Biography
When hip-hop trio Digable Planets emerged in the early 90s, their memorable moniker raised eyebrows. What, exactly, did it mean? The name sprang, they explained, from the notion that every individual is a planet. But the unique worlds that their tracks mapped out were not insular ones; as their Grammy-winning hit Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" would prove, the Planets were primed to connect with audiences weary of the aggressive posturing of gangsta rap. Filled with literate lyrics, honey-smooth flow, and inventive arrangements, their albums Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) (1993) and Blowout Comb (1994) redefined hip-hop, and set standards for the generation of soul poets and innovative producers that followed, as the new anthology Beyond The Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles effortlessly reiterates.
The group first took shape in the early 90s, in New York City. Former Seattle resident Butterfly (a k a Ishmael Butler) hooked up with Philadelphia native Doodlebug (Craig Irving), who was a member of New York collective Dread Poets Society, and Ladybug (Mary Ann Vieira), a Maryland denizen of Brazilian descent. Like the name chosen for their band, the new handles each member adopted also reflected a universal consciousness.
Insects stick together and work for mutually beneficial causes, Ladybug observed in Essence. Doodlebug added, Humans are supposed to be the most intelligent beings on the planet, and yet we cant seem to come together in a peaceful manner.
On their 1993 debut, Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space), the threesome showed just how rich and vibrant the musical product of three distinctive minds working in harmony could be. Musically, they incorporated elements of funk, samba, and psychedelia into their street-savvy hip-hop; jazz, in particular, played a pivotal role. The group gave shout-outs to icons Charles Mingus and Charlie Parker, and sampled others, including Sonny Rollins and the Last Poets.
Like hip-hop, they developed a language and style that was unique, noted Butterfly of their jazz forefathers. Those cats used their vernacular to communicate a new perspective. With unabashedly intelligent lyrical references to everything from Karl Marx (on the reggae-tinged Where I'm From) and Jimi Hendrix, to feminist bell hooks and poet Nikki Giovanni, the Planets boldly followed suit.
Critics responded to the Planets debut platter enthusiastically. Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) is everything hip-hop should be: artistically sound, unabashedly conscious and downright cool, proclaimed Kevin Powell in a four-star review for Rolling Stone. And Digable Planets is the kind of rap act every fan should cram to understand. The record would eventually hit ..15 on the Billboard 200, break the Top 5 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and achieve Platinum sales status.
Buoyed up by a bubbling bass line and curlicues of brass (the latter lifted from a sample of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers), and peppered with finger-pops, the sublimely chill single Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" became the albums biggest hit. It peaked at ..15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, winning legions of fans across a variety of radio formats as well as in clubs. The track deservedly earned the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
After touring extensively, accompanied by a live band, the trio returned to the studio, emerging in 1994 with their sophomore outing, Blowout Comb. Even more so than its predecessor, the Planets second full-length pushed stylistic boundaries. The group downplayed samples in favor of live performances: Dog It juxtaposed animated sax and vibraphone turns (by Donald Duck Harrison and Bill Lounge, respectively) with a slightly harder vocal style, while sultry, summery singing on Dial 7 (Axioms Of Creamy Spies)" evoked an air of vintage 70s soul. Special guests on the Blowout Comb sessions included Brooklyn rapper Jeru The Damaja (Graffiti) and pioneering female hip-hop DJ Jazzy Joyce (9th Wonder (Blackitolism)), who also toured with the group.
Although Digable Planets dissolved in 1996, all three members have remained active musically. Butterfly went on to form the band Cherrywine, releasing the album Bright Black in 2003. He also composed music for commercial clients including Pepsi and Fila, and ventured into acting, with roles in film (the 2002 Sundance fave I Am Ali) and Off Broadway. Mecca the Ladybug now Ladybug Mecca dropped her new solo album, Trip The Light Fantastic, in June, 2005 on her very own record label Nu Paradigm Entertainment. She also composed the score for a short film entitled The Monster courtesy of Scenarios USA - Kids Creating Social Change in 2001. A segment of the film was featured on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. Working as Cee Knowledge, Doodlebug has been leading Philadelphia live hip-hop ensemble Cosmic Funk Orchestra since 2000. In addition Doodlebug is actively the CEO of the successful multimedia company 7 and a Cresent. But most importantly for Digable Planets fans worldwide, the original trio recently reformed to play a number of well-received live dates (including Lollapalooza 2005), and begin work on their first album in over a decade.
The best part of July 3rd? Is celebratin your birthday :) SIXX kisses Butterfresh ya On~ uh uh on! lol HAAAAAAAPPYYYY 25th BIRTHDAY DYNAMITE Kid!!!!! ;) xoxo
This is an EXTREMELY SINCERE question - "HOW CAN I BECOME A PART OF THE 'STOP THE VIOLENCE MOVEMENT?'"
A little about myself: My name is Dameian Hartfield, 35 years old. i was born and raised in the Watts Community in California, specifically, the projects known as the Nickerson Gardens. i lived a full Life - Good and Bad. Now i'm livin' for the GOOD. i am a part-time employee with the City of Los Angeles - Recreation and Parks - CLASS PARKS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; i am also a "certified youth & gang violence intervention/prevention specialist;" i actively collaborate with community-based and city organizations to "Stop the Violence," Kush, Incorporated (501.c.3), and L.A. City Council District 15, respectively, to name a few.
i intend to expand my activities and achieve a higher level of effectiveness. i believe that a working collaboration with KRS-1 and the STOP THE VIOLENCE MOVEMENT will facilitate the work i aim to accomplish.
i also believe that WATTS is strategically positioned in this STRUGGLE - The Struggle is to improve the Quality of Human Life all over the World. WATTS is a major focal point of the world in relation to STRUGGLE, REBELLION, REVOLUTION, GROWTH, CHANGE, AND HOPE! WATTS is also one of the most manipulated Communities in this country. The Power, Strength, and Position of our Community is constantly being manipulated and undermined in order to prevent us from playing our part in this STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE "WORLD COMMUNITY" - STOP THE VIOLENCE!!!!!
"HOW CAN I BECOME A PART OF THE 'STOP THE VIOLENCE MOVEMENT?'"
UHURU NA UMOJA FREEDOM AND UNITY, Mr. Dameian Hartfield a.k.a Mr. Tuli Dhoruba June 2008
Blak Hairatage FOUNDATION
KUSH, INC. (501.c.3) - named after the Ancient Afrikan Kingdom known as "Kush," beginning around 3000 B.C.E. The Ancient Kushites thrived in the Times of the early Egyptians and N
still the best. i miss your sound, and wish more music would come...oh well. in today's dying hip-hop world, new Digable Planets' music would be too perfect for such chaos...funk is you, funk is me, funk is us, funk is free. you goddamn right.
Just wanted to stop by your page and bless you with some love. We all need it every now and then. Certainly hope things are going fantastic for you. When you get a minute, please check out my director Evan Winter’s four brand new music videos at http://www.evanwinter.com/index2.php if you haven't done so already. We are extremely excited about the new work. Hit me back at mkmmanagement@aol.com after you have a chance to view. Speak soon.
One of the signs of The New Renaissance is gonna be when I flip to a mainstream station & here cats like you all instead of halfdollars & small change on about big money & heavy chains...
peace digable planets! just to let ya know .. we recently posted a snippet of our upcoming release (2CD|4LP) BOOM BAP BLUES which will hit the streets worldwide JULY 18TH (rapublik records/rough trade). check it out if you want. the release features guest appearances and wise words from M-EIGHTY (think differently music group), JERU, MC SPONTAN, INVINCIBLE TEMPLE (popa wu records) and many more ... NOTE: ALL GAINS WILL BE GIVEN TO A BENEFICIAL ORGANISATION! support the project and PRE-ORDER NOW on HHV.DE to get a shirt, poster and stickers for free! one love outta lost hill
The World's Biggest Graffiti Battle Write4Gold West Europe (Germany, Belgium. Netherlands, Luxemburg, UK, Switzerland) Sa. 14.06.08, ab 10.00 Uhr outdoor @ Skaters Palace
“10Years Anniversary” Münsterbattle 2008 The Battle of the Year Northwest Germany Hosted by Spax /Turntables: DJ Kid Cut Sa. 14.06.08, ab 15.00 Uhr B-BoyBattle , VVK 8,00€ / AK 10,00€
“Good Things” European Release Tour Looptroop Rockers (Schweden) Sa. 14.06.08, ab 23.00 Uhr Konzert, VVK 15€ / AK 18,00€
Back again! Write4Gold & Münstebattle 2008 Die 2 legendären Hip-Hop Veranstaltungen mit denen sich Münster jahrelang schmücken konnte sind wieder zurück! Nach 1 bzw. 3jähriger Abstinenz kommt das größte Graffitibattle der Welt und der Münsterbattle (since 1998!) als Pre Elimination zur Breakdance Weltmeisterschaft wieder nach Münster zum Skaters Palace.
Dieses Jahr wird beim Write4Gold West Europe alles noch größer als 2005! In Münster findet dieses Mal gleich das Finale für die Crews aus Deutschland, Benelux, Schweiz und England statt. 28Crews werden malen. Mehr Graffiti geht wirklich nicht! Man darf gespannt sein welche weltbekannten Writer das Write4Gold West Europe judgen. Das Write 4 Gold findet outdor am Skaters Palace/Dahlweg 126 statt. Der Eintritt ist frei.
Die „10Years Anniversary“ des Münsterbattles feiern wir dann ab 15Uhr im Skaters Palace! Dann werden wieder ca.12 B-Boy Crews von Flensburg bis Koblenz die 3besten Crews suchen welche zum Nationalen Battle of the Year nach Hannover reisen. Vor den Augen einer Jury welche aus aktiven B-Boys besteht, gilt es die Sieger zu ermitteln.
Am Abend zur Palace Lounge fliegen dann die Looptroop Rockers aus Schweden zu einem exklusiven Gig ein, und präsentieren uns Ihr neues Album „Good Things“ Der Longplayer von Supreme, Embee und Promoe wird am 25.April 2008 erscheinen. Und bei den bekannten Livequalitäten der Looptroop Rockers weiß der geneigte Fan dass uns ein Konzert der Superlative erwartet!
Sup y'all, Country Boy/Rapper out of TN, Just letting y'all know i have been a huge fan of yours from day one and still yet know, i caught a show of yours with the gravediggas i think,maybe the boogie monsters i was there for you. holler
This is how i know the music industry is full of it.P diddy screwing everything and and giving them and they friends records ......And good music quality music people have to come to Myspace. Harlem stand up...
Yo! on the real, Digable Planets is the most under rated, but most apriciated Hip hop LEGENDS! by real hip hop historians, anyone who dont know, aint done their research!!! Digables! come to Miami soon!!!
