10 Perfect Albums From The Golden Age Of Hip Hop
8. Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) - Digable Planets (1993)
One of the more engaging records from the world of alternative hip hop, came from New York based group Digable Planets. Formed in Philadelphia in the late '80s, they drew attention for their unique use of samples.
Their debut was laced with the sounds of New York's jazz scene. If it wasn't for the effortlessly smooth rap, this would be considered an electronic jazz record. But, with the silky smooth flow of Ishmael "Butter Fly" Butler & Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, it transcended, both conventional hip hop, and jazz, to create a truly enjoyable fusion of genre.
Although there was a number of female hip hop artists at the time, the field was mostly dominated by men. The presence of Ladybug Mecca, added a refreshing dimension to the group's sound. Her delivery was relaxed, precise, and about as cool as anyone else in the game. The back and forth between Ladybug and primary lyricist, Butter Fly, is particularly satisfying on the track Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat). Driven by the sound of a live double bass, it's one of the slickest numbers from this era.