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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Short description|American hip hop duo}}{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Shabazz Palaces
| name = Shabazz Palaces
| image =
| image = Ishmael Butler 02 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption = Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, 2019
| image_size = 230
| image_size = 230
| origin = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S.
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Seattle]], Washington, United States
| genre = {{flatlist|
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Experimental hip hop]]
*[[Experimental hip hop]]
*[[alternative hip hop]]}}
*[[alternative hip hop]]}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = [[Sub Pop]], [[Third Man Records|Third Man]]
| label = {{hlist|[[Sub Pop]]|[[Third Man Records|Third Man]]}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Digable Planets]]
* [[Digable Planets]]
* [[Thee Satisfaction]]
* [[Thee Satisfaction]]
Line 20: Line 19:
* [[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]]
* [[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]]
}}
}}
| website = {{URL|shabazzpalaces.com}}
| website = {{URL|shabazzpalaces.com}}
| current_members = {{plainlist|
| current_members = {{plainlist|
*[[Ishmael Butler]]
*[[Ishmael Butler]]
⚫
* Tendai Maraire
}}
}}
⚫
| past_members = * Tendai Maraire
}}
}}


'''Shabazz Palaces''' is an American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] duo from [[Seattle]] composed of [[Ishmael Butler]] a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro (formerly Butterfly of [[jazz rap]] group [[Digable Planets]]) and multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire, son of [[mbira]] master [[Dumisani Maraire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0155mjj|title=27/09/2011, Lauren Laverne - BBC Radio 6 Music|website=BBC|accessdate=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/shabazz-palaces-the-kings-new-clothes-on-ytgvb-20110920|title=Video: 'The King's New Clothes...' on YTGVB |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|accessdate=21 August 2017}}</ref> Active since 2009, they have released four studio albums on [[Sub Pop]]. Their most recent album, ''The Don of Diamond Dreams'', was released on April 17, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/03/02/43021915/inbox-jukebox-track-of-the-day-the-woozy-new-age-funk-of-fast-learner-by-hip-hop-innovators-shabazz-palaces|title=Inbox Jukebox Track of the Day: The Woozy New Age Funk of "Fast Learner" by Hip-hop Innovators Shabazz Palaces|website=The Stranger|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>
'''Shabazz Palaces''' is an American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group from [[Seattle]] led by [[Ishmael Butler]] a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro (formerly Butterfly of [[jazz rap]] group [[Digable Planets]]). Much of the Butler's work as Shabazz Palaces has been made in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire, son of [[mbira]] master [[Dumisani Maraire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0155mjj|title=27/09/2011, Lauren Laverne - BBC Radio 6 Music|website=BBC|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/shabazz-palaces-the-kings-new-clothes-on-ytgvb-20110920|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925045036/http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/shabazz-palaces-the-kings-new-clothes-on-ytgvb-20110920|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2011|title=Video: 'The King's New Clothes...' on YTGVB |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> Active since 2009, Shabazz Palaces has released five studio albums on [[Sub Pop]] after self-releasing two EPs.


==Biography==
==Biography==
The pair anonymously self-released two EPs, ''Eagles Soar, Oil Flows'' and ''The Seven New'' (referred to as ''Shabazz Palaces'' and ''Of Light'', respectively) in 2009 before becoming one of the few hip-hop acts to be signed to the [[Sub Pop]] label and releasing its debut full-length album, ''[[Black Up]]'' to wide critical acclaim in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/review/CID/542/N/Black-Up.utr|title=Shabazz Palaces - Black Up|website=UnderTheRadarNZ|accessdate=21 August 2017}}</ref> ''Black Up'' was listed #1 in ''[[Seattle Times]]'' music columnist Andrew Matson's "Local Top #10" of 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/matsononmusic/2017084236_best_pop_music_2011_seattle_an.html|title=Best pop music 2011: Seattle and beyond|newspaper=[[Seattle Times]]|date=December 24, 2011|accessdate=December 24, 2011|author=Matson, Andrew}}</ref>
Two anonymously self-released EPs titled ''Shabazz Palaces'' and ''Of Light'' in 2009 led to Shabazz Palaces becoming the first hip-hop act to be signed to [[Sub Pop]]. Their debut full-length album, ''[[Black Up]]'', was released in 2011 to widespread critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/review/CID/542/N/Black-Up.utr|title=Shabazz Palaces - Black Up|website=UnderTheRadarNZ|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> ''Black Up'' was listed #1 in ''[[Seattle Times]]'' music columnist Andrew Matson's "Local Top #10" of 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/matsononmusic/2017084236_best_pop_music_2011_seattle_an.html|title=Best pop music 2011: Seattle and beyond|newspaper=[[Seattle Times]]|date=December 24, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2011|author=Matson, Andrew}}</ref>


The duo released its second album, ''[[Lese Majesty (album)|Lese Majesty]]'', on July 29, 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Drake |first=David |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/shabazz-palaces-new-album-lese-majesty-release-date |title=Shabazz Palaces' New Album "Lese Majesty" Release Date Announced |magazine=Complex |date=2014-05-02 |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> The album was first premiered at Seattle's Pacific Science Center Laser Dome in April 2014.
Their sophomore album, ''[[Lese Majesty (album)|Lese Majesty]]'', was released on July 29, 2014<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Drake |first=David |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/shabazz-palaces-new-album-lese-majesty-release-date |title=Shabazz Palaces' New Album "Lese Majesty" Release Date Announced |magazine=Complex |date=2014-05-02 |access-date=2014-07-29}}</ref> after being premiered at Seattle's Pacific Science Center Laser Dome.


⚫
In 2017, Shabazz Palaces released its third and fourth full-length records concurrently. ''Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star'' and ''Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines'' were accompanied by a short film directed by Nep Sidhu, and a limited-run comic book illustrated by Joshua Ray Stephens.
In February 2016, Butler announced that the duo were working on a new record, which Butler described as being about "our relationship with devices. Not just our reliance on technological devices, but the ways they make us live and present and manipulate yourself."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Shabazz Palaces' Ishmael Butler Hints At New Digable Planets Material|url = http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/shabazz-palaces-ishmael-butler-hints-at-new-digable-planets-material-7558099|website = New Times Broward-Palm Beach|access-date = 2016-02-18|first = David|last = Rolland}}</ref>


In 2018, Shabazz Palaces joined up with frequent collaborator Erik Blood to release a full-length LP titled ''1 Time Mirage'' under the moniker ''Knife Knights'', originally a moniker used by Butler for his collaborative production work with Blood on previous Shabazz Palaces records, though now formalised as a touring band signed to Sub Pop.
⚫
In April 2017, Sub Pop announced the July 14 release of Shabazz Palaces' third studio album ''Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star.'' This was followed two weeks later with the announcement of ''Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines'', the group's fourth album and "monozygotic twin" to ''Gangster Star,'' scheduled for simultaneous release along with a short film directed by Nep Sidhu, and a limited-run book illustrated by Joshua Ray Stephens.


Shabazz Palaces curated part of the program for the Dutch [[Le Guess Who?]] festival.
Shabazz Palaces' fifth full-length record, ''The Don of Diamond Dreams'', was released in 2020.

In 2023 the EP ''Illusions Ago'' was released on Glass Cane Records in collaboration with 'Lavarr The Starr', presumed to be another moniker of Butler's.


== Collaborations ==
== Collaborations ==
Shabazz Palaces frequently collaborate with and remix other artists, in the latter case often reinventing entire tracks. Notable collaborations are the supergroup WOKE, formed with [[Flying Lotus]] and Thundercat. To date WOKE have released one single, "The Lavishments of Light Looking", featuring George Clinton. Shabazz Palaces have also contributed to numerous Theesatisfaction and Porter Ray releases.
Shabazz Palaces' collaborations include guest features with or from [[Flying Lotus]], [[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]], Theesatisfaction, Stas THEE Boss, Erik Blood, [[Clipping (band)|clipping.]], [[Battles (band)|Battles]], [[The Helio Sequence]], Porter Ray, Sunny Levine and Carlos Overall. One notable collaboration is the supergroup WOKE, formed with [[Flying Lotus]] and Thundercat, which released one single, "The Lavishments of Light Looking", featuring [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]].


Chimurenga Renaissance is a project led by Maraire, in collaboration with guitarist Hussein Kalonji and with contributions from Butler. The project released a mixtape, ''Pungwe'', in 2012, and published it as an album on March 5, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/download-this-chimurenga-renaissances-pungwe-mixtape/|title=Download this: Chimurenga Renaissance’s ‘Pungwe’ mixtape|last=Andrew Matson|date=2012-10-01|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chimurengarenaissance.bandcamp.com/album/pungwe|title=Pungwe, by Chimurenga Renaissance|website=Chimurenga Renaissance|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref> They released their full-length debut album ''riZe vadZimu riZe'' on March 25, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/okayafrica-audio-chimurenga-renaissance-the-bad-is-so-good-mp3.html |title=Okayafrica Audio: Chimurenga Renaissance- "The B.A.D. Is So Good" Okayplayer |publisher=Okayplayer.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> Two EPs followed: ''Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema'' on February 3, 2015, and ''Girlz With Gunz'' on February 5, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blrchimurenga.bandcamp.com/album/kudada-nekuva-munhu-mutema|title=Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema, by Chimurenga Renaissance|website=Chimurenga Renaissance|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks/listen-to-chimurenga-renaissance_s-girlz-with-gunz-ep|title=Listen to Chimurenga Renaissance's Girlz With Gunz EP - The Wire|website=The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>
Chimurenga Renaissance is a project led by Maraire, in collaboration with guitarist Hussein Kalonji and with contributions from Butler. The project released a mixtape, ''Pungwe'', in 2012, and published it as an album on March 5, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/download-this-chimurenga-renaissances-pungwe-mixtape/|title=Download this: Chimurenga Renaissance's 'Pungwe' mixtape|last=Andrew Matson|date=2012-10-01|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chimurengarenaissance.bandcamp.com/album/pungwe|title=Pungwe, by Chimurenga Renaissance|website=Chimurenga Renaissance|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref> They released their full-length debut album ''riZe vadZimu riZe'' on March 25, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/okayafrica-audio-chimurenga-renaissance-the-bad-is-so-good-mp3.html |title=Okayafrica Audio: Chimurenga Renaissance- "The B.A.D. Is So Good" Okayplayer |date=11 February 2014 |publisher=Okayplayer.com |access-date=2014-07-29}}</ref> Two EPs followed: ''Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema'' on February 3, 2015, and ''Girlz With Gunz'' on February 5, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blrchimurenga.bandcamp.com/album/kudada-nekuva-munhu-mutema|title=Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema, by Chimurenga Renaissance|website=Chimurenga Renaissance|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks/listen-to-chimurenga-renaissance_s-girlz-with-gunz-ep|title=Listen to Chimurenga Renaissance's Girlz With Gunz EP - The Wire|website=The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>


Shabazz Palaces are part of Black Constellation, a collective of visual artists, fashion designers, and musicians. The group has hosted "Black Weirdo" parties in Seattle, Toronto, New York and Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/03/arts/music/shabazz-palaces-shake-up-seattles-hip-hop-scene.html|title=Shabazz Palaces Shake Up Seattle’s Hip-Hop Scene|first=Tricia|last=Romano|date=1 August 2014|accessdate=21 August 2017|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Shabazz Palaces form part of the Black Constellation, a Seattle-based collective including visual artists, fashion designers, and musicians.


An April 2020 article on ''The Don of Diamond Dreams'' confirmed that Tendai Maraire was no longer part of Shabazz Palaces.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amin |first1=Tayyab |title=Shabazz Palaces: The Don of Diamond Dreams – alchemy in a world of algorithms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/16/shabazz-palaces-the-don-of-diamond-dreams-album-review |website=The Guardian |date=16 April 2020 |quote=This article was updated on Thursday 16 April to reflect that Tendai Maraire is no longer part of Shabazz Palaces.}}</ref>
They are also featuring on [[Battles (band)|Battles]]' 2012 remix album [[Dross Glop]]; charged with remixing the track "White Electric", and collaborated on the track "IZM" on Battles' 2019 album [[Juice B Crypts]].


==Style and influences==
==Style and influences==
Butler notes that the work of Shabazz Palaces differs from his previous work stylistically. He cites his primary influences as "abstract", pulling from podcasts and mixtapes. Butler attributes the use of African percussion and jazz overtones to his family's musical preferences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waxpoetics.com/features/articles/ishmael-butlers-shabazz-palaces-heavy-yet-fleeting-afro-celestial-experience/|title=Shabazz Palaces is a heavy Afro-celestial experience|date=5 February 2015|website=Waxpoetics.com|accessdate=21 August 2017}}</ref>
Butler notes that the work of Shabazz Palaces differs from his previous work stylistically. He cites his primary influences as "abstract", pulling from podcasts and mixtapes. Butler attributes the use of African percussion and jazz overtones to his family's musical preferences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waxpoetics.com/features/articles/ishmael-butlers-shabazz-palaces-heavy-yet-fleeting-afro-celestial-experience/|title=Shabazz Palaces is a heavy Afro-celestial experience|date=5 February 2015|website=Waxpoetics.com|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 58: Line 59:
* ''[[Lese Majesty (album)|Lese Majesty]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Lese Majesty (album)|Lese Majesty]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines]]'' (2017)
* ''[[The Don of Diamond Dreams]]'' (2020)
* ''[[The Don of Diamond Dreams]]'' (2020)
* ''Illusions Ago'' (with Lavarr the Starr) (2023)
* ''[[Robed in Rareness]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Exotic Birds of Prey]]'' (2024)


==References==
==References==
Line 68: Line 72:
*[http://www.subpop.com/artists/shabazz_palaces Sub Pop Records: Shabazz Palaces]
*[http://www.subpop.com/artists/shabazz_palaces Sub Pop Records: Shabazz Palaces]


{{Shabazz Palaces}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:West Coast hip hop groups]]
[[Category:West Coast hip hop groups]]
[[Category:American hip hop groups]]
[[Category:American hip hop duos]]
⚫
[[Category:Hip hop duos]]
[[Category:Sub Pop artists]]
[[Category:Sub Pop artists]]
[[Category:American musical duos]]
[[Category:Musical duos from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Alternative hip hop groups]]
[[Category:Alternative hip hop groups]]
⚫
[[Category:Five percenters]]
[[Category:American experimental musical groups]]
[[Category:American experimental musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Seattle]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Seattle]]
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[[Category:Rappers from Seattle]]
[[Category:Rappers from Seattle]]
[[Category:Third Man Records artists]]
[[Category:Third Man Records artists]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in Washington (state)]]

Latest revision as of 05:17, 24 August 2024

Shabazz Palaces
Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, 2019
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Tendai Maraire
Websiteshabazzpalaces.com

Shabazz Palaces is an American hip hop group from Seattle led by Ishmael Butler a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro (formerly Butterfly of jazz rap group Digable Planets). Much of the Butler's work as Shabazz Palaces has been made in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire, son of mbira master Dumisani Maraire.[1][2] Active since 2009, Shabazz Palaces has released five studio albums on Sub Pop after self-releasing two EPs.

Biography

[edit]

Two anonymously self-released EPs titled Shabazz Palaces and Of Light in 2009 led to Shabazz Palaces becoming the first hip-hop act to be signed to Sub Pop. Their debut full-length album, Black Up, was released in 2011 to widespread critical acclaim.[3] Black Up was listed #1 in Seattle Times music columnist Andrew Matson's "Local Top #10" of 2011.[4]

Their sophomore album, Lese Majesty, was released on July 29, 2014[5] after being premiered at Seattle's Pacific Science Center Laser Dome.

In 2017, Shabazz Palaces released its third and fourth full-length records concurrently. Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines were accompanied by a short film directed by Nep Sidhu, and a limited-run comic book illustrated by Joshua Ray Stephens.

In 2018, Shabazz Palaces joined up with frequent collaborator Erik Blood to release a full-length LP titled 1 Time Mirage under the moniker Knife Knights, originally a moniker used by Butler for his collaborative production work with Blood on previous Shabazz Palaces records, though now formalised as a touring band signed to Sub Pop.

Shabazz Palaces' fifth full-length record, The Don of Diamond Dreams, was released in 2020.

In 2023 the EP Illusions Ago was released on Glass Cane Records in collaboration with 'Lavarr The Starr', presumed to be another moniker of Butler's.

Collaborations

[edit]

Shabazz Palaces' collaborations include guest features with or from Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Theesatisfaction, Stas THEE Boss, Erik Blood, clipping., Battles, The Helio Sequence, Porter Ray, Sunny Levine and Carlos Overall. One notable collaboration is the supergroup WOKE, formed with Flying Lotus and Thundercat, which released one single, "The Lavishments of Light Looking", featuring George Clinton.

Chimurenga Renaissance is a project led by Maraire, in collaboration with guitarist Hussein Kalonji and with contributions from Butler. The project released a mixtape, Pungwe, in 2012, and published it as an album on March 5, 2013.[6][7] They released their full-length debut album riZe vadZimu riZe on March 25, 2014.[8] Two EPs followed: Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema on February 3, 2015, and Girlz With Gunz on February 5, 2016.[9][10]

Shabazz Palaces form part of the Black Constellation, a Seattle-based collective including visual artists, fashion designers, and musicians.

An April 2020 article on The Don of Diamond Dreams confirmed that Tendai Maraire was no longer part of Shabazz Palaces.[11]

Style and influences

[edit]

Butler notes that the work of Shabazz Palaces differs from his previous work stylistically. He cites his primary influences as "abstract", pulling from podcasts and mixtapes. Butler attributes the use of African percussion and jazz overtones to his family's musical preferences.[12]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Shabazz Palaces discography
Studio albums

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "27/09/2011, Lauren Laverne - BBC Radio 6 Music". BBC. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Video: 'The King's New Clothes...' on YTGVB". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Shabazz Palaces - Black Up". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ^ Matson, Andrew (December 24, 2011). "Best pop music 2011: Seattle and beyond". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  5. ^ Drake, David (2014-05-02). "Shabazz Palaces' New Album "Lese Majesty" Release Date Announced". Complex. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  6. ^ Andrew Matson (2012-10-01). "Download this: Chimurenga Renaissance's 'Pungwe' mixtape". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  7. ^ "Pungwe, by Chimurenga Renaissance". Chimurenga Renaissance. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  8. ^ "Okayafrica Audio: Chimurenga Renaissance- "The B.A.D. Is So Good" Okayplayer". Okayplayer.com. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  9. ^ "Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema, by Chimurenga Renaissance". Chimurenga Renaissance. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  10. ^ "Listen to Chimurenga Renaissance's Girlz With Gunz EP - The Wire". The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  11. ^ Amin, Tayyab (16 April 2020). "Shabazz Palaces: The Don of Diamond Dreams – alchemy in a world of algorithms". The Guardian. This article was updated on Thursday 16 April to reflect that Tendai Maraire is no longer part of Shabazz Palaces.
  12. ^ "Shabazz Palaces is a heavy Afro-celestial experience". Waxpoetics.com. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
[edit]
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