Shabazz Palaces' 2011 debut album Black Up pushes boundaries with its bold, experimental sound. Frontman Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler (aka Palaceer Lazaro) of Digable Planets leads the project, blending unpredictable song structures, moody atmospheres, woozy beats, fragmented flows, and psychedelic timbres.

The album features standout tracks like "Free Press and Curl", which shifts from gritty hip-hop into a haunting, galley-like drift, and "Youlogy", which transitions from a druggy swirl to a bass-and-drum groove. Ishmael Butler moves beyond traditional formats, creating songs around minimalist yet impactful rhythms and phrases. Black Up also includes collaborations with THEESatisfaction, adding depth and variety to its genre-defying sound. The album is one of the most underrated gems in the often misunderstood malaise of early 2010's industrial hip-hop.

2024 reissue printed on gold vinyl and released via Sub Pop Records.

Tracklist: 

Side A

Side B