Shabazz Palaces Shabazz Palaces artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Shabazz Palaces

Sunday July 20, 2014

Shabazz Palaces' new album, Lese Majesty, comes out July 29. Patrick O'Brien-Smith/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Patrick O'Brien-Smith/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Shabazz Palaces, 'Lese Majesty'

July 20, 2014 • Lese Majesty is MC and producer Ishmael Butler's most relentlessly noncommercial chapter yet. No hits, no singles; just raw, graceful tunes from the inventive former leader of Digable Planets.

Lese Majesty

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album has been released.

Shabazz Palaces' new record, Lese Majesty, comes out July 29. Patrick O'Brien-Smith/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Patrick O'Brien-Smith/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Unlocking The Eclectic

July 20, 2014 • The enigmatic leader of Shabazz Palaces says his process is instinctive, non-linear and, sometimes, beyond his own understanding. Read Ishmael Butler's extended interview with All Things Considered.

Unlocking The Eclectic

Listen · 8:24 8:24

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Saturday February 18, 2012

The British producer SBTRKT wears one of his many the African-inspired masks. Dan Wilton/courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dan Wilton/courtesy of the artist

The Record

Musicians And Their Masks

February 18, 2012 • Many musicians — particularly those at the intersection of hip-hop and electronic music — are experimenting with the way masks can obscure or change their identity.

Tuesday February 14, 2012

Shabazz Palaces performing at KEXP. David Lichterman/KEXP hide caption

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David Lichterman/KEXP

Favorite Sessions

Shabazz Palaces: Bop Hard

KEXP

February 14, 2012 • Seattle's otherworldly hip-hop group brings their hypnotic, battering low end beats and transcendent raps to KEXP.

Monday December 5, 2011

Opinion

NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2011

50 Favorites Of 2011: S-W

December 5, 2011 • Musicians new and familiar gave us exciting sounds in 2011. We witnessed the ascent of the mighty Merrill Garbus, a.k.a. tUnE-yArDs. We reveled at the return of Ishmael Butler, formerly known as Butterfly from jazz-rap greats Digable Planets, whose debut with Shabazz Palaces gave off a dark buzz. Wilco moved even farther away from its alt-country roots and managed to sound even more like Wilco. The list of our 50 favorite records of 2011 wraps up here, with album Shabazz Palaces, Sonny Rollins and more artists from S to W.

Friday November 25, 2011

For Pesky Relatives, A Musical Gift Guide

Shabazz Palaces David Belisle and Leif Podhajsky hide caption

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David Belisle and Leif Podhajsky

Music Lists

For Pesky Relatives, A Musical Gift Guide

November 25, 2011 • NPR Music's Stephen Thompson picks new music for the hard-to-please on a host's shopping list.

For Pesky Relatives, A Musical Gift Guide

Listen · 9:54 9:54

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Wednesday June 29, 2011

Grind And Shine: Shabazz Palaces And THEESatisfaction

Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction (from left to right, Ishmael Butler, Catherine Harris-White and Stasia Irons) outside Caffe Vita in Capitol Hill. Kyle Johnson for NPR hide caption

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Kyle Johnson for NPR

The Record

Grind And Shine: Shabazz Palaces And THEESatisfaction

June 29, 2011 • We sat down with the city's most enigmatic groups in Capitol Hill, the hub of Seattle nightlife.

Hear "Swerve... the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding) (feat. THEESatisfaction)" from Shabazz Palaces' 'Black Up'

3:52

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Sunday June 19, 2011

First Listen: Shabazz Palaces, 'Black Up'

Ishmael Butler, alumnus of Digable Planets and leader of Shabazz Palaces. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Shabazz Palaces, 'Black Up'

June 19, 2011 • The latest album from Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, an alumnus of the '90s jazz-rap crew Digable Planets, is as immersive as it is odd. Hear it in its entirety until its release.