PALACES INTRIGUE

Words by Erin Duncan | Images by Scott La Rockwell

Shabazz Palaces has always cultivated an air of mystery, from their spiritual sci-fi sound to their nearly invisible public image. When the group anonymously released its first EP, “Of the Light,’’ in 2009, there were no online photos of them and no Shabazz Palaces Facebook or Twitter pages. People thought they were a one person act. But Shabazz Palaces is a duo, comprised of Tendai “Baba” Maraire, whose parents are well-known masters of African Mbira music, and Ishmael Butler, a.k.a “Palaceer Lazaro.” In a former life, he was “Butterfly” of Digable Planets, which celebrates the 20th-anniversary of its hip-hop classic “Reachin” this year.

Shabazz Palaces, which is based in Seattle, leaves behind the cool jazz/Beat poetry vibe of Digable Planets for a more abstract sound and themes of self-discovery. Maraire and Butler met through a mutual friend at a Seattle club, although Butler initially insisted he didn’t do music anymore. “I knew who he was; you know what I’m saying,’’ says Maraire. “I was a persistent dude. Later, we realized that we stayed two blocks away from each other and we didn’t know the whole time.”

“I knew, I just didn’t want him to know,” retorts Lazaro. “We became friends after that and just started making music,’’ continues Maraire. In 2011, the outfit released the underground classic “Black Up,’’ which spoke to the disillusionment of traditional hip-hop fans with its poetic lyrics and evocative chants.

The duo, in the midst of a nationwide tour, now has a massive following. At an Oakland show last month at New Parish, where these photos were shot, girls paid homage to the boho stylings of Vanessa Huxtable while Blipster boys evoked the sartorial splendor of Dwayne Wayne. Curly-haired hipster chicks danced drunkenly in the wings.

Shabazz Palaces isn’t a secret anymore.