Blowout Comb
Encyclopedia
Blowout Comb is the second studio album
by American hip hop
group Digable Planets
, released October 18, 1994, on Pendulum/EMI Records. The album is titled after a grooming product that was used popularly by African American
s during the 1970s, amid the trend of the Afro
hair style. On the purpose of using it as the album title, rapper Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler of the group said, "It means the utilization of the natural, a natural style". The album features guest contributions by East Coast
rappers such as Guru
, Jeru the Damaja
, and Jazzy Joyce. It contains lyrics concerning themes of rapping prowess and the inner city
, as well as black nationalism
and the Five Percent Nation. Blowout Comb proved to be Digable Planets's last studio album, since the group disbanded in 1995 due to creative differences.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Digable Planets
Digable Planets
Digable Planets is an American alternative hip hop trio based in New York City, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler , Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving . They released their debut album Reachin' in 1993, and their follow-up album Blowout Comb in 1994...
, released October 18, 1994, on Pendulum/EMI Records. The album is titled after a grooming product that was used popularly by African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s during the 1970s, amid the trend of the Afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
hair style. On the purpose of using it as the album title, rapper Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler of the group said, "It means the utilization of the natural, a natural style". The album features guest contributions by East Coast
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
rappers such as Guru
Guru (rapper)
Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts...
, Jeru the Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
, and Jazzy Joyce. It contains lyrics concerning themes of rapping prowess and the inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
, as well as black nationalism
Black nationalism
Black nationalism advocates a racial definition of indigenous national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. There are different indigenous nationalist philosophies but the principles of all African nationalist ideologies are unity, and self-determination or independence from European society...
and the Five Percent Nation. Blowout Comb proved to be Digable Planets's last studio album, since the group disbanded in 1995 due to creative differences.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer (s) | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
|
| 2 | "Black Ego" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
Grant Green Grant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer.... The Meters The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977... |
| 3 | "Dog It" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
The Headhunters The Headhunters are an American jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. Hancock's debut album with the group, Head Hunters, is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time.-History:Herbie... |
| 4 | "Jettin'" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
Bob James (musician) Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date... Bill Cosby William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the... |
| 5 | "Borough Check" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets, Guru Guru (rapper) Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts... |
Roy Ayers Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers... |
| 6 | "Highing Fly" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets | |
| 7 | "Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies) / NY 21 Theme" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets, Sarah Anne Webb |
Tavares -People:Tavares is a common surname in the Portuguese language, namely in Portugal and Brazil and other places – especially very common in the Cape Verde islands. It was originally a toponym... Eddie Harris Eddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ... |
| 8 | "The Art of Easing" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
Bobbi Humphrey Barbara Ann Humphrey is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays fusion, jazz-funk and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world.... |
| 9 | "K.B.'s Alley (Mood Dudes Groove)" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets | |
| 10 | "Graffiti" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets, Jeru The Damaja Jeru the Damaja Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:... |
Roy Ayers Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers... |
| 11 | "Blowing Down" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
Bobbi Humphrey Barbara Ann Humphrey is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays fusion, jazz-funk and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world.... |
| 12 | "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets, Jazzy Joyce |
Grandmaster Flash Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing.... & The Furious Five Donny Hathaway Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations... James Brown James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr... |
| 13 | "For Corners" | Digable Planets | Digable Planets |
Shuggie Otis Shuggie Otis is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist.... Skull Snaps Skull Snaps was a funk group that released one eponymous album on the small GSF label in 1973 before disappearing. It was, in fact, the group originally known as the Diplomats, which released numerous singles between 1963 and 1970 with some success.... Roy Ayers Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers... |
Personnel
Credits for Blowout Comb adapted from liner notes.- Afu the True – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Beneficent – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Gerald Brazel – Trumpet
- Brooklyn – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Dwayne Burno – Bass
- Carl Carter – Bass
- Davey Chalice – Bass, Vocals
- Chegua – Vocals, Rap
- Huey Cox – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar
- Tom Coyne – Mastering
- Crescents – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Dave Darlington – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Fretless Bass, Mixing
- Dave the Prince – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Decky – Vocals
- Digable Planets – Arranger, Producer
- Dust Daughters – Vocals
- Eye Cee – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Daniela Federici – Photography
- Alan Goldsher – Bass
- Guru – Vocals
- Donald Harrison – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
- Jack Hersca – Assistant Engineer
- Jahsun – Vocals
- Jeru the Damaja – Vocals
- David Lee Jones – Sax (Alto)
- Lavish – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Carla Leighton – Design
- Bill Lounge – Vibraphone
- Lee Love – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Malik – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Henry Marquez – Art Direction
- Mood Dude – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Myrtle Ave Nigs – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Brother Junior Plus – Liner Notes
- P.O.W.E.R. – Vocals
- Shi Reltub – Vibraphone
- Beth Russo – Cello
- Seven Karat – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Dexter Simmons – Assistant Engineer
- Trim Ken Slim – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Stilletto – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Yvette Sugar – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Sulaiman – Scratching, Vocals (bckgr)
- Trim – Vocals
- J. Truth – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Sara Webb – Vocals
- Dennis Wheeler – Executive Producer
- Tim "T-Bone" Williams – Trombone
External links
- Blowout Comb at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Blowout Comb at Yahoo! MusicYahoo! MusicYahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
- Blowout Comb: Politics Welcome at This Party at Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
- How Digable Planets Straight New Yorked You at Oh Word
- Sting Like a Bee – By SpinSpin (magazine)Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
- Back Like Dat — By Vibe