Shabazz Palaces is the amazing new Seattle based project lead by lyricist Ishmael Butler AKA Palaceer Lazaro, formerly of Digable Planets and Cherrywine.
After several self released EPs the group joined forces with Sub Pop to release their debut album Black Up.
Shabazz Palaces is one of the most original sounding hip hop acts to emerge in years; bold, experimental and dark this hip hop trio deliver magnificent electro-synth taps and unhinged drum beats with echos of funk, minor-key jazz, London dubstep and mbira which lay amongst their cryptic lyrics.
Young guest stars include THEESatisfaction, a similarly “afro-eccentric” female duo with whom Shabazz Palaces have been collaborating for much of the past year.
Produced by Knife Knights and recorded and mixed by Blood.
Believe every bit of the hype – expect this to be toward the top of many critics' “best of” lists at the end of the year.
Available on both CD and LP – the LP includes MP3s of the entire album.