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Digable Planets is a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
-winning American Alt Hip Hop
Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a form of hip hop music that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:Alternative Rap refers to Hip hop music groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta rap, Miami bass, hardcore hip hop, and party rap....
 group based in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler (from Seattle), Craig "Doodlebug" Irving (from Philadelphia), and Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira (from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
). They were backed by Silkworm, who later embarked on a solo career under the name King Britt
King Britt

King Britt is an American disc jockey and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For two years he toured with Digable Planets under the nickname "Silkworm"....
.

ble Planets' fusion of jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
 and hip hop
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
 received excellent reviews and solid sales with the release of its debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

Reachin is the debut album by Alternative hip hop Hip hop music group Digable Planets. It was released on September 27, 1993 by Pendulum Records and Elektra Records....
, in 1993, which was certified gold by the RIAA.






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Digable Planets is a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
-winning American Alt Hip Hop
Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a form of hip hop music that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:Alternative Rap refers to Hip hop music groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta rap, Miami bass, hardcore hip hop, and party rap....
 group based in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler (from Seattle), Craig "Doodlebug" Irving (from Philadelphia), and Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira (from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
). They were backed by Silkworm, who later embarked on a solo career under the name King Britt
King Britt

King Britt is an American disc jockey and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For two years he toured with Digable Planets under the nickname "Silkworm"....
.

History


Career

Digable Planets' fusion of jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
 and hip hop
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
 received excellent reviews and solid sales with the release of its debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

Reachin is the debut album by Alternative hip hop Hip hop music group Digable Planets. It was released on September 27, 1993 by Pendulum Records and Elektra Records....
, in 1993, which was certified gold by the RIAA. The album's lead single, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," in 1994 became a crossover hit, peaking at #15 on Billboard magazine's singles
Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard Single popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on airplay and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the airplay tracking-week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday....
 chart, earning gold certification by the RIAA, and winning the Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group has been awarded since 1991, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance....
.

Its second album, Blowout Comb
Blowout Comb

Blowout Comb is the second album from Alternative hip hop group Digable Planets. On this second album, Digable Planets "attempted to prove their artistic merit...and succeeded wildly." Blowout Comb, Digable Planets used jazz anthems throughout the album, from Bob James to Bobbi Humphrey....
, was released in 1994 (see 1994 in music
1994 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 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.

The Planets played at BB King's in Times Square, NYC on 10/8/2008 and announced that a new album would be released in 2008.

Breakup

Butler established a hip-hop/blues act called Cherrywine; after failing to release a solo album "Ishmael Since 1999." Cherrywine's album Bright Black was released in 2003 to a lackluster reception. He also starred in the short films "I am Ali" and "We Deliver." Silkworm has an established solo career under the name King Britt
King Britt

King Britt is an American disc jockey and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For two years he toured with Digable Planets under the nickname "Silkworm"....
, and occasionally partners with The Roots
The Roots

The Roots is a Grammy award-winning United States hip hop music band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals....
' Ahmir-Khalib “Questlove” Thompson. Doodlebug is now known as Cee Knowledge and tours with a band called Cee Knowledge & the Cosmic Funk Orchestra that released two albums in limited edition on FarmHouse Records. Ladybug, now known as Ladybug Mecca, has also embarked on a solo career, releasing an album Trip The Light Fantastic in 2005 on her label Nu Paradigm Entertainment with her partner Nkosi Gray. Ladybug Mecca has also guest appeared on Legacy/Sony's Billie Holiday Remixed & Reimagined Album. Remixers include Tony Humphries, DJ Logic, Nickodemus & Zeb, Jazzy Nice, Organica, and many more. Roland Richards and Ladybug Mecca liven up “Spreadin' Rhythm Around” with a “hip-hop meets swing” anthem. In 2008 Ladybug Mecca has lent her talent to eMC (Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth, Stricklin) on the title track "The Show" and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien

Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an alternative hip hop artist....
's 11thour Album on the song "I Got You". April 1, 2008 marks the release of her collaboration with the likes of Legendary producer Prince Paul, Chali 2na (Jurrasic 5), Ursula Rucker, Scratch (The Roots) and Wordsworth (eMC) on Baby Loves Hip Hop's The Dino-5 Children's CD which is a " Book on Tape" through Ropeadope Records. Ladybug Mecca is the voice of Tracey Triceratops, the leader of The Dino 5 as well as the "interrupting child". She is also wrapping up her second solo project to be released in 2008.

In February 2005 the trio reunited and embarked on a reunion tour, with a compilation album released on October 15, 2005.

Ladybug Mecca is in a children's group called Dino 5
Dino 5

Dino 5 is a hip hop Supergroup featuring Prince Paul, Chali 2na from Jurassic 5, Scratch from The Roots, Wordsworth and Lady Bug Mecca from Digable Planets....
  featuring Prince Paul, Chali 2na
Chali 2na

Chali 2na is an United States rapping and hip-hop artist, formerly associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli....
 from Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5 was an United States alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 by Rapping Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir aka Soup , Mark 7even, and Phonograph#The phonograph in the 21st century maestros DJ Nu-Mark and DJ Cut Chemist, who came together from two separate crews, the Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee....
, Scratch
Scratch (musician)

Scratch is an United States hip hop artist. He is a Hip hop music rapping who specializes in beatboxing or vocal percussion. He is probably best known as a member of Grammy Award-winning band The Roots....
 from The Roots
The Roots

The Roots is a Grammy award-winning United States hip hop music band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals....
, & Wordsworth
Wordsworth (rapper)

'Wordsworth' is an underground hip hop music MC from Brooklyn, best known for his freestyle rap.Wordsworth grew up in Brooklyn. A graduate of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, Wordsworth recorded with his partner Punchline on A Tribe Called Quest's The Love Movement and on Mos Def and Talib Kweli's Black Star '...
.

Butterfly has a son named Jazz from a previous relationship with Coko
COKO

COKO is the name of a construction toy produced by the China company Tianjin COKO Toy Co., Ltd.In 2002, the Lego Group#Trademark and patents Swiss subsidiary Interlego Aktiengesellschaft sued the COKO company for copyright infringement....
 of SWV
SWV

SWV, also known as Sisters with Voices, is an United States Grammy-award nominated female Rhythm and blues/Pop music trio from New York. Formed in 1990, SWV had a series of hits, including "Weak ", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You"....
.

Discography


Albums

  • Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
    Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

    Reachin is the debut album by Alternative hip hop Hip hop music group Digable Planets. It was released on September 27, 1993 by Pendulum Records and Elektra Records....
     (1993)
  • Blowout Comb
    Blowout Comb

    Blowout Comb is the second album from Alternative hip hop group Digable Planets. On this second album, Digable Planets "attempted to prove their artistic merit...and succeeded wildly." Blowout Comb, Digable Planets used jazz anthems throughout the album, from Bob James to Bobbi Humphrey....
     (1994)
  • Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles (compilation) (2005)


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)


External links

  • April 2008, Hip Hop Lives Online, HHLO.net