Ishmael Butler on Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces & the Art of Reinvention

From the Grammy-winning sound of Digable Planets to the experimental universe of Shabazz Palaces, Ishmael Butler has spent more than three decades redefining what hip-hop can sound like.

Ishmael Butler, also known as Butterfly of Digable Planets and Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces, joins Jeff Weiss and Free on The Truth Hurts for an expansive conversation about his extraordinary career, creative reinvention, and the music that shaped his life.

Ish takes us back to his early years in Seattle, playing college basketball while developing the music that would become Digable Planets. He revisits forming the group with Doodlebug and Ladybug Mecca, the success of “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” and the making of their landmark albums Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) and Blowout Comb.

He also reflects on Digable Planets' unexpected 1994 Grammy win, the story behind his unprepared acceptance speech, and why Blowout Comb ultimately became one of the group's most beloved records despite its initial commercial reception.

The conversation follows Ish's journey through the years after Digable Planets, including his work as Cherrywine, the difficult period when he wondered whether his rap career had passed him by, and how pressing and distributing his own Shabazz Palaces EPs eventually led to a deal with Sub Pop Records.

Plus, Ish shares stories about meeting Herbie Hancock at Flying Lotus's house, collaborating with his son Lil Tracy, being overlooked on a Seattle hip-hop Mount Rushmore, and the inspiration behind his new Shabazz Palaces album, It’s a Style Sport.

LISTEN TO SHABAZZ PALACES' NEW ALBUM, IT'S A STYLE SPORT:
subpop.com/releases/shabazz_palaces/its_a_styl…

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