Ishmael Butler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ishmael Butler
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Ishmael Butler in 2019
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ishmael Reginald Butler |
| Also known as |
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| Born | July 3, 1969 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
| Children | Jazz Butler |
Ishmael Reginald Butler, born on July 3, 1969, is an American artist who raps, produces music, and writes songs. He is famous for being part of two cool music groups: Digable Planets in the 1990s and Shabazz Palaces in the 2010s.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Ishmael Butler was born in 1969 in Seattle, Washington. His dad, Dr. Reginald Butler, was a history professor. He taught about African American culture at the University of Virginia.
Ishmael started his music journey early. He played the alto saxophone in his middle school jazz band. In 1987, he finished high school at Garfield High School. After that, he moved to Massachusetts to go to college.
Music Career Highlights
In 1989, Ishmael left college and moved to Brooklyn. There, he made a demo tape of his hip hop songs. This tape eventually reached a record company executive.
Forming Digable Planets
In 1992, Butler auditioned for Pendulum Records. He teamed up with his friends, Craig Irving and Mary Ann Vieira. Together, they formed the group called Digable Planets.
Their song "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" came out in 1992. It became very popular and was a big hit. The group was known for mixing hip hop with jazz music. They also wrote songs with deep, thoughtful lyrics. Digable Planets released two albums. The group later broke up in the mid-1990s.
New Projects and Return to Seattle
After Digable Planets, Butler kept making music. He used the name Cherrywine for some of his projects. He also took film classes at New York University. In 2003, he moved back to Seattle. He returned to help take care of his mother.
Shabazz Palaces and Beyond
In 2009, Butler started a new group called Shabazz Palaces. He formed it with his neighbor, Tendai Maraire. They first released two EPs on their own.
Later, they signed with Sub Pop Records. Their first album, Black Up, came out in 2011. Their next album, Lese Majesty, was released in 2014.
Ishmael Butler also joined the A&R team at Sub Pop in 2013. This means he helped find new artists for the record label.
Family Life
Ishmael Butler has a son named Jazz Ishmael Butler. You might know his son by his stage name, Lil Tracy. Jazz's mother is Coko Gamble. She is the lead singer of the group Sisters With Voices.
Discography
