Ishmael Butler travels back in time with Digable Planets reunion

Time travelers live among us.

Take, for example, Ishmael Butler, frontman for the classic ’90s rap group Digable Planets and the current avant-garde duo Shabazz Places. Both are playing Seattle this week — the former at the Moore Theatre on Wednesday (Dec. 30), marking the first reunion for Digable Planets since 2011.

The latter plays on New Year’s Eve at the Neptune Theatre.

8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $24, or $40 for two-show pass including Shabazz Palaces, $40 (877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org).

9 p.m. Thursday, Dec., 31, at the Neptune Theatre, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle; $23.50 or $40 two-show pass including Digable Planets (877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org).

“It’s a rare opportunity that you get to place yourself 20 years in your past with so much detail and specificity,” says Butler. “You can remember things, but to actually be back in the same places you were before, doing the same thing, it’s wild.”