Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

S3 Episode 39: Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces

November 08, 2023 Season 3 Episode 39
S3 Episode 39: Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces
Reel Notes w/ CineMasai
More Info
Reel Notes w/ CineMasai
S3 Episode 39: Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces
Nov 08, 2023 Season 3 Episode 39

My guest this week is Ishmael Butler, one-third of Digable Planets and the center of Shabazz Palaces. We spoke about the Amazon Prime original series Them, Afrosurrealism, Superfly, the role blaxploitation soundtracks played in the early days of sampling, his love for horror movies, transitioning from Digable Planets and Cherrywine to Shabazz Palaces, the group’s creative process, his views on rap culture 50 years in, and the process behind Shabazz Palaces’ latest project Robed In Rareness.

Robed In Rareness is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from Bandcamp. Follow Shabazz Palaces on Instagram and Twitter: @shabazzpalaces

My first book,
Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.

Join the
Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more!

Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief FundThe Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!


Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)

Support the Show.

Show Notes

My guest this week is Ishmael Butler, one-third of Digable Planets and the center of Shabazz Palaces. We spoke about the Amazon Prime original series Them, Afrosurrealism, Superfly, the role blaxploitation soundtracks played in the early days of sampling, his love for horror movies, transitioning from Digable Planets and Cherrywine to Shabazz Palaces, the group’s creative process, his views on rap culture 50 years in, and the process behind Shabazz Palaces’ latest project Robed In Rareness.

Robed In Rareness is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from Bandcamp. Follow Shabazz Palaces on Instagram and Twitter: @shabazzpalaces

My first book,
Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.

Join the
Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more!

Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief FundThe Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!


Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)

Support the Show.