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
Jettin'
Digable Planets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin downtown
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin crosstown
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin, we jettin
We jettin uptown (uptown)
We jettin downtown (downtown)
We jettin crosstown
We jettin all around
Funkay
I live Brooklyn like year 24 for sure
Sul c-notes in my tennis skirt(?)
And the kick hurts so good that I gotta sorta accents for this
Now here's a nation for my
Nation cuz I place you on the dynomite
Right? The creamin' to schemin' to get it
Right demeans almighty dolla
The green power, let loose for the hour
I chose the Black Power, extra fly joint for mocha to yellow paper
And you know I don't delay
Together with my honey like silk to sew
We grow and take you back to like afros
And no quittin or gettin jumped by the system
Its all day, all play got verbs and such
And cuts and crew, no blue eyes
To emulate, some straight but yea we straight up
Funkay
Ease back, the g's back as an o.d. gettin
Funkay
The sun sets, you vex, we gets, mad
Funkay
East coast to west we stays fresh
Ezay
Smoke rise from the borrough where that black cool blow(?)
The globe spins, gems is drop
No fakin, no bakin three bridges fo money makin
Crooklyn, the ep swinger's lounge-out spot
Roll when I pass lake up drop my saz
Grab my mic-ro, you know how we do in the joint
Do a borrough check to see exactly who in the joint
Hot spots, city streets lot spots and jeeps
As a flow-er I'm Nile, rivers of style
(fresh kid)
Yea, stories complete
(fresh kid)
Rollin on them New York streets
With them Newport beats at the Parliaments
7s up C-know steelo no equal, but the sun and thats
Funkay
Ease back, the g's is back as an o-d gettin
Funkay
The sun sets, you vex, we gets, mad
Funkay
East coast to west we stays fresh I say
Quicklay
Smoke rise from the borrogh where that black cool blow
Its that naykle slick near keep it deep from my heads
Let a fed up, appearin in my camulflage
My hustler walk's in New York
Su fronts say Gucci we make lucci, and never hesitaste the setting
Slap hands with my hands from the lands of Crook
Bein lovely over jams that's on the flams with hook
Bear muffs, wear cush, its Flatbush
Hear the mental's instramental cuz it's ash to dust
I like to hit live deep, keep fam tight tight
Keep the vocal strictly any joint, it's right
Let me fly
Ease back, the g's back with the r
Sun is in, the clouds on loud
I got raised by the blue street lights of four cities
My heros died in prison: George Jackson
Action, she's Buttaflyin, I'm cool eyein
And I rock snow low unless a scrambler got
Me and my honey, we be like Bobby and Erica
Me and my monies, we'll hurt you boulevard and
One love, gun love come free the land with us
Pigs they cannot shoot this plush and creamy lavishnuss
Before I pop I'd rather die in baggy Guess and Timbs
And I put that on the BKLYN and thats
Funkay
Ease back the g's back as an o.d. gettin
Funkay
The sun sets, you vex, we gets mad
Funkay
East coast to west we stays fresh and we do it on the
Slicklay
Smoke rise from the borrogh where the black cool blow
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin uptown
In Digable Planets' song Jettin', the group members are describing their travels around New York City through wordplay and rhythmic rhyming. The lyrics convey a sense of freedom and adventure, as they "jettin" their way uptown, downtown, and crosstown. The repetition of the word "jettin" creates a feeling of movement and momentum. They describe Brooklyn as their home and mention being on the streets of four different cities, highlighting their love for New York City.
The lines "No wonder, no wonder, 8th wonder, 8th wonder 's/ Funkay" could be interpreted as a reference to the eighth wonder of the world being the city of New York and the funky vibes the city exudes. The use of slang and wordplay in the song reflects the hip-hop culture of the time.
The lyrics touch on themes of power, money, and black empowerment. They mention the "almighty dollar" and choosing "Black Power." The lines "Before I pop I'd rather die in baggy Guess and Timbs/ And I put that on the BKLYN and that's funkay" speak to the pride the group members have for their Brooklyn roots and the fashion associated with it.
Overall, Jettin' is a fun and energetic song that captures the essence of New York City and the hip-hop culture of the '90s.
Line by Line Meaning
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin uptown
We are traveling quickly and with purpose up to the northern part of the city
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin downtown
We are traveling quickly and with purpose down to the southern part of the city
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin crosstown
We are traveling quickly and with purpose across the city
We jettin, we jettin, we jettin, we jettin
We are moving quickly and with purpose, in all directions
We jettin uptown (uptown)
We are quickly and purposefully traveling north within the city
We jettin downtown (downtown)
We are quickly and purposefully traveling south within the city
We jettin crosstown
We are quickly and purposefully traveling across the city
We jettin all around
We are moving quickly and with purpose in all directions within the city
No wonder, no wonder, 8th wonder, 8th wonder 's
We are amazing and unexpected, like the 8th wonder of the world
Funkay
We are cool and fresh
I live Brooklyn like year 24 for sure
I embody the essence of Brooklyn as if it were the year 1924
Sul c-notes in my tennis skirt(?)
I am wearing tennis clothing with a lot of cash in the pockets
And the kick hurts so good that I gotta sorta accents for this
The beat of the song is so good that I can't help but add flavor and style to my rapping
Now here's a nation for my
I'm about to share my love of my nation, my community
Nation cuz I place you on the dynomite
I think highly of my nation and place it on a pedestal
Right? The creamin' to schemin' to get it
We are working hard to achieve our goals
Right demeans almighty dolla
Putting money above all else is not right
The green power, let loose for the hour
Money can be powerful but it's important to use it wisely
I chose the Black Power, extra fly joint for mocha to yellow paper
I'm proud of my black heritage and style and express it boldly
And you know I don't delay
I don't waste any time
Together with my honey like silk to sew
I am working closely and smoothly with my partner
We grow and take you back to like afros
We celebrate and respect our cultural roots and heritage
And no quittin or gettin jumped by the system
We won't give up or be held down by the unfair systems we face
Its all day, all play got verbs and such
We use language and expression freely and creatively
And cuts and crew, no blue eyes
Our group embraces diversity and doesn't discriminate based on looks
To emulate, some straight but yea we straight up
We don't try to copy other styles, we are true to ourselves
Ease back, the g's back as an o.d. gettin
We cool and fresh as we move with purpose and urgency
The sun sets, you vex, we gets, mad
As the sun sets, we continue to be frustrated but we also have and show strength
East coast to west we stays fresh
We remain cool and stylish no matter where we are in the country
Ezay
A catchphrase to emphasize our confidence and style
Smoke rise from the borrough where that black cool blow(?)
The city is alive with the cool, confident energy of black culture
The globe spins, gems is drop
Life is constantly changing and we are seeing amazing things happen
No fakin, no bakin three bridges fo money makin
We work hard to make money honestly and without pretending
Crooklyn, the ep swinger's lounge-out spot
Crooklyn is a cool and lively place, with music and fun
Roll when I pass lake up drop my saz
We are cruising around and enjoying the sights and sounds of the city
Grab my mic-ro, you know how we do in the joint
I pick up my microphone, ready to start rapping with my crew
Hot spots, city streets lot spots and jeeps
We are exploring and enjoying the city, including all the cool cars
As a flow-er I'm Nile, rivers of style
I am a skilled and free-flowing rapper with my own unique style
Yea, stories complete
I have finished telling my story
Rollin on them New York streets
We are cruising around the city and enjoying the sights and sounds
With them Newport beats at the Parliaments
We are listening to music and enjoying ourselves
7s up C-know steelo no equal, but the sun and thats
Our style is unmatched and we are proud of it
Ease back, the g's back with the r
We are cool and fresh, moving with purpose and urgency
Sun is in, the clouds on loud
The sun is shining brightly and the clouds are making noise
I got raised by the blue street lights of four cities
I was brought up and influenced by the culture and energy of four different cities
My heros died in prison: George Jackson
I have lost heroes and role models who were unjustly imprisoned, like George Jackson
Action, she's Buttaflyin, I'm cool eyein
We are observing and enjoying the sights and sounds of the city
And I rock snow low unless a scrambler got
I dress in all white unless I see someone trying to copy my style
Me and my honey, we be like Bobby and Erica
Me and my partner are like Bobby Seale and Erica Huggins, leaders of the Black Panther Party
Me and my monies, we'll hurt you boulevard and
Me and my crew will dominate the streets
One love, gun love come free the land with us
We are fighting for freedom and equality with love as our guide
Pigs they cannot shoot this plush and creamy lavishnuss
We are too cool for the police to take us down
Before I pop I'd rather die in baggy Guess and Timbs
I would rather die cool than cowardly
And I put that on the BKLYN and thats
I swear on Brooklyn, my home and my culture, that this is true
Lyrics © FRANAM PUB ADMINISTRATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB JAMES, CRAIG IRVING, CRAIG L. IRVING, ISHMAEL BUTLER, ISHMAEL R. BUTLER, MARY ANN VIEIRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind