In 1994, Brooklyn jazz hip-hop trio Digable Planets was up for Best Rap Performance at the Grammys. Their competition was tough: Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a G Thang”, Arrested Development’s “Revolution”, Naughty By Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray”, and Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Membrane”, were all in the mix. But Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” took home the award for the smooth iteration of jazz and hip-hop hybrid. Just like its title, the the song gave off a cooling effect to the harsher gangsta rap popping off at the time; Rappers Butterfly, Ladybug Mecca, and Doodlebug took turns spitting conscious lyrics over mellowing beats that hinged upon the jazz records in Butterfly’s father’s record collection.

The group saw success with their follow-up album Blowout Comb in 1994, but eventually disbanded a year later. Nearly 10 years after the anniversary of “Rebirth,” the group announced a reunion album and a subsequent tour to follow. Head out to 1015 Folsom to see one of the best jazz hip-hop bands to ever do it and relive the coveted ’90s golden era of hip-hop.

Digable Planets
1015 Folsom
May 25, 2017
8:30pm, $35 (21+)