Digable Planets
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Digable Planets | |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Years active | 1992–1995, 2005–present |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Labels | Pendulum Records |
| Members | Butterfly Doodlebug Ladybug Mecca |
Digable Planets is a New York City based alternative hip hop group composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler (from Seattle), Craig "Doodlebug" Irving (from Philadelphia), and Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira (from Baltimore). They were backed by Silkworm, who later embarked on a solo career under the name King Britt.
Contents |
[edit] History
Digable Planets' fusion of jazz and hip hop received excellent reviews and solid sales with the release of its debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), in 1993, which was certified gold by the 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 the Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Its second album, Blowout Comb, was released in 1994 (see 1994 in music). The novelty of the group's jazz/hip-hop fusion had passed, leading to disappointing sales. The trio soon broke up due to creative differences, as well as the deaths of both of Ladybug's parents due to unrelated illnesses. However, a retrospective album Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles was released in 2005, which included unreleased recordings.
[edit] Recent developments
Butler established a hip-hop/blues act called Cherrywine; after failing to release a solo album "Ishmael Since 1999." Cherrywines's album Bright Black was released in 2003 with a lackluster reception. He also starred in the film short "I am Ali", as well as fathering 4 kids through 4 different mothers, the last of which he admitted to only after a police-mandated paternity test in 2004. Silkworm has an established solo career under the name King Britt, and occasionally partners with The Roots' Ahmir-Khalib “?uestlove” Thompson. Doodlebug is now known as Cee Knowledge and tours with a band called Cee Knowledge & the Cosmic Funk Orchestra Realeaseing 2 albums in limited edition on FarmHouse Records. Ladybug, now known as Ladybug Mecca, has also embarked on a solo career, releasing an album in 2005.
In February of 2005 the trio reunited and embarked on a reunion tour, with a compilation album released on October 15, 2005. The group also has stated plans to release a DVD.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993)
- Blowout Comb (1994)
- Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles (compilation) (2005)
[edit] Singles
- "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" (1992)
- "Where I'm From" (1993)
- "Nickel Bags" (1993)
- "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" (1994)
- "9th Wonder (Slicker This Year) Mad Slicker Remixes" (1994)
- "Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)" (1995)
[edit] Trivia
- When accepting their Grammy award for “Cool Like Dat,” the members of the group thanked the Nation of Islam loudly, much to the chagrin of some of the audience.
- The song "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) was recently featured in the movie Freedom Writers.
