Ask anybody that knows me from high school and they'll tell you that my teenaged heart beat madly for Digable Planets, specifically for their front man Ishmael Butler. I bought and memorized both albums, front to back, and their concert was even the first that underage-Ivory ever snuck into. That said, when I discovered a few years back that he was back to making music as part of Shabazz Palaces, I was more than happy that he was back in the musical spotlight. And though their beginnings were shrouded in mystery, Butler and his co-hort, Tendai Maraire stepped out of the shadows earlier this year with their debut full-length release Black Up. Though aurally, the sound is veers sharply from D.P.'s jazzy debut Rebirth of Slick, Butler's nasally flow and thought-provoking lyrics (along with his good looks!) still remain. If you haven't had a chance to check out the release, then lucky for you, the duo released an official album short film to get a taste of what you're been missing. Filled to the brim with eye-catching images, the vid showcases the group's experimental sound. And if you were a DP fan like myself, then the sly nod to their song "Escapism (Gettin' Free)" around the 3:05 mark is a welcomed bridge between the two.
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