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
What Cool Breezes Do
Digable Planets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do what ya feel
If it's real
Exit planet Venus for a Brooklyn stroll
Jazzy fly, nappy things, plaits, to a roll
Leaves fumble fallin' down; wind blowin' 'round
Dig the layer change, the funkifying sound
Moves I be seein', changes life's reasons
On to express the ways that I profess the
Swoon unit glow, as I go; Butter flow
I take a chance, go against the norm
But they used to make advance to my lady form
Ok, shall I smack a ghetto punk with the line? (but, Mecca)
Ok, slap a meadow punk with a fine
I flip this only to the ones who lack respect
The rest, just get your ticket pronto and jet, but please
You gotta do what ya feel
Do what ya feel
If it's real
Check out the funk-brown bass, my man
This be the medium used by Dig Plans
Hit the cosmics like a funkonaut
Leave the ladybugs with forget-Funk-nots
Black sunflowers, blue be your tulip
The sound from the gates, it'll zoom up your room
Bugs block spots where Hip Hop be your norm
If the Pri is the Kid, the floor's gettin' stormed
With the bass in ya face, space is the place
Bugs take a stand, goddamn, it's a jam
C-note be no uncivilized just
Poppin' out the jive in the jazz-causin' rush
Can you dig it? My mellow, it's that cool cat sound
(Doodlebug, Japrim told that the G be gettin' down)
Shit, it's mandatory, so you gots to demand it
And if they cannot handle, take a ticket from the Planets and
You gotta do what ya feel
Do what ya feel
If it's real
Man, I ooze that, in the mad degrees
With my crew and shit, honey dip, cool breeze
Can you dig it? (I'm with it) (Butter, now you know)
I know the wig gets the grade out
It's fat or else we'd be out
Copped the rap bats from these cats out on Bleeker
Rejuvenate the plates for my people and they speakers
Nietzsche, Rap, make Anita crutch
Planets wouldn't allow themselves to grow like such
Expressions, sightings, scripting, taught
Finest status quo is being an artist in New York
Tongues be often fought, clothes be often caught
If they call it a fad, we just ignore it, like it's pork
Planets got them thoughts bloomin' flowers in the dense
They said that Rap was Venus, so we snuck and hopped the fence
Landed in a meadow, glimpsed and saw a shadow
Of brothers with guitars, common sense and puffy afros
Lucks was getting brazed, Paps was getting blazed
Feds was crackin' domes, but these cats, they wasn't phased
In tights grips, yet, their lips was talkin' fun
Rhythms and the struggle kinda funneled into one
True funk cannot disguise, because the streets have eyes
Who's gonna revive? Well us and delic vibe
Did it like a Dig Planet, goddammit
To get a good kick it, suggest ya get ya ticket and
You gotta do what ya feel
Do what ya feel
If it's real
What Cool Breezes Do by Digable Planets is a song that advocates for staying true to oneself and following one's instincts. The song opens with a vivid description of a Brooklyn stroll, with references to the changing seasons and the wind blowing. The lyrics indicate an appreciation for the changes in life and a willingness to take risks. The line "Moves I be seein', changes life's reasons" suggests a keen awareness of the world around us and a willingness to take inspiration from it.
As the song progresses, the lyrics turn to references to the power of music to bring people together. The line "Hit the cosmics like a funkonaut" suggests a desire to break free of the constraints of everyday life and explore new realms of existence. The repeated refrain of "You gotta do what ya feel, if it's real" emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and pursuing what one is passionate about.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of empowerment and self-discovery. The lyrics suggest that by following our instincts and pursuing our passions, we can break free from the constraints of society and discover new realms of creativity and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta do what ya feel
You should act on what you truly believe in
Do what ya feel
Follow your instincts
If it's real
Only if it's genuine and authentic
Exit planet Venus for a Brooklyn stroll
Leaving one world to enter another
Jazzy fly, nappy things, plaits, to a roll
Describing individual and unique self-expression
Leaves fumble fallin' down; wind blowin' 'round
The passing of time, and changes that come unexpectedly
Dig the layer change, the funkifying sound
An appreciation for creative evolution and artistic expression
Mecca, the Ladybug, changin' like seasons
A realization that life is full of change, and that identity is fluid
Moves I be seein', changes life's reasons
Perceiving changes in other people's lives, which can affect one's own
On to express the ways that I profess the
To articulate one's own ideas and beliefs
Swoon unit glow, as I go; Butter flow
A feeling of being in sync with one's surroundings; a smooth flow of words
I take a chance, go against the norm
A willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo
But they used to make advance to my lady form
Describing unwanted attention and objectification of women
Ok, shall I smack a ghetto punk with the line? (but, Mecca)
A rhetorical question about confronting people who lack respect
Ok, slap a meadow punk with a fine
A play on words that suggests correcting someone's behavior with a punishment
I flip this only to the ones who lack respect
Directing the previous lines towards someone specific
The rest, just get your ticket pronto and jet, but please
Inviting those who are respectful to join in the music
Check out the funk-brown bass, my man
Drawing attention to the music and its style
This be the medium used by Dig Plans
Describing how the music reflects the band's ideology
Hit the cosmics like a funkonaut
Feeling like an explorer in a new musical landscape
Leave the ladybugs with forget-Funk-nots
Creating memorable experiences through music
Black sunflowers, blue be your tulip
Comparing unique individuality to flowers with unconventional colors
The sound from the gates, it'll zoom up your room
The music can transport one to new destinations
Bugs block spots where Hip Hop be your norm
Promoting their own music as an alternative to mainstream Hip Hop
If the Pri is the Kid, the floor's gettin' stormed
Implying a takeover of the music scene
With the bass in ya face, space is the place
The intensity and physicality of the music
Bugs take a stand, goddamn, it's a jam
Asserting the power of a group to create music
C-note be no uncivilized just
Money is not always a measure of a person's worth
Poppin' out the jive in the jazz-causin' rush
Expressing oneself through music and enjoying the energy
Can you dig it? My mellow, it's that cool cat sound
Asking if the listener appreciates the same style of music
(Doodlebug, Japrim told that the G be gettin' down)
Acknowledging others' contributions and opinions
Shit, it's mandatory, so you gots to demand it
Urging listeners to make music a part of their lives
And if they cannot handle, take a ticket from the Planets and
If someone does not enjoy the music, they should leave
Man, I ooze that, in the mad degrees
Feeling extremely confident and cool
With my crew and shit, honey dip, cool breeze
Being surrounded by like-minded friends and a relaxed atmosphere
Can you dig it? (I'm with it) (Butter, now you know)
Repeating the question of whether the listener appreciates the music
I know the wig gets the grade out
Acknowledging that certain styles are more popular than others
It's fat or else we'd be out
The music has enough substance to retain the band's interest
Copped the rap bats from these cats out on Bleeker
Taking inspiration from other musicians
Rejuvenate the plates for my people and they speakers
Refreshing and reinvigorating the music for fans
Nietzsche, Rap, make Anita crutch
Drawing comparisons between philosophical ideas and music
Planets wouldn't allow themselves to grow like such
Refusing to conform or copy others' styles
Expressions, sightings, scripting, taught
The many ways that artists communicate with their audiences
Finest status quo is being an artist in New York
The benefits of living in a creative and diverse city
Tongues be often fought, clothes be often caught
The challenges of self-expression and fitting in
If they call it a fad, we just ignore it, like it's pork
Ignoring criticism and standing by one's art
Planets got them thoughts bloomin' flowers in the dense
Continuing to be creative and original
They said that Rap was Venus, so we snuck and hopped the fence
Redefining the boundaries of the rap genre
Landed in a meadow, glimpsed and saw a shadow
Exploring new musical landscapes
Of brothers with guitars, common sense and puffy afros
Encountering other musicians with their own unique styles
Lucks was getting brazed, Paps was getting blazed
Experiencing different lifestyles and cultures
Feds was crackin' domes, but these cats, they wasn't phased
Facing challenges and adversity with resilience
In tights grips, yet, their lips was talkin' fun
Discussing and enjoying music despite external pressures
Rhythms and the struggle kinda funneled into one
Expressing the hardships of life through music
True funk cannot disguise, because the streets have eyes
Authentic music cannot be faked or disguised
Who's gonna revive? Well us and delic vibe
An acknowledgment that they are part of a musical movement
Did it like a Dig Planet, goddammit
Asserting their unique musical identity
To get a good kick it, suggest ya get ya ticket and
Encouraging others to join in and enjoy the music
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SEVENTH HOUSE LTD.
Written by: CRAIG IRVING, CRAIG L. IRVING, ISHMAEL BUTLER, ISHMAEL R. BUTLER, MARY ANN VIEIRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind