Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Encyclopedia
Reachin is the debut album by alternative hip hop
group Digable Planets
. It was released on September 27, 1993, by Pendulum/Elektra Records
. The album was produced solely by Digable Planets' Butterfly and features raps by each of the group's members. There are no guest performers on Reachin, but the production is heavily sample
based. Butterfly samples artists including Kool & the Gang
, James Brown
and Herbie Hancock
to provide the album with funk
y and jazz
y beats. The lyrics tend to cover a wide scope of subject matter including the right to abortion ("La Femme Fetal"), the coolness of Digable Planets ("Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)") and the similarities between cannabis
and funky music ("Nickel Bags").
The single "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
" became a hit in 1993, breaking into the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
in 1994. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1993.
In 1998, this album was listed in the The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.
In 2008, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) was ranked number 62 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The song "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) was used for a Tide
commercial in 2009.
The album is broken down track-by-track by Digable Planets
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
.
Rebirth of Slick [Cool Like Dat]
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
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...
. It was released on September 27, 1993, by Pendulum/Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. The album was produced solely by Digable Planets' Butterfly and features raps by each of the group's members. There are no guest performers on Reachin, but the production is heavily sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
based. Butterfly samples artists including Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
, James Brown
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...
and Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
to provide the album with funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
y and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
y beats. The lyrics tend to cover a wide scope of subject matter including the right to abortion ("La Femme Fetal"), the coolness of Digable Planets ("Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)") and the similarities between cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
and funky music ("Nickel Bags").
The single "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
"Rebirth of Slick " is a 1992 song by jazz rap trio Digable Planets which was released as the first single from their debut album, Reachin' ....
" became a hit in 1993, breaking into the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
in 1994. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1993.
In 1998, this album was listed in the The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.
In 2008, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) was ranked number 62 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The song "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) was used for a Tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
commercial in 2009.
The album is broken down track-by-track by 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...
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
Check the Technique
Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies is a book by music journalist Brian Coleman that covers the making of thirty-six classic hip hop albums, based on interviews with the artists who created them, also providing a track-by-track breakdown for each album entirely in the words of the...
.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer(s) | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "It's Good to Be Here" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
|
| 2 | "Pacifics" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Lonnie Liston Smith Lonnie Liston Smith, Jr. is an American jazz, soul, and funk musician who played with important free jazz artists such as Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis before forming Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes, recording a number of albums widely regarded as classics in the fusion / Quiet Storm /... Bohannon Bohannon is a surname. The name may refer to:*Etdrick Bohannon , American professional basketball player*Fred Bohannon , former professional American football player... |
| 3 | "Where I'm From" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Archie Bell & the Drells Archie Bell & the Drells was a R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, and one of the main acts on Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records... Funky drummer "Funky Drummer" is a funk song recorded by James Brown and his band. The recording's drum break, performed by drummer Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled rhythmic breaks in hip hop and popular music; indeed, it lays a strong claim to being the most sampled recording ever,... " by James Brown 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... |
| 4 | "What Cool Breezes Do" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
The Crusaders The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group , 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" .-History:In 1960, following the demise of a... 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... |
| 5 | "Time & Space (A New Refutation Of)" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Sonny Rollins Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St... |
| 6 | "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) "Rebirth of Slick " is a 1992 song by jazz rap trio Digable Planets which was released as the first single from their debut album, Reachin' .... " |
Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
The Honey Drippers (soul band) The Honey Drippers, was an American soul/funk band from the 1970s, best known for its song "Impeach the President" .-Songs:... |
| 7 | "Last of the Spiddyocks" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Alan Goldsher - Music :Goldsher is a session and touring bassist. He has worked on the Cypress Hill remix of Janet Jackson's song "Because of Love" and on the Naughty by Nature-produced debut album by Zhané... The Honey Drippers (soul band) The Honey Drippers, was an American soul/funk band from the 1970s, best known for its song "Impeach the President" .-Songs:... |
| 8 | "Jimmi Diggin' Cats" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and... |
| 9 | "La Femme Fetal" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
The Last Poets The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread... |
| 10 | "Escapism (Gettin' Free)" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Mothership Connection In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Mothership Connection the 55th greatest album of all time.In 2003, the album was ranked number 274 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.... " by Parliament Parliament A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which... The Last Poets The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread... Art Blakey Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.... The Crusaders The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group , 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" .-History:In 1960, following the demise of a... Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound... |
| 11 | "Appointment at the Fat Clinic" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments... |
| 12 | "Nickel Bags" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly... Edwin Starr Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:... Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music... |
| 13 | "Swoon Units" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of... Kain Kain may refer to:*Kain Department, a department in the Yatenga Province of Burkina Faso*Mount Kain, a mountain in the Fraser River Valley of Mount Robson Provincial Park, Canada*Kain, a heavy metal band from Zabok, Croatia... |
| 14 | "Examination of What" | Butterfly, Shane Faber, Mike Mangini | Digable Planets |
The Crusaders The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group , 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" .-History:In 1960, following the demise of a... |
Album singles
| Single information |
|---|
"Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)"
|
| "Where I'm From"
|
| "Nickel Bags"
|
Album chart positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 1993 | Reachin' [A New Refutation of Time and Space] | 15 | 5 |
Singles chart positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Tracks Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1993 | Rebirth of Slick [Cool Like Dat] | 15 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Where I'm From | - | 60 | 7 | 41 | |
| Nickel Bags | - | 93 | 12 | - |
Rebirth of Slick [Cool Like Dat]
| End of year chart (1993) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 81 |