Blowout Comb

Blowout Comb
Studio album by Digable Planets
Released	October 18, 1994
Recorded	August 1993 - March 1994
Studio	Bass Hits Recording Studio (New York City)
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Jazz rap, Conscious hip hop, Alternative hip hop, Boom Bap
Length	61:40
Label	Pendulum Records / EMI Records
Producer	Dave Darlington (co.), Brenda Dash (exec.), Digable Planets, Dennis Wheeler (exec.)

Digable Planets chronology
Previous	Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993)

Blowout Comb is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group Digable Planets. It was released in October 18, 1994 via Pendulum Records and EMI Records. Recording sessions took place at Bass Hits Recording Studio in New York City through August 1993 to March 1994. Production was handled entirely by the group themselves, with co-production by Dave Darlington. It features guest appearances by Guru (of Gang Starr), Monica Payne, Jeru the Damaja, Sulaiman, Sara Webb and DJ Jazzy Joyce. On Blowout Comb, Digable Planets abandoned the friendly style of their debut and worked with a more stripped-down sound. The album features a diverse range of samples and live instruments, and contains lyrical themes of the inner city and Black nationalism.

Upon its release, Blowout Comb received minimal label support, and virtually no pre-release publicity due to its lack of commercial appeal. The album peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, achieving less than half of the chart success of its predecessor (which peaked at #15 and #5 respectively). Blowout Comb released the singles: "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" and "Dial 7", also did not chart well, and failed to match the success of the group's previous singles. Several music writers have attributed this lack of chart and sales success to the album's Afrocentric content and unpolished tone. Shortly after the release of Blowout Comb, Digable Planets disbanded due to creative differences and displeasure with the music industry.

Although the album did not initially achieve commercial success, and received very little attention at the time of its release, Blowout Comb later received generally greater acclaim amongst music critics and writers than the group's debut. It has been noted for its seamless production and is often regarded as Digable Planets' better album, even having gained an underground following in later years.

Track listing

All songs produced by Digable Planets, and co-produced by Dave Darlington.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Time
1.	"The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug"	Ladybug, Doodlebug, Butterfly	Butler, Irving, Vieira	4:56
2.	"Black Ego"	Ladybug, Doodlebug, Butterfly	Butler, Irving, Vieira	7:02
3.	"Dog It"	Butterfly, Ladybug	Butler, Irving, Vieira	4:21
4.	"Jettin'"	Butterfly, Ladybug, Doodlebug	Butler, James, Irving, Vieira	4:39
5.	"Borough Check"	Ladybug, Butterfly, Guru, Doodlebug	Butler, Elam, Irving, Vieira	6:56
6.	"Highing Fly"	Butterfly	Butler, Irving, Vieira	1:23
7.	"Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)"	Sara Webb, Doodlebug, Ladybug, Butterfly	Butler, Irving, McMahon, Vieira	5:47
8.	"The Art of Easing"	Doodlebug, Butterfly, Ladybug	Butler, Irving, Mizell, Vieira	5:06
9.	"K.B.'s Alley (Mood Dudes Groove)"	-	Butler, Irving, Vieira	2:06
10.	"Graffiti"	Ladybug, Jeru the Damaja, Butterfly, Doodlebug	Butler, Davis, Irving, Vieira	4:03
11.	"Blowing Down"	Butterfly, Ladybug, Doodlebug	Butler, Irving, Mizell, Vieira	3:51
12.	"9th Wonder (Blackitolism)"	Butterfly, Doodlebug, Ladybug, DJ Jazzy Joyce	Butler, Irving, Vieira	4:27
13.	"For Corners"	Monica Payne, Butterfly, Ladybug, Doodlebug, Sulaiman	Butler, Irving, Otis, Vieira	7:02

Samples

The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug

• "Prelude to a Kiss" by Wes Montgomery.
• "Soft Shell" by Motherlode.

Black Ego

• "Here Comes the Meter Man" by The Meters.
• "Luanna's Theme" by Grant Green.
• "Generator Pop" by P-Funk All Stars.

Dog It

• "God Make Me Funky" by The Headhunters feat. Pointer Sisters.
• "Sell Your Soul" by The Watts Prophets.

Jettin'

• "Blue Lick" by Bob James.

Borough Check

• "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott and The L.A. Express.
• "We Live in Brooklyn, Baby" by Roy Ayers.
• "Old Rugged Cross" by Roland Kirk.
• "New York, New York" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Highing Fly

• "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band.

Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)

• "Bad Times" by Tavares.
• "Get on Up and Dance" by Eddie Harris.
• "Vapors" by Biz Markie.

The Art of Easing

• "Blacks and Blues" by Bobbi Humphrey.

Graffiti

• "Slow Motion" by Roy Ayers.

Blowing Down

• "Jasper Country Man" by Bobbi Humphrey.

9th Wonder (Blackitolism)

• "Love Rollercoaster" by Ohio Players.
• "Soul Pride" by James Brown.
• "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s.
• "Superrappin'" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

For Corners

• "Island Letter" by Shuggie Otis.
• "Ebony Blaze" by Roy Ayers.
• "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps.