Shabazz Palaces is an American hip hop group from Seattle led by Ishmael Butler, also known as Palaceer Lazaro, formerly a member of the jazz rap group Digable Planets. Much of the project’s work was developed in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tendai “Baba” Maraire, the son of mbira musician Dumisani Maraire. Active since 2009, Shabazz Palaces has released five studio albums on Sub Pop, following the self-release of two EPs.
The group initially released two EPs anonymously in 2009, titled "Shabazz Palaces" and "Of Light".
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Shabazz Palaces is an American hip hop group from Seattle led by Ishmael Butler, also known as Palaceer Lazaro, formerly a member of the jazz rap group Digable Planets. Much of the project’s work was developed in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tendai “Baba” Maraire, the son of mbira musician Dumisani Maraire. Active since 2009, Shabazz Palaces has released five studio albums on Sub Pop, following the self-release of two EPs.
The group initially released two EPs anonymously in 2009, titled "Shabazz Palaces" and "Of Light". These releases led to Shabazz Palaces becoming the first hip hop act signed to Sub Pop. Their debut studio album, "Black Up", was released in 2011 and received widespread critical attention. In 2019, "Black Up" was included on Pitchfork’s list of the 200 best albums of the 2010s.
Shabazz Palaces released its second studio album, "Lese Majesty", on July 29, 2014, following a premiere at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center Laser Dome. In 2017, the group released two albums simultaneously, "Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star" and "Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines". These releases were accompanied by a short film directed by Nep Sidhu and a limited-edition comic illustrated by Joshua Ray Stephens.
In 2018, Butler and frequent collaborator Erik Blood released the album "1 Time Mirage" under the name Knife Knights, a project that had previously functioned as a production alias and later became a touring band signed to Sub Pop. Shabazz Palaces released its fifth studio album, "The Don of Diamond Dreams", in 2020. In 2023, the EP "Illusions Ago" was released on Glass Cane Records in collaboration with Lavarr The Starr, widely regarded as another moniker used by Butler.
Shabazz Palaces has collaborated with a range of artists, including Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Theesatisfaction, Stas THEE Boss, Erik Blood, clipping., Battles, The Helio Sequence, Porter Ray, Sunny Levine, and Carlos Overall. Butler, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat also formed the supergroup WOKE, which released the single "The Lavishments of Light Looking", featuring George Clinton.
Maraire leads the project Chimurenga Renaissance, alongside guitarist Hussein Kalonji, with contributions from Butler. Chimurenga Renaissance released the mixtape "Pungwe" in 2012, later issued as an album in 2013, followed by the full-length album "riZe vadZimu riZe" in 2014. Two EPs followed: "Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema" in 2015 and "Girlz With Gunz" in 2016.
Shabazz Palaces is associated with the Black Constellation, a Seattle-based collective that includes musicians, visual artists, and fashion designers. In April 2020, it was confirmed that Tendai Maraire was no longer a member of Shabazz Palaces.
Butler has stated that Shabazz Palaces represents a stylistic departure from his earlier work, citing abstract sources such as podcasts and mixtapes as influences. He has also attributed the project’s use of African percussion and jazz elements to his family’s musical background.
Studio albums
Black Up (2011)
Lese Majesty (2014)
Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star (2017)
Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines (2017)
The Don of Diamond Dreams (2020)
Illusions Ago (with Lavarr the Starr) (2023)
Robed in Rareness (2023)
Exotic Birds of Prey (2024)
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…shrink me down again
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