel
Guards, escort this lad out, take his surname
Guards!
Guards!
Hey what's your game?
State your intent, my patience wears thin
Then I noticed a faint resemblance in the face and skin
Could this be fate or destiny?
I cram to overstand how this could happen for the best of me
Wait!
Likeness in the eyes is the moon glow
Knew this moment would arrive, but not so soon though
That perfect combo of caring, fearlessness, with a twisted ruthless
Obvious how clear it is

[Shalim]
Oh!
So here it is
Spare me your villainous charm
The mirror sits calm like a pause in a song
Reflects dark images raw
Makes the dusk more warm than the howl of the dawn

[King Dumile]
Sound the alarm!
The gong was sonically loud
Regardless of how it played out he seemed ironically proud
What evidence can make a guess be accurate
Recognizable at the craftsmanship on the amulet
With the jade piece, a rare yet familiar cut
And a custom design link

[Shalim]
You think I feel the love?
I conjure nothing but a sour taste, foul grapes
Not what the owl takes
Dumile face the blade
May fate be the judge
Suffocate your days of hate and shedding blood

[King Dumile]
Hold up, I'll tell you what
My reign is over, along with my presence, hence
A graceful exit, I'll leave your inheritance
Knowing one day you too will be consumed
By absolute power of which no man is immune
And he was gone, through a false panel in the room
Disappeared across the lagoon

[Narrator]
Scream now echo through the halls of the palace
In his head turmoil, struggling for balance
If his mother was compassion and his father was malice
Rain now falls by the gallon
Only the sound of footsteps in the halls
Only one responds once destiny calls
Only the purest of hearts stand tall
Only the wicked shall fall
A new king strolls through the halls of the palace
Head held high, the embodiment of balance
And the world realigns for the true and the callous
Through the looking glass like Alice
Only the victory charms outside
Only one man favoured by the whims of the tide
Sometimes goodness and peace presides
Sometimes that wine hides cyanide

A. S. M. (A State of Mind)

A forgotten ancient world of bloodstained samurai swords and majestic sunsets over desert landscapes, ASM’s third album, The Jade Amulet, is their Magnus Opus. Imagine a Quentin Tarantino movie set in ancient Greece and scored by Ennio Morricone and A Tribe Called Quest.

ASM is principally composed of MC’s Green and FP and DJ/Producer Fade. this international trio of friends from high school (one Canadian, one German, one English) first gained international recognition from their collaborative singles with Wax “Positively Inclined” & “Say Yes” on the albums “Hope & Sorrow” and “In the Mood for Life” (combined sales of over 100,000).

ASM’s first album “Platypus Funk” first saw the light of day in March 2010 on French independent label Lab’Oratoire. The Platypus Funk campaign was something of a Launchpad for the group, with ASM teaming up with Wax Tailor as featured act & support band for his “Hope & Sorrow” tour. The tour took them through high-profile venue spots such as the mythical l’Olympia in Paris or the Arenes de Nimes, as well as a long line of summer festivals including Solidays, Francofolies, Garorock, and Vielles Charrues. The campaign also saw ASM first break onto the media circuit with spots on France Inter, Taratata, Radio Nova, and many others.

From the album
A. S. M. (A State of Mind) popular songs