Shabazz Palaces, Latest Project of Digable Planets Veteran, Signed To Sub Pop

One-time Digable Planets and Cherrywine alumnus Ishmael Butler, aka "Butterfly," now sports the intriguing name Palaceer Lazaro and leads the quirky, loquacious, alternative hip-hop outfit Shabazz Palaces. The collaborative has just inked a deal with Sub Pop, one of the label's rare forays into rap, and they will release their debut album in 2011.

The Seattle-based group released two EPs in 2009, Of Light and Shabazz Palaces, and the local favorites were recently granted a "Genius Award" from The Stranger, the first ever such accolade handed out by the publication. The band will receive their award and also perform on September 17 at Seattle's Moore Theatre.

New Yorkers curious to check out Shabazz Palaces are also in luck: the group is slated to play the American Museum of Natural History on October 15.

In a press release, Butler says it will be "cool" to see what comes of the marriage of Shabazz Palaces and Sub Pop and calls the city of Seattle "the immeasurable muse" for the band.

Sub Pop is offering up a 5-song stream of the group's self-titled EP here.