Shabazz Palaces Federalist Papers

Shabazz Palaces release two new mini-albums, Robed in Rareness and Exotic Birds of Prey. Shabazz Palaces is masterminded by Ishmael Butler (Digable Planets), whose relentless drive to reimagine hip-hop – even as he enjoys his fifth decade on Earth – remains undiminished. Exotic Birds of Prey furthers the modus operandi of Robed in Rareness: a respectful eye on the past, an embrace of an ever-evolving present, with its feet firmly planted in the future. Where Robed warped sounds like shoegaze and ambient music into the Shabazz Palaces multiverse, Exotic cross-pollinates these elements with twisted electro and funk vibes.

"Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines" is an album by interstellar hip-hop enigma Shabazz Palaces, aka Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire. The result is a thrilling excursion, possessing an otherworldly ambience and substance you'll spend months decoding, every spin yielding something new.

"Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines" is an album by interstellar hip-hop enigma Shabazz Palaces, aka Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire. The result is a thrilling excursion, possessing an otherworldly ambience and substance you'll spend months decoding, every spin yielding something new.

Shabazz Palaces is masterminded by vocalist and producer Ishmael Butler, whose unstinting drive to reimagine hip-hop - even as he enters his fifth decade on Earth - remains undimmed. With Robed In Rareness, there’s a respectful eye on the past, an embrace of an ever-evolving present, and its feet are firmly planted in the future. It features collaborations with the likes of Seattle’s Royce The Choice and Porter Ray, Colorado Springs’ O Finess, Bronx’s Geechi Suede (of Camp Lo), and Butler’s son, the incomparable Lil Tracy.

Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines is one of two new albums by interstellar hip-hop enigma Shabazz Palaces, aka Ishmael Butler (who, in another galaxy, performs in Digable Planets) and Tendai Maraire. Quazarz vs. the Jealous Machines, and its companion, Quazarz: Born On a Gangster Star, were both produced by Knife Knights (i.b e.b.) and mixed by Blood. Both albums come out July 14th, 2017.