When Digable Planets member Ishmael Butler announced his Seattle art-rap project Shabazz Palaces about 15 years ago, he presented it as a loose and mysterious collective. Now, Shabazz Palaces is essentially Butler's solo project, though he's still getting plenty of help in making his records. And now there's a new record on the way. This fall, Shabazz Palaces will follow the 2024 mini-album Exotic Birds Of Prey and the eight-minute standalone single "Time Knows Me" with a new LP called It's A Style Sport.
It's A Style Sport has a great title and some great cover art, and Ishmael Butler co-produced the album with longtime collaborator Erik Blood, who also played multiple instruments. The album, largely recorded in an eight-day stretch in Seattle, includes contributions from singer Marquette Miller, vocalist and guitarist Thaddeus "Thaddillac" Turner, bassists Evan Flory-Barnes and Gerald "Tugboat" Turner, drummer Kassa Overall, and saxophonist Carlos Overall. Opening track "Ahh World (I Won The Alpha Bet)" is a burbling spoken-word electro track with a cinematic sense of scope and an animates sci-fi video from director Jacob Kasar. Below, check out that video and the LP's tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Ahh World (I Won The Alpha Bet)"
02 "Field Notes"
03 "Show Me Missouri In Mink"
04 "Jheri Curl Jump"
05 "Deadstock Dude"
06 "Tongue In Chic"
07 "Heliocentric Immortality Manifesto H.I.M."
08 "Olivia According To Touch"
09 "Money Can’t Save Your Mind"
10 "From One Future To Another"
It's A Style Sport is out 10/23 on Sub Pop. On Thursday, Shabazz Palaces will play clipping.'s Splendor & Misery Festival at the Knockdown Center in Queens.
