More Than Cool Like Dat: Digable Planets

Every person has probably used the phrase Cool Like Dat to describe their corny ass self. I know I did in elementary school. Enter the group Digable Planets, the group who coined the phrase in song. The Brooklyn tripod is comprised of MCs Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving. They all met in Philadelphia and began collaborating in the late 80's/early 90's. They only made two albums together, 1993's Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), and 1994's Blowout Comb. Their first album went gold thanks to the Grammy-Winning smash "Cool Like Dat", while their second album was darker with a political message, and people didn't know how to react.

(From Left)Doodlebug, Butterfly, Ladybug
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They were a part of the jazz hip hop wave of the early 90s that merged chill hip hop beats with slick, tasteful jazz sampling. I was just starting my musical journey when I first heard them, and their amazing instrumentals opened my eyes to the possibility of fusing something old with new. I started seeking out artists whose talent could stretch beyond one genre, who could successfully forge sonic elements that you wouldn't expect to mesh well. Remember that time Aphex Twin laid a fucking chair on top of a beat?

Aside from the genius of Aphex Twin, listening to Digable Planets led me to other versatile, multi-genre producers such as Nujabes, J Dilla, Mark Farina, Andrea Fiorino, Jazzanova, and even their contemporaries A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, and The Pharcyde.

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In all honestly, I think Digable Planets were decent lyrically, but it's the groups instrumentals, flow, and the sound of their voice that I really fell in love with (especially Ladybug on "Jettin'"). Listening to them is like a cool breeze, I love being on their wavelength. If you're a fan of modern artists like BadBadNotGood, Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus, Thundercat and his amazing contribution to Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly" then I'm certain you'll be a fan of Digable. Below you'll find my personal favorites by them, their albums are worth a full look if you dig these!

Digable Planets - Jettin'

Digable Planets - Jimmi Diggin' Cats

Digable Planets - Where I'm From

Digable Planets - Dog It

Digable Planets - Black Ego

Digable Planets - Time & Space