Ishmael Butler of Digable Planets joins The Day With Trae

Trae Holiday connected with Ishmael Butler of Digable Planets. They discussed his journey though music as well as Digable Planets’ upcoming show at the Neptune Theatre.

Butler said his music career started at home where his parents exposed him to a variety of sounds and genres. The first instrument he ever picked up was the saxaphone, starting a long and fruitful musical journey.

“I really had a passion for music, and my parents identified that and helped move it along,” Butler said. “That’s really how it started.”

With a father hailing from Philadelphia, the east-coast sound has always been an inspiration to Butler. After high school, he moved to New York and jumped into the music scene in the city.

“I started as an intern and in the mailroom, and eventually worked my way up to try to get a record deal,” Butler said.

Butler’s inspiration to form a group came from what he saw around him.

“Everyone seemed like they were in a group with like minded people who felt music the same way as them,” Butler said.

Digable Planets was formed through Butler’s admiration of East-Coast rapper Knowledge (Doodlebug) and his connections with Mariana “Mecca” Vieira. Knowledge agreed to form a group with Butler, and looped Mecca into the act as well.

“We all just started dreaming together, and that’s how it all happened,” Butler said.

Like anything, Hip-Hop has changed over the years. Butler says that the ebb and flow is natural, and that their passion for the craft has allowed them to navigate the changing landscape of the music business.

“When Digable came out, I’m sure we represented a change too,” Butler said. “There was a lot of change in the music industry at that point too.”

Despite the ever-changing landscape, the exciting and iconic sounds of Digable Planets have been a constant. That shows as they continue to play shows for packed houses, including an upcoming date at the Neptune Theatre on December 30th.

You can watch the full interview above and purchase tickets for the Digable Planets show on December 30th here