Digable Planets
Unfortunately, with their insect names (Butterfly, Doodlebug, and Ladybug) and low-key approach the Planets got caught in some nasty webs along the way. They were quickly lumped in with “alternative” rap (i.e., music that can be swallowed whole by otherwise rap-phobic whites without fear of any ghetto bile). Attempting to escape the stigma, they opened some shows on their first tour by announcing who they weren’t: a litany including P.M. Dawn, De La Soul, Arrested Development, and Me Phi Me. The second single, “Where I’m From,” aimed at clarifying their roots; it earned none of the precious metals awarded its predecessor. This retort was more than mere churlish impudence; it was an attempt to reposition themselves, a very dangerous thing in the hip-hop world, where public images are often etched in stone.
