Original Members of Digable Planets To Embark On First Tour In 11 Years

Following their recent reunion at major music festivals Sasquatch!, Essence and, most recently, Pitchfork, Digable Planets — the alternative hip-hop trio comprised of Mary Ann “Ladybug Mecca” Vieira, Craig “Doodlebug” Irving, and Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler — are reunited and currently on their highly anticipated first tour since 2005. Full list of tour dates below.

The group’s debut album Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) was released in 1993 under Pendulum Records. The album’s lead single, “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)“ became a crossover Top 20 Billboard hit, earninggold certification by the RIAA and winning the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Digable’s fusion of jazz with hip hop broadened hip hop’s reach and expanded it’s connection to music history, African American culture and the sounds of the streets. The trio’s second album in late 1994, Blowout Comb, organically integrated soul, jazz and live instrumentation with political consciousness, mixed in with happy observations of everyday life. Both albums are proven hip-hop classics thriving on listeners’ ability to relate, think, feel and be inspired.

After 1994’s Blowout Comb, the group decided to pursue solo careers — Butler created and is currently frontman for Seattle based hip-hop group Shabazz Palaces with Tendai Maraire and Irving founded the Philly based collective Cee Knowledge & the Cosmic Funk Orchestra. Vieira is currently leading lady for her group BROOKZILL! along side Prince Paul, Don Newkirk, and Rodrigo Brandão. The three came together in 2005, releasing their compilation LP, Beyond the Spectrum: the Creamy Spy Chronicles; and again in 2011 for an appearance (minus Ladybug Mecca) at the NXNE festival in Toronto.

Digable’s music is one of the guaranteed sounds in hip-hop to “put on and enjoy and vibe out to, with a rich undercurrent of history and thought.” A proper reunion for Digable Planets has been a long time coming and fans are ready.

Digable Planets US Tour Dates:
07-20 Birmingham, AL – Saturn *
07-21 Nashville, TN – Exit/In *
07-22 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven) *
07-23 Charleston, SC – Music Farm *
07-24 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle *
07-26 Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club *
07-28 Ardmore, PA – The Ardmore Music Hall *
07-29 Ardmore, PA – The Ardmore Music Hall *
07-30 Brooklyn, NY – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival @ Prospect Park Bandshell *
08-16 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre *
08-18 Salt Lake City, UT – Twilight Concert Series @ Pioneer Park %
08-19 Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl *
08-20 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern *
08-21 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater *
08-22 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater *
08-23 Oakland, CA – The New Parish *
08-24 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *
08-25 Portland, OR – Project Pabst @ Crystal Ballroom