“9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” by Digable Planets feels like a something I would have made Song of the Week a long time ago, but I guess not. Let’s do this Song of the Week in ramble form/stream of consciousness or whatever Drake did in his new book:
Showing my age, I actually bought the CD for Blowout Comb, the album “9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” is from.
That album was Black as hell. The CD booklet was like a Black Panther pamphlet or something. They were dead prez before dead prez.
The music video for “9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” is pretty Black too. (See below)
“9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” feels like a theme song and it has been used a few times as such but it probably should be used more.
Also, the term “I’m slicker this year” should probably also be used more.
“9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” also samples some of the Blackest artist as it borrows from classics “Love Rollercoaster” by Ohio Players and “Soul Pride” by James Brown.
Most call Digable Planets a one-hit wonder but I don’t; I at least like 3 songs by them: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Easily their biggest hit), “Where I’m From” (There was dope remix too), and, of course, “9th Wonder (Blackitolism)”.
I’m still not sure if all the members of Digable Planets being named after bugs was cool. Their names were Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug (Back in the day I thought that last name was Doo Doo Bug instead of Doodlebug).
Digable Planets was one of those 90’s rap group that rapped abstract to the point you didn’t really know what they were talking about sometimes. That shit still rhymed though. It also could be that I wasn’t that smart in 1993.
Another group that did this was Camp Lo. They actually had a song with Butterfly called “Swing” and that’s the song they play at the end of the “Luchini AKA This Is It” music video. That shit was hard.
Ladybug was fine. If she would have came out a few years later they would have Lauryn Hill’d her out of Digable Planets (I don’t think she could also sing, but like I said, she was pretty).
Did the producer 9th Wonder get his name from this song?
Who else forgot that Digable Planets actually won a motherfucking Grammy?
Digable Planets is currently active as a group with all three members and that’s cool. I looked up a recent picture and it makes me feel kinda old. But props to them.
Ramble over. Check out the Song of the Week below. I hope to be slicker next time.
