Seattle-based hip-hop off-shoot Shabazz Palaces is a lot of things. For one, they aren’t in any way, shape or form typical of what one might expect from the world of rap, or any other genre for that matter. But, I imagine you’re going to be alright with the sound soon to be emanating from your speakers. Shabazz Palaces is led by Ishmael Butler aka Palaceer Lazaro. Ring a bell? No? That’s cool. However, there was a time when Ishmael Butler was also known by another name, he was ‘Butterfly‘ of Grammy award-winning jazz-rap group Digible Planets.
That was way back in the day, eons ago by industry standards of measuring time and space. And much like his past namesake, the ‘Butterfly’ has undergone another metamorphosis. With his latest project, under the guise of Palaceer Lazaro he has joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Tendai Maraire and formed the mysterious, celestial anti-body known as Shabazz Palaces.
Previously, the duo self-released the eclectic EPs, Eagles Soar, Oil Flows, as well as The Seven New, each stretching the boundaries of hip-hop into musical Pythagorean theorems. Now, we have the Black Up LP, which is so aptly released via the legendary Sub-Pop Records. After the jump, we have the first official video for the track “Are You… Can You… Were You? (Felt).” I highly recommend an oxygen tank, a space suit and a good pair of 3D glasses for your ears. Peace. Continue reading “shabazz palaces // are you… can you… were you? (felt) (official video)”
