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| The New York Optimist |
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| "Digable Planets" Cool Like That |
| Digable Planets is a Grammy Award-winning American Alt 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
album's lead single, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," in 1994 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). A distinct departure from the sound
that initially made them a success,many of the white fans they had earned felt alienated by the albums pro-black,
militant slant, resulting in 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 previously 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.