Shabazz Palaces Add Northampton Date, Release New Video

Shabazz Palaces performs April 12 at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. (Image by Leif Podhajsky/Original band photo by David Belisle)

It’s no wonder Shabazz Palaces reminds people of Digable Planets: the Seattle hip-hop group is what Digable Planets member Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler does with the rest of the time.

He’s doing it well: Shabazz Palaces’ full-length debut, last year’s “Black Up” (the first rap album released by indie powerhouse Sub Pop Records), is one of the most eclectic and absorbing “alternative rap” releases in a while, full of slashing beats, layers of weird keyboard parts and rhymes that play with meter and rhythm.

The group today announced a tour that includes a stop April 12 at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton (tickets are $12.50), and released a new video for ” “Are You… Can You… Were You…? (Felt)”