Stereogum — Ishmael “Butterfly” “Palaceer Lazaro” Butler has lately been busy with Shabazz Palaces, his much-loved Seattle avant-rap crew. But Butler first came to our attention as one third of the early-’90s boho-rap trio Digable Planets, the group re... more info

KEXP Seattle — There’s a good reason that Seattle group Shabazz Palaces is receiving national critical acclaim (including an 8.8 from Pitchfork!): there is just nothing like them. The semi-mysterious hip hop project was first credited to Palaceer Lazaro, who, ove... more info

Guardian Music — (Sub Pop)In January 2010 a guy called Rich Jensen (@richjensen) sent out a cryptic tweet. "Somebody has to say it: Neumos Friday felt like OK Hotel (April 17, '91) when an Aberdeen trio first dropped a song about teen deodorant."It's worth translatin... more info

Guardian Music — (Sub Pop)Sub Pop's first hip-hop signing are an anonymous collective with a no-album-credits policy, fronted by one Palaceer Lazaro, formerly known as Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler of the Grammy-winning 90s outfit Digable Planets. Black Up, their full-l... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Two decades ago, Ishmael Butler flapped his wings as Butterfly, one-third of the seminal ’90s New York hip-hop trio Digable Planets. Claiming coolness as its birthright and Miles Davis and two Herbies (Hancock & Mann) as elemental building blocks, ... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Shabazz Palaces emerged out of the ether, or at least that's what group leader Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler would have you believe. The former Digable Planets MC originally operated under a veil of secrecy, taking the alias Palaceer Lazaro, declin... more info

Nialler9 — I’ve been following Shabazz Palaces since Gorilla vs. Bear was shouting about them way back but nothing grabbed me enough to investigate beyond brief listens. That was until I heard ‘Swerve’ and it’s like the door has been opened. Signed to S... more info

Guardian Music — This rap veteran is bringing hip-hop to Sub Pop with an album of dark Odd Future-istic anthemsHometown: Seattle.The lineup: Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler (music, vocals).The background: Shabazz Palaces, the first hip-hop act to sign to Sub Pop, are a ri... more info

Altsounds — North By Northeast (NXNE) announces the second wave of bands for the 17th edition of the festival, taking over Toronto June 13-19, 2011. NXNE has just confirmed that *Devo, Descendents, Stars, The Pharcyde, Men Without Hats, Digable Planets, Twin S... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Shabazz Palaces have a backstory fit for Dostoevsky. You might remember frontman Ishmael Butler from his former gig as one of the three Digable Planets, the early '90s jazz rap titans who tutored the world on the essence of "Cool... more info