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Sub Pop Signs Shabazz Palaces

11:12 a.m. · September 2, 2010 · by Andrew Winistorfer

Sub Pop announced this morning that it has signed Shabazz Palaces, the dark alter ego of Digable Planets' Ishmael Butler. It's a new look for Sub Pop, which until now had stayed out of rap music. Though Shabazz Palaces' lyrical, hook-less experimentation rap is a good fit for an indie label. There's no way this guy could live on Def Jam. Plus Butler currently lives in Seattle, so at least he's in the same town. The label will be releasing Shabazz's first LP (he released two EPs last year), but in the meantime it put out the above video for "Belhaven Meridian," a good intro to those not familiar with the charms of Shabazz Palaces.