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MP3 Live: Digable Planets' art of easing
Reunited hip-hop trio treats a San Francisco crowd to soul-infused gems from the golden age of jazzy hip-hop.
"We be to rap what key be to lock."
Digable Planets
A reunited Digable Planets reconfirmed that lyric, and its own place in hip-hop history, last night with a jubilant performance at The Independent in San Francisco, rebirthing the cool that made them one of the best hip-hop acts of the 1990s.
A euphoric crowd of 500 even engaged in an unsolicited chant of the aforementioned lyric, reminding the Grammy-winning trio--Butterfly, Ladybug Mecca, and Doodlebug--that even though they haven't made any new music as a group in more than 10 years, plenty of fans are nostalgic for that golden age of jazz-infused hip-hop.
The group officially reunited more than a year ago, in advance of the greatest-hits compilation Beyond the Spectrum: Creamy Spy Chronicles, but that didn't stop a crisp feeling of elation from filling the room as soon as the group set foot onstage.
And it wasn't all one-sided, either: All three rappers could barely contain ear-to-ear grins, mouthing each other's lyrics off-mic and generally acting like great friends that were thrilled to be spending time together again.
The laid-back lovefest leaned heavily on tracks from 1994's Blowout Comb, the group's sophomore release, which remains one of the most slept-on hip-hop records of all time.
Backed by an exceedingly funky four-piece band and DJ, the set contained several lengthy instrumental interludes. But the jams never felt like the time-fillers they often are at concerts, mostly because the Digable sound is so steeped in the organic grooves of yesteryear.
The insect-monikered rappers were the showcase, however, and each provided reminders of why their styles intersected so well. Ladybug proved the standout, however, proving that lyrical assassins can indeed come in sweet and petite packages.
Toward the end of the 80-minute set, the night's elation gave way to a somewhat disjointed medley from the solo projects that have commanded each member's attention since the breakup. Each of those projects, particularly Ladybug's 2005 Trip the Light Fantastic solo album, are solid.
But it was that moment that sparked the questions:
Had the "creative differences" that led to the group's 1995 breakup been resolved to the point that the long-rumored new material was on the way?
Or were we witnessing pure nostalgia?
Either way, it was good to be there.
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