Ishmael Reginald Denin Butler is an Grammy award-winning American rapper, record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his work with such groups as Digable Planets and Shabazz Palaces. Digable Planets’ 1992 single “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” achieved commercial and critical success, charting on Billboard Hot 100. Known for merging hip hop with jazz and philosophical lyrics, the group has released two albums before disbanding in the mid-1990s. Following Digable Planets’ demise, he recorded music under the alias Cherrywine and took film classes at New York University. 

In 2009, Butler formed Shabazz Palaces with his neighbor Tendai Maraire. After self-releasing two EPs, the duo signed to Sub Pop Records, releasing their debut album, Black Up, in 2011. Its follow-up, Lese Majesty, was released in 2014. Butler also became a member of Sub Pop’s A&R team in 2013.

Shabazz Palaces frequently collaborate with and remix other artists, in the latter case often reinventing entire tracks. Notable collaborations the supergroup WOKE, formed with Flying Lotus and Thundercat. To date WOKE have released one single, “The Lavishments of Light Looking”, featuring George Clinton. Shabazz Palaces have also contributed to numerous Theesatisfaction and Porter Ray releases.

Shabazz Palaces are part of Black Constellation, a collective of visual artists, fashion designers, and musicians.