Feature: Digable Planets

Hyllade filmen The Wackness som rör sig i ett hiphopdallrande New York anno 1994 skickar fingrarna till youtube för ett antal nostalgitrippande söktermer. Återupplev heja heja. Hade filmen utspelat sig ett och ett halvt år tidigare hade soundtracket säkerligen inkluderat cool cat jazziga Rebirth of slick av rökelseimpregnerade söndagsloja Digable Planets. Och barkfisken må sakna alla features som avkrävs ett hiphophuvud; men rökelseimpregnerade söndagsloja rhymes med psykedeliska flörtar t r a n s c e n d e r a r .

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Digable Planets is a Grammy Award-winning American alternative hip hop group based in New York City, composed of Ishmael ”Butterfly” Butler (from Seattle), Craig ”Doodlebug” Irving (from Philadelphia), and Mary Ann ”Ladybug Mecca” Vieira (from Washington, D.C.). They were backed by Silkworm, who later embarked on a solo career under the name King Britt. 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 second album, Blowout Comb, was released in 1994. 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.

[Wikipedia]

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Digable Planets – Rebirth of Slick (1993)

Digable Planets – 9th Wonder (1994)

Digable Planets – Nickel Bags (1993)

Digable Planets – Where I’m From (Remix) (1993)

Digable Planets – Graffiti (featuring Jeru the Damaja) (1994)

Intervju med Ladybug Mecca (CMJ, New York, 2007).