Editing 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.; <ref>{{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}}</ref><br />[[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| years_active      = {{hlist|1987–1995|2005–2011|2015–present
}}
| genre             = {{Hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[jazz rap]]|[[alternative hip hop]]|[[acid jazz]]}}
| label             = {{hlist|[[Pendulum Records|Pendulum]]|[[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]|[[EMI]]
}}
| website           = 
| current_members   = [[Ishmael Butler|Ishmael "Butter Fly" Butler]]<br/>Craig "Doodlebug" Irving<br/>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 music|hip hop]] trio formed in 1987. The trio is composed of [[rapper]]s [[Ishmael Butler|Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler]], Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving.<ref name="Bush">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Digable Planets|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/48393-Digable-Planets|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref>

=== 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|Brooklyn, New York]]. Their debut album ''[[Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)]]'' was released in 1993 and certified [[Gold album|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)|''Billboard'' magazine's]] [[Billboard Hot 100|singles]] chart, earning gold certification by the RIAA, and winning [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] at the [[Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The track peaked at #67 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in February 1995.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{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}}</ref>

=== 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 Party|Black Panther]] and [[communist]] imagery. Writing for ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' in December 1994, Craig Marks declared it "... a beguiling, demanding, damn near revolutionary follow-up."<ref name="answers.com">{{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}}</ref> ''Blowout Comb'' features guest appearances from artists [[Jeru the Damaja]], Sulaiman, and [[Guru (rapper)|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 [[Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS|AIDS epidemic]] in relation to the African-American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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|Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles]] ''on October 15, 2005. The album combined previously released material with remixes and B-sides.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> From 2009 to 2011, Butler and Irving toured across the U.S., Canada, and Europe with a live band, the Cosmic Funk Orchestra.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The group also performed alongside hip-hop group [[The Pharcyde]] at the [[North by Northeast]] music festival in Toronto, Ontario on June 19, 2011.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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."<ref name="break">{{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}}</ref> 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 (Seattle)|Neptune Theatre]] on December 30 alongside [[Shabazz Palaces]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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&ndash;29, 2016, at [[Ardmore Music Hall]] in [[Ardmore, Pennsylvania|Ardmore]], [[Pennsylvania]] &mdash; just 3 miles outside [[Philadelphia]], which is where the members first met and initially formed and based their trio.<ref>{{Discogs release|release=10876849|name=Digable Planets – Live|type=album|format=CD, Album}}</ref><ref>{{Discogs release|release=10881663|name=Digable Planets – Live|type=album|format=15 x File, WAV, Album}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ardmoremusichall.com/about/|title=ABOUT|website=ardmoremusichall.com|date=n.d.|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> Butler and Maraire later collaborated with Hussein Kalonji as Chimurenga Renaissance to release ''riZe vadZimu riZe ''in March 2014 on Brick Lane Records.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Irving, also known as Cee Knowledge, released two albums under the name Cee Knowledge & The Cosmic Funk Orchestra.<ref name=":0">{{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 }}</ref> Vieira, also known as Lady Mecca, released ''[[Trip the Light Fantastic (Ladybug Mecca album)|Trip The Light Fantastic]]'' in 2005.<ref>{{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}}</ref> She has continued to collaborate regularly with other musicians, notably on [[Legacy Recordings|Legacy]]/[[Sony BMG|Sony]]'s [[Billie Holiday]] ''[[Remixed and Reimagined (Billie Holiday album)|Remixed and Reimagined]]'' album, [[Del the Funky Homosapien|Del tha Funkee Homosapien]]'s ''[[Eleventh Hour (Del the Funky Homosapien album)|Eleventh Hour]]'', and with hip-hop supergroup [[EMC (hip hop group)|eMC]]. Vieira joined hip hop group Dino 5 as the voice of Tracy Triceratops.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Vieira later joined Brazilian hip hop fusion group BROOKZILL! with fellow Dino 5 member [[Prince Paul (producer)|Prince Paul]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Discography ==

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
!rowspan="2"| Title
!rowspan="2"| Album details
!colspan="5"| Chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/billboard-200|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613010531/https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/billboard-200|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2018|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=[[Billboard 200]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br />R&B<br/>/HH]]<br><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612155743/https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2018|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/canadian-albums|title=Digable Planets Chart History: Canadian Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 12, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Recorded Music NZ|NZ]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Digable+Planets&titel=For+Corners&cat=s|title=Digable Planets Chart History (Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Digable+Planets|title=Digable Planets Chart History (Sverigetopplistan)|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

|-
! scope="row" |''[[Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)]]''
|
*Released: February 9, 1993
*Label: [[Pendulum Records|Pendulum]]/[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|22
|align="center"|50
|
* [[Billboard Hot 100|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="RIAA">{{cite certification|region=United States|type=album|artist=Digable Planets|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Blowout Comb]]''
|
*Released: October 18, 1994
*Label: Pendulum/[[EMI Records|EMI]]
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Compilation albums===
* ''[[Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles]]'' (2005)

===Live albums===
* ''Digable Planets Live'' (2017)

=== Singles ===
<!-- ALL SINGLES MUST BE LISTED HERE. ANY SINGLE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO RADIO IS CLASSIFIED AS A SINGLE. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE -->

{| 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;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref>{{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}}
</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/DSI|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=[[Dance Club Songs]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|  [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Hot Rap Songs|US Rap]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/digable-planets/chart-history/rap-song|title=Digable Planets Chart History|work=[[Hot Rap Songs]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Recorded Music NZ|NZ]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://charts.nz/showperson.asp?name=Digable+Planets|title=Digable Planets Chart History (Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28586/digable-planets/|title=Digable Planets full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=[[UK Singles Chart]]|language=en|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! 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
|
* [[Billboard Hot 100|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/>
|align="center" rowspan="3"|''Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Where I'm From (Digable Planets song)|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.<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>}}
| 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:Acid jazz ensembles]]
[[Category:Jazz rap groups]]
[[Category:Progressive rappers]]
[[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:Five percenters]]
[[Category:Blue Note Records artists]]
[[Category:EMI Group 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]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1987]]