What is the Black Constellation? If you know, you'll want to listen to this podcast. If you don't, you'll want to listen, too.

Fresh off the Spaceship tells the story of the highly influential yet scarcely documented artist collective that has included such varied musical acts as Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, Ya Tseen and Porter Ray.

Hosted by KEXP's Larry Mizell Jr. and Martin Douglas, each episode in this 10-part series will take listeners on an audio journey connecting the stars of the Constellation, shedding light on their art and their ethos along the way.

New episodes will be released weekly starting March 18, 2022. Find out more at KEXP.org/fresh-off-the-spaceship.

Watch a video version of the trailer and explore more work from the artists of the Constellation on KEXP's Fresh off the Spaceship YouTube playlist.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/fresh

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the inaugural episode of Fresh Off the Spaceship, co-hosts Larry Mizell Jr. and Martin Douglas guide you through the big question: “What is the Black Constellation?”

We dive into what the collective represents, as well as the music and art it encompasses – from Shabazz Palaces and Stas THEE Boss to Porter Ray, OCnotes, Ya Tseen, and more. We hear from the artists themselves as well as reflections from Larry and Martin as Black journalists covering the Seattle music scene. Throughout the podcast we explore the Constellation’s ideas about collaboration, intuition, ritual, self-determination, legacy, and the continuum they practice in.

Listen to a playlist of music from the episode and read the transcript on KEXP.org.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/fresh

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ishmael Butler is a renaissance artist who has lived many lives. You may know him from the Grammy-award winning hip-hop trio Digable Planets or the mysterious force behind the critically acclaimed Shabazz Palaces. But he doesn’t just use his powers to innovate and reinvent himself – he spreads love and inspiration as a teacher and guide to his artistic family. In his art and lifting up the Black Constellation, he’s helped put a beacon on Black art in Seattle.

On this episode, we explore Ishmael’s journey from the West Coast to the East Coast and back again. Through all his stylistic reinventions and his current artistic life as lynchpin of Shabazz Palaces, son of the Central District and under-heralded hip-hop visionary.

Listen to a playlist of music from the episode and read the transcript on KEXP.org.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/fresh

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.