Digable Planets
{{Short description|American hip hop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Digable Planets
| image = 171 Digable Planets (5251694375).jpg
| caption = Digable Planets performing at Aggie Theatre on December 11, 2010, in Fort Collins, Colorado
| image_upright = 1.2
| origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; {{Cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/originals/digable-planets-ishmael-butler-unsung-interview.html|title=Digable Planets' Ishmael Butler Talks About Being 'Unsung,' His Impact & More|last=Danois|first=Ericka Blount |date=June 3, 2018 |website=Okayplayer.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701222728/http://www.okayplayer.com/originals/digable-planets-ishmael-butler-unsung-interview.html|archive-date=July 1, 2018}}
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
| years_active = {{hlist|1987–1995|2005–2011|2015–present
}}
| genre = {{Hlist|Hip hop|jazz rap|alternative hip hop|acid jazz}}
| label = {{hlist|Pendulum|Blue Note|EMI
}}
| website =
| current_members = Ishmael "Butter Fly" Butler
Craig "Doodlebug" Irving
Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira
| past_members =
}}
Digable Planets ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɪ|ɡ|ə|b|əl|_|ˈ|p|l|æ|n|ə|t|s}}) is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987. The trio is composed of rappers Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p26355|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Digable Planets|last=Bush|first=John|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 15, 2010}} The group is notable for their contributions to the subgenres of jazz rap and alternative hip hop.
History
= Origins =
Butler and Irving met in Philadelphia in the late 1980s. Originally from Seattle, Butler was interning at Sleeping Bag Records in New York and would visit his grandmother in Philadelphia, where he met local native Irving, who was rapping with a group called the Dread Poets Society.{{Cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/originals/digable-planets-ishmael-butler-unsung-interview.html|title=Digable Planets' Ishmael Butler Talks About Being 'Unsung,' His Impact & More|last=Danois|first=Ericka Blount |date=June 3, 2018 |website=Okayplayer.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701222728/http://www.okayplayer.com/originals/digable-planets-ishmael-butler-unsung-interview.html|archive-date=July 1, 2018}} Irving had in turn met Vieira, who was originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, while attending Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The initial demos recorded under the name Digable Planets featured only Butler, but after a brief stint with two other members, Butler began collaborating with Irving and Vieira in 1989.{{cite web|title=Digable Planets|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/48393-Digable-Planets|publisher=Discogs|access-date=July 1, 2017}}
= 1992–1993: ''Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)'' =
The group signed to Pendulum Records in 1992 and all three band members moved to Brooklyn, New York. Their debut album Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) was released in 1993 and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's lead single, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" became a crossover hit, peaking at #15 on Billboard magazine's singles chart, earning gold certification by the RIAA, and winning Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/digable-planets|title=Digable Planets |website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards |date=May 22, 2018 |archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701220427/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/digable-planets}} The track peaked at #67 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1995.{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 155}}
= 1994–1995 ''Blowout Comb'' and breakup =
The group's second album Blowout Comb was released in 1994. The album was noted by critics as a stark departure from the previous album, being darker, less hook-oriented and more overtly political in its references to Black Panther and communist imagery. Writing for Spin in December 1994, Craig Marks declared it "... a beguiling, demanding, damn near revolutionary follow-up."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/1994/12/best-albums-1994/140226-digable-planets-blowout-club-web/|title=Digable Planets, Blowout Comb (Pendulum/ERG)|last=Marks|first=Craig |date=December 31, 1994 |website=Spin Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701223245/https://www.spin.com/1994/12/best-albums-1994/140226-digable-planets-blowout-club-web/|archive-date=July 1, 2018}} Blowout Comb features guest appearances from artists Jeru the Damaja, Sulaiman, and Guru of Gang Starr.
In the same year, the group appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African-American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time magazine.{{Cite magazine|date=December 26, 1994|title=The Best Music of 1994|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982060,00.html|access-date=May 26, 2020|issn=0040-781X}} The band subsequently disbanded in early 1995 citing "creative differences".
= 2005–present: Reunions and live album=
In February 2005 the trio reunited and embarked on a reunion tour, which was followed by the release of a compilation album titled Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles on October 15, 2005. The album combined previously released material with remixes and B-sides.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631754|title=Hip-Hop Legends Digable Planets Reunite|last=Johnson|first=Christopher|date=May 5, 2005|work=NPR|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701220924/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631754}}{{cite web|title=Digable Planets: Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/digableplanets-beyond/|publisher=PopMatters|date=November 16, 2005}} From 2009 to 2011, Butler and Irving toured across the U.S., Canada, and Europe with a live band, the Cosmic Funk Orchestra.
The group performed at Numbers, in Houston, Texas, on May 15, 2010, alongside the hip hop duo Camp Lo.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} During an interview with the Houston Chronicle near the time of this show, Irving stated that a new single would be released, called "Fresh Out", and that a new album was planned for digital release in summer of 2010.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chron.com/peep/2010/05/digable_planets_are_spinning_a_1.html|title=Digable Planets are spinning again|publisher=Houston Chronicle|date=May 14, 2010}} The group also performed alongside hip-hop group The Pharcyde at the North by Northeast music festival in Toronto, Ontario on June 19, 2011.{{cite news|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|title=Devo, Hats play free for NXNE|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/19/devo-hats-play-free-for-nxne|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=April 25, 2011}}
A reunion show scheduled for December 2012 in Seattle, Washington was cancelled days before the performance. When asked in a subsequent interview about the group's status, Butler stated "I think it's the end."{{cite web|last=Matson|first=Andrew|title=Ishmael Butler on Digable Planets: 'I think it's the end'|date=December 19, 2012|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/ishmael-butler-on-digable-planets-i-think-its-the-end/|access-date=December 20, 2012|publisher=Seattle Times}} Despite Butler's previous statement, it was announced in October 2015 that the trio would again reunite for a concert at Seattle's Neptune Theatre on December 30 alongside Shabazz Palaces.{{cite web|title = Digable Planets reunite after four years for hometown Seattle concert|url = http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/10/digable-planets-reunite-after-four-years-for-hometown-seattle-concert/|website = Consequence of Sound|date = October 28, 2015|access-date = November 3, 2015}} Digable Planets held a reunion tour during spring and summer 2016, followed by the release of their live album Digable Planets Live in June 2017. Digable Planets Live was recorded live on July 28–29, 2016, at Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, Pennsylvania — just 3 miles outside Philadelphia, which is where the members first met and initially formed and based their trio.{{Discogs release|release=10876849|name=Digable Planets – Live|type=album|format=CD, Album}}{{Discogs release|release=10881663|name=Digable Planets – Live|type=album|format=15 x File, WAV, Album}}{{cite web|url=https://ardmoremusichall.com/about/|title=ABOUT|website=ardmoremusichall.com|date=n.d.|access-date=2024-01-10}}
Solo work and collaborations
Butler released Bright Black under the moniker Cherrywine in 2003 before going on to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire as the group Shabazz Palaces, which has released five albums.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/24/shabazz-palaces-lese-majesty-review|title=Shabazz Palaces: Lese Majesty review – spectacular, way-out hip-hop |work=The Guardian|date=July 24, 2014}} Butler has also been employed by Sub Pop's A&R division and is helping the label build its repertoire of artists that are "imaginative" and "daring".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/14/shabazz-palaces-ishmael-butler-sub-pop|title=Shabazz Palaces' Ishmael Butler becomes A&R for Sub Pop |work=The Guardian|date=August 14, 2013}} Butler and Maraire later collaborated with Hussein Kalonji as Chimurenga Renaissance to release riZe vadZimu riZe in March 2014 on Brick Lane Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/chimurenga-renaissance-the-bad-is-so-good/|title=Chimurenga Renaissance 'The B.A.D Is So Good'|publisher=Okayafrica|date=February 6, 2014}}
Irving, also known as Cee Knowledge, released two albums under the name Cee Knowledge & The Cosmic Funk Orchestra.{{Cite web|title=Original Members of Digable Planets To Embark On First Tour In 11 Years|url=https://glidemagazine.com/166664/original-members-digable-planets-embark-first-tour-11-years/|website=glidemagazine.com|date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |author1=Glide }} Vieira, also known as Lady Mecca, released Trip The Light Fantastic in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/ladybug-mecca/trip-the-light-fantastic/14567/ |title=Ladybug Mecca – Trip the Light Fantastic Album Review |website=Prefixmag.com |access-date=July 21, 2017}} She has continued to collaborate regularly with other musicians, notably on Legacy/Sony's Billie Holiday Remixed and Reimagined album, Del tha Funkee Homosapien's Eleventh Hour, and with hip-hop supergroup eMC. Vieira joined hip hop group Dino 5 as the voice of Tracy Triceratops.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/04/the-dino-5-are |title=The Dino 5 Takes Kid-Hop Back to the Future |website=Wired.com |date=April 1, 2008 |access-date=July 21, 2017}} Vieira later joined Brazilian hip hop fusion group BROOKZILL! with fellow Dino 5 member Prince Paul.{{cite web|author=Nate Patrin |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22478-throwback-to-the-future/ |title=BROOKZILL!: Throwback to the Future Album Review |website=Pitchfork.com |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=July 21, 2017}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Compilation albums=
=Live albums=
- Digable Planets Live (2017)
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US {{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/hot-100|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=Hot 100|access-date=December 12, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Dance ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US R&B ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Rap ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)"
|1992 | style="text-align:center;"|15 | style="text-align:center;"|20 | style="text-align:center;"|6 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|8 | style="text-align:center;"|67 |
|align="center" rowspan="3"|Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) |
| scope="row"| "Where I'm From"
|rowspan="2"| 1993 | style="text-align:center;"|—{{efn|"Where I'm From" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/1993-05-22/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230130852/https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/1993-05-22/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2024 |title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 12, 2020}}}} | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|60 | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|42 | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| scope="row"| "Nickel Bags"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|93 | style="text-align:center;"|12 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| scope="row"| "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)"
| 1994 | style="text-align:center;"|80 | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|37 | style="text-align:center;"|8 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | |align="center" rowspan="2"|Blowout Comb |
| scope="row"| "Dial 7 (Axiom of Creamy Spies)"
|1995 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|45 | style="text-align:center;"|88 | style="text-align:center;"|32 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{cc}}
- {{allmusic}}
- {{discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:African-American musical trios
Category:African-American musical groups
Category:Alternative hip-hop groups
Category:East Coast hip-hop groups
Category:Hip-hop groups from New York City
Category:Musical trios from New York (state)
Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music
Category:Blue Note Records artists
Category:Mixed-gender musical trios
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995
Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2005
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2015