News
23 October 2026 – Shabazz Palaces Release It's a Style Sport and Continue Their Journey Through Experimental Hip-Hop
By Editorial Team - October 23, 2026
Summary
Seattle visionary Ishmael Butler releases 10-track Shabazz Palaces LP It's a Style Sport via Sub Pop, bending jazz, rap, and Afrofuturist soundscapes.
Key Facts
- Seattle experimental hip-hop icon Shabazz Palaces releases 10-track album 'It's a Style Sport'.
- Produced by Ishmael Butler alongside trusted collaborator Erik Blood for Sub Pop Records.
- Guest contributors include Kassa Overall, Marquette Miller, Thaddillac, and Evan Flory-Barnes.
- Entities: Shabazz Palaces, Ishmael Butler, Erik Blood, Kassa Overall, Sub Pop Records, Seattle
- Tags: shabazz-palaces, ishmael-butler, its-a-style-sport, sub-pop, experimental-hip-hop, afrofuturism, seattle-music
Seattle experimental hip-hop vanguard Shabazz Palaces has released It's a Style Sport through longtime label home Sub Pop Records. Led by visionary rapper and producer Ishmael Butler (formerly Butterfly of Grammy-winning collective Digable Planets), the ten-track album extends Butler's restless exploration of Afrofuturist rhythm, dub textures, and improvisational poetry.
Crafted in close collaboration with producer Erik Blood, the album pairs surreal cosmic sound design with grounded reflections on aging, style, and independent survival. Standout selections include "Ahh World (I Won the Alpha Bet)", "Field Notes", "Show Me Missouri in Mink", and "Money Can't Save Your Mind".
The album features an illustrious cast of guest musicians including drummer Kassa Overall, saxophonist Carlos Overall, bassist Evan Flory-Barnes, Marquette Miller, and Thaddillac, blending live jazz interplay with avant-garde electronic programming.
As Butler demonstrates, true musical style is not a stagnant brand but an active, disciplined athletic craft. Discover more pioneering rap across our hip-hop coverage and read the full news archive.