Behind the hip-hop collective Shabazz Palaces lie the creative forces of the dynamic duo Tendai Maraire and Palaceer Lazaro, also known as Ishmael Butler from Digable Planets. Their illustrious past encompasses a groundbreaking fusion of jazz and hip-hop in the nineties, but Shabazz Palaces steadily evolves towards a deeper, more intense hip-hop sound. Futuristic beats are intricately blended with spiritual and intellectual lyrics, deliberately pushing the boundaries of the genre.
This evolution has been well-received, as they have collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Thundercat, Death Grips, and Flying Lotus. Since their debut album in 2009, released under the renowned Sub Pop label, they explore conceptual territory with albums like ‘Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star,’ ‘Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines,’ and ‘Robbed in Rareness.’ Shabazz Palaces leaves an enduring impression on the contemporary hip-hop scene with their cosmic aesthetic and profound poetry.