{"product_id":"black-up","title":"Black Up","description":"\u003cp\u003eOnly a little more than a year after releasing two EPs, Seattle's \u003cstrong\u003eShabazz Palaces\u003c\/strong\u003e signed to Sub Pop for their full-length debut. Even on a high-profile label, former Digable Planets member \u003cstrong\u003eIshmael Butler\u003c\/strong\u003e (formerly Butterfly) maintains a shroud of mystique, rapping under the facade of \u003cem\u003ePalaceer Lazaro\u003c\/em\u003e and purposely avoiding publicity, interviews, and liner credits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConsidering his long-term time in the game, his wordplay is still surprisingly relevant, and, masked as Lazaro, he reinvents himself by adding an air of sophistication to the persona of a streetwise gangster. Jazz references are no longer the norm and Butler steers away from the blaxploitation slang and rhymes about being an insect or a creamy spy, but he still has a distinctive, surreal style of flowing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the mainstream becomes more and more predictable, \u003cstrong\u003eShabazz Palaces\u003c\/strong\u003e’ inscrutability is a welcome change. Because the beats are so abstract, roots take precedent, and a strong presence on the microphone becomes the most important aspect. Butler fills this role with ease. His smooth, sparkling rhymes glue \u003cem\u003eKnife Knights\u003c\/em\u003e' watery environment together to create a provocative listen from start to finish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sub Pop","offers":[{"title":"Gold LP","offer_id":50819091661131,"sku":"2232295","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50448491381067,"sku":"339011","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50448492200267,"sku":"339012","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/74a9ac63-d8e0-426a-8e5f-1bf3abc91280_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727092385","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/products\/black-up","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}