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 can’t 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 album’s 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. She can also be spotted in Snoop Dogg's Video "Candy," the result of one of her lyrics being sampled for this song. 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.
(2) Though they were not the first to synthesize jazz and hip-hop, Digable Planets epitomized the laid-back charm of jazz hipsters better than any group before or since. The trio's 1993 debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), was a mellow ride packed with samples from Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, and Curtis Mayfield, and the single "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" became a Top 20 pop hit. After earning a Grammy for Best New Duo or Group and embarking on an ambitious tour that included several live musicians, the Planets returned in late 1994 with their best album yet. Blowout Comb continued the group's jazz-rap fusion, but also saw them branching out to embrace the old school sound of the street as well.
Digable Planets formed in the early '90s, when Butterfly (b. Ishmael Butler, Brooklyn, NY) met Ladybug (b. Mary Ann Vieira, Silver Springs, MD) while attending college in Massachusetts. The two later hooked up with Doodlebug (b. Craig Irving, Philadelphia, PA), in Washington, D.C., and began recording. Their first single, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," released on the Pendulum subsidiary of Warner, hit the R&B Top Ten while their debut, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), was a critical and commercial success. Digable Planets' resulting tour had a laid-back vibe more in keeping with a jazz show than any hip-hop concert, though the live musicians were criticized for doing little more than re-creating samples from the album. The trio solved that problem with the release of their second album, Blowout Comb, in late 1994. Much stronger than its predecessor, it used fewer samples and even included several solos. With no strong single to carry it, however, Blowout Comb's sales performance was not up to that of Reachin'. After Blowout Comb, Digable Planets basically dissolved due to the dreaded "creative differences". All three continued making music separately, but despite many promises that the recordings would become actual releases, nearly a decade passed before releases appeared from Butterfly's Cherrywine project, Ladybug's new billing Ladybug Mecca, and Doodlebug's Cee Knowledge. Then, just a few weeks shy of the ten-year anniversary of Blowout Comb, the three announced that they had reunited to record their third Digable Planets album. A compilation, Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles, filled the gap while fans waited for its release. ~ John Bush, Rovi
Dog It
Digable Planets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suliman the Bronx Ripper on the live puff
V Love, that's my money like dominoes
Brooklyn do keep it rocking till the sun shows
I pop my junk my junk, I pop my junk my junk
I pop my junk my junk, Pop my junk my junk
I pop my junk my junk, like what you want you want
Pop my junk my junk, I pop my junk
???? that play my crew couldn't walk the new found
I chalk the new sound
I bop like Teddy Charles was burning
when I excurse on excursions
Arriving at the doors of mind shores of seas
Burnt you with degrees solarly
Plus my leather jacket go acid disappear in the wisp
In the mist, with a fist
Proletariat, Cad-i-lac steering it
Fro soul gold Panther crew grab our poppers
Now, I'm making bacon
Still saying wa ah salaam ah lakum
Fresh joints we make 'em like water
Butter rap treasures at my leisure whatever whatever
So I gave my mind a pound cause y'all we had it down
We symbolize the blessed and represent the rest
Grass in my pockets I release my hot rockets
K.B. said "What you give 'em?" I was like "Mad rhythm."
That's my junk
Eric ???? always hits me with the live stuff
Bahamadia back the sounds with the love love
T.J. and Lisa real peoples 89 and still
In Fort Green on diamond back is where I'm at
Feelin' da funk da funk that's in the trunk the trunk
I feel the funk da funk, feelin' the funk da funk
I'm feelin' funk da funk I'm in the trunk da trunk
Feelin' da funk da funk, I am the funk
I raise everyday for the mass
Tote my fist right up right against the fascist
Descend to my borough digs my diction
It's way on time ????
So watch fifth line still shining
I'm left this year a ???? player
In my vein lives bell hooks Derrick Bell, Reggie Butler
See Marvin knew it, and Sly knew it
Cube know it and now we do it outta Brooklyn
Outta sight brown sandals ???? in M.C.s with angles
Commit to street corners where players be jayin
I'm saying a Digable swinger
Word to mouth brought the clout 'specially in the summer
We vanish like vapor
Burn paper
We deal real-real so chill
We linger in the funk
Yes Yes, bus stop what's (Watts) up
On the script side
Low down the whole mix and flips I 63
Jay be and M.C. baby blue great
Do it fluent keep it real and straight
We make it bump de bump, we make it bump se bump
We make it pump se pump, we make it bump
Save your corny missions for the tracks you lying on
We got ammunition for the streets we dying on
Stones, rocks, subways, blocks, chill mode
Loot fold
Rebel wit no pause down to die for cause be-cause
Denia gotta see a fatter day
It's Saturday I'm looking at the streets as my Nikes
Cover asphalt ???? the night
My weight crush trash broken glass
Play the wall with one foot up
"Yo What up Ish?", "What's up."
The flyer we get the higher we get
Good try-ers
Is good die-ers that it so I move
We showed and we prove
It's groove food
What's going on
You want to see knowledge born, see see Knowledge Born
Before we fall victim we lick 'em
I ain't playin'
Meet me at the corner Murder and Adolpha
I bless you with some joints, the mental hollow points
We do it in the park, we do it in the park
That's right, that's right
We do it in the park, we do it in the park
I'm fluent after dark, in any sit-e-ation
My tools, jewels, the nation
That's how we bump
The song "Dog It" by Digable Planets is a combination of spoken word, rap, and smooth beats that defy categorization. The lyrics focus on the group's smooth lyrical skills, which they compare to "popping their junk," and their love of funk music. The chorus, "I feel the funk da funk, feelin' the funk da funk," is an ode to the power of funk music to make people feel good and dance.
The verses are dense with references to the group's neighborhood in Brooklyn and the people and places that inspired them. They mention "diamond back" (referring to Diamond Street in Fort Greene), "Cad-i-lac steering it," "brown sandals," "flyer," "Murder and Adolpha," and more, giving the listener a sense of the gritty and vibrant community that shaped the group's sound. They also shout out authors like bell hooks and Derrick Bell, as well as musicians like Marvin Gaye, Cube, and Sly.
Overall, the song celebrates the power of music as a unifying force, especially for Black communities. The chorus repeats, "We make it bump de bump, we make it bump se bump, We make it pump se pump, we make it bump," emphasizing the group's ability to bring people together through their music.
Line by Line Meaning
DPS forever hit ya' with the live stuff
Digable Planets always deliver exciting and energetic music
Suliman the Bronx Ripper on the live puff
Suliman, a talented rapper from the Bronx, adds flair to their performances
V Love, that's my money like dominoes
V Love, their DJ, is an essential part of their success
Brooklyn do keep it rocking till the sun shows
They represent their borough, Brooklyn, and keep the music going all night long
I pop my junk my junk, I pop my junk my junk
I express myself freely and confidently in my music
Like what you want you want, pop my junk my junk
I do what I want and give the audience what they want
The noise that we made is blue, in color sound
The music we create is unique and vibrant
I chalk the new sound, I bop like Teddy Charles was burning
I embrace the innovative sound and move to the beat passionately
Arriving at the doors of mind shores of seas
Exploring the depths of our creativity and imagination
Burnt you with degrees solarly
Our music leaves a lasting impact and radiates with knowledge and warmth
Plus my leather jacket go acid disappear in the wisp
My unique style and presence stand out and leave a lasting impression
In the mist, with a fist
I navigate through uncertainty with determination and strength
Proletariat, Cad-i-lac steering it
Representing the working class while maintaining a classy and polished image
Fro soul gold Panther crew grab our poppers
Our passionate and soulful music captivates the attention of the audience
Now, I'm making bacon
I am successful and earning a good income
Still saying wa ah salaam ah lakum
I always spread peace and love through my music
Fresh joints we make 'em like water
We effortlessly create new and exciting music
Butter rap treasures at my leisure whatever whatever
I freely and creatively express myself through my rap lyrics
So I gave my mind a pound cause y'all we had it down
I appreciate and acknowledge the mental connection we share with our audience
We symbolize the blessed and represent the rest
We are a symbol of positivity and inspiration for others
Grass in my pockets I release my hot rockets
I carry the essence of nature within me and share my powerful music with the world
K.B. said 'What you give 'em?' I was like 'Mad rhythm.'
K.B. asked me what I provide to the audience, and I confidently answered with 'intense rhythm'
Eric ???? always hits me with the live stuff
Eric, another talented artist, consistently impresses me with his lively performances
Bahamadia back the sounds with the love love
Bahamadia supports the music with her passion and positivity
T.J. and Lisa real peoples 89 and still
T.J. and Lisa, genuine individuals, have been part of our journey since 1989
In Fort Green on diamond back is where I'm at
I am currently located in Fort Greene, a vibrant neighborhood in Brooklyn
Feelin' da funk da funk that's in the trunk the trunk
I am deeply connected to the funk music that fills the air and resides within me
I'm feelin' funk da funk, feelin' the funk da funk
I am embracing and expressing the spirit of funk in my music
I'm in the trunk da trunk, feelin' da funk da funk
I am fully immersed in the essence of funk music and its energy
I raise everyday for the mass
I strive to uplift and inspire the community every day
Tote my fist right up right against the fascist
I resist and fight against oppressive forces with a raised fist
Descend to my borough digs my diction
I proudly represent my hometown, using my lyrical skills to make an impact
It's way on time ????
My message and delivery are perfectly timed and impactful
So watch fifth line still shining
Even as time passes, my talent and creativity continue to shine
I'm left this year a ???? player
I have established myself as a skilled artist this year
In my vein lives bell hooks Derrick Bell, Reggie Butler
My art and message embody the spirit and teachings of influential figures like bell hooks, Derrick Bell, and Reggie Butler
See Marvin knew it, and Sly knew it
Legendary musicians like Marvin Gaye and Sly Stone recognized and understood the essence of my music
Cube know it and now we do it outta Brooklyn
Even Ice Cube recognizes the talent that comes out of Brooklyn, and now we proudly represent our borough
Outta sight brown sandals ???? in M.C.s with angles
We are unique and innovative, leaving a lasting impression on other MCs
Commit to street corners where players be jayin
We dedicate ourselves to the streets where talented individuals gather and showcase their skills
I'm saying a Digable swinger
I proudly identify as a member of Digable Planets, a group of talented musicians
Word to mouth brought the clout 'specially in the summer
Our reputation and popularity spread through word of mouth, especially during the summertime
We vanish like vapor
We disappear and leave a lasting impact, just like vapor
Burn paper
We create intense music that ignites passion and drive
We deal real-real so chill
We provide authentic and genuine music, so just relax and enjoy
We linger in the funk
We thrive in the energy and spirit of funk music
Yes Yes, bus stop what's (Watts) up
Greeting and inquiring about the situation at the bus stop in Watts
On the script side Low down the whole mix and flips I 63
We bring a unique and creative approach to our music and performances
Jay be and M.C. baby blue great
Jay, a talented artist, and M.C. Baby Blue bring greatness to the table
Do it fluent keep it real and straight
We effortlessly and authentically express ourselves while staying true to our roots
We make it bump de bump, we make it bump se bump
Our music has a rhythmic and catchy quality that gets people moving and grooving
We make it pump se pump, we make it bump
Our music has a pumping energy that excites and captivates the audience
Save your corny missions for the tracks you lying on
Don't waste your empty and fake intentions on our music
We got ammunition for the streets we dying on
Our music serves as a source of strength and empowerment for the tough streets we live in
Stones, rocks, subways, blocks, chill mode
We embrace the urban environment and maintain a relaxed and laid-back attitude
Loot fold Rebel wit no pause down to die for cause be-cause
We are rebellious and dedicated to fighting for a cause, even if it means risking our lives
Denia gotta see a fatter day
We hope for a better and brighter future for the community
It's Saturday I'm looking at the streets as my Nikes
On Saturdays, I observe and take inspiration from the streets while wearing my Nike shoes
Cover asphalt ???? the night
My presence and influence extend over the streets and into the night
My weight crush trash broken glass
My impact and influence are powerful, breaking through barriers and obstacles
Play the wall with one foot up
I observe and blend into the environment, ready to take action
'Yo What up Ish?', 'What's up.'
Casual conversation between friends, acknowledging each other's presence
The flyer we get the higher we get
The more recognition and success we achieve, the better we feel
Good try-ers
We appreciate those who make an effort and try their best
Is good die-ers that it so I move
I am motivated by the dedication and passion of those who give their all
We showed and we prove
Through our music and performances, we demonstrate our skill and talent
It's groove food
Our music is nourishment that feeds the soul and fosters a good vibe
What's going on
Asking about the current situation and state of affairs
You want to see knowledge born, see see Knowledge Born
If you desire to witness the birth of wisdom and enlightenment, look no further than Knowledge Born
Before we fall victim we lick 'em
Instead of succumbing to oppression and adversity, we retaliate and overcome
I ain't playin'
I am serious and committed to my craft and message
Meet me at the corner Murder and Adolpha
Let's meet at the intersection of Murder and Adolpha streets
I bless you with some joints, the mental hollow points
I share thought-provoking and impactful music, filled with powerful messages
We do it in the park, we do it in the park
We create and perform our music in the open, connecting with nature and the community
That's right, that's right
Affirming the truth and correctness of our statement
I'm fluent after dark, in any sit-e-ation
I am skilled and confident in any situation, especially during nighttime
My tools, jewels, the nation
My skills and knowledge are valuable assets that uplift the nation
That's how we bump
That's how we bring the energy and excitement to our music and performances
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CRAIG IRVING, CRAIG L. IRVING, ISHMAEL BUTLER, ISHMAEL R. BUTLER, MARY ANN VIEIRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind