Rabeez was a hip-hop\dance trio from the 90s. Not much information is given about them, but they were signed to the Robbins Entertainment record label.
In 1997, they released their only single “Beat Don’t Stop.” It’s unknown how or if the single made the charts at all.
After that, it seems as if Rabeez has faded into obscurity. It’s unknown what they’re up to these days.
[There are no videos available for this entry.]
Tempess was an R&B singer from the 80s. Not much information is given about this artist, but Tempess was signed to Gold Star Records.
In 1987, Tempess released the single “So Fine.” It’s unknown how or if the single made the charts at all.
After that, it seems as if Tempess has faded into obscurity. It’s unknown what this artist is up to these days.
To see a fan-made video for “So Fine,” go to:
DG (or Distinguished Gentlemen) were an R&B group from New York. Not much information is given about them, but they were signed to Def Jam Records.
In 1996, they released their debut single “Soakin’ Wet” which peaked at #94 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 2 weeks. The follow-up single “Hush” didn’t appear to make the charts at all.
It appears that DG’s debut album “Private Party” was released promotionally, but not officially.
These days, it appears as if DG has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since the 90s.
To see a fan-made video for “Soakin’ Wet,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Hush,” go to:
Digable Planets were an alternative hip-hop trio from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that consisted of members Butterfly (born Ishmael Butler from Seattle, Washington), Ladybug Mecca (born Mary Ann Vieira from Silver Spring, Maryland) and Doodle Bug (born Craig Irving from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
Butterfly and Doodle Bug met in Philadelphia in the late ’80s. Ladybug Mecca and Doodlebug had been couple while they were attending Howard University. Butterfly was an intern at Sleeping Bag Records in New York and he would visit his grandmother in Philadelphia where Doodle Bug was living & rapping with a music act called The Dread Poets Society.
The initial demos were recorded under the name “Digable Planets” which only featured Butterfly. After a brief stint with two other members, he began collaborating with Ladybug Mecca and Doodle Bug in 1989. In 1992, the trio signed a record deal with Pendulum Records and moved to New York where Butterfly and Doodle Bug became roommates.
In February of 1993, Digable Planets released their debut album “Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)” which peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The trio’s debut single “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” became a hit, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart. The song also topped Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #20 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Club Play Singles chart, #12 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #6 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.
The single was certified Gold by the RIAA with sales of 500,000 copies and even won a Grammy Award for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.”
The follow-up single from the album “Where I’m From” peaked at #106 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, #7 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart, #41 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #60 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.
The last single from Digable Planets’ debut album “Nickel Bags (Of Funk)” peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart and #93 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 2 weeks.
In October of 1994, Digable Planets released their sophomore album “Blowout Comb” peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
The first single from the album “9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” peaked at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart, #10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #37 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.
The follow-up single “Dial 7 (Axiom Of Creamy Spies)” peaked at #32 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart, #45 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #88 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 5 weeks.
Due to creative differences, Digable Planets broke up in early 1995. Butterfly, Doodle Bug and Ladybug Mecca went on to pursue solo careers.
In February of 2005, Digable Planets reunited and embarked on a reunion tour. In October of that same year, they released a compliation album “Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles.”
During an interview with “The Houston Chronicle” in 2010, Doodle Bug announced that a new single “Fresh Out” and a new untitled album would be released in the summer of 2010, but it appears those plans never materialized.
From 2009 to 2011, Doodle Bug and Butterfly toured across the United States, Europe and Canada. In December of 2012, a reunion show that was supposed to take place in Seattle, Washington ended up being cancelled days before the performance even began.
When asked about the current status of Digable Planets in an interview, Butterfly said, “I think it’s the end,” meaning that Digable Planets has disbanded for good.
Butterfly went on to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist Tendai “Baba” Maraire under the name “Shabazz Palaces” and they released two EPS in 2009. They released their debut album in 2011. In 2014, they released their current album “Lese Majesty.”
These days, Doodle Bug (now Cee Knowledge) tours as Cee Knowledge & the Cosmic Funk and has released two albums.
Ladybug Mecca (now Lady Mecca) released a solo album in 2005 and has collaborated with various musicians. She continues to perform as DJ Lady Mecca and was also the voice of Tracey Triceratops on the “Dino-5” children’s music CD.
To see the music video for “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” go to:
To see the music video for “Where I’m From,” go to:
To see the music video for “Nickel Bags (Of Funk),” go to:
To see the music video for “9th Wonder,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Dial 7,” go to:
Allure was an R&B group from Long Island, New York that originally consisted of Alia Davis, Akissa Mendez, Lalisha McClean and Linnie Belcher.
Alia, Lalisha & Akissa were studying at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York when they decided to form a group. They added Linnie Belcher, who was attending the Julia Richmond High School at the time.
For the next two years, the girls rehearsed & practiced which got them management connections which brought them to the attention of Poke (from production team Track Masters).
Poke worked with the girls and signed them to Track Masters under the name “Allure” and helped them sign with Mariah Carey’s record label, Crave Records.
In April of 1997, Allure released their debut single “Head Over Heels” (featuring rapper Nas) which peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100, #20 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 chart, #6 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #17 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.
In May of 1997, the group released their self-titled debut album which peaked at #108 on the Billboard 200 and #23 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The second single, a cover version of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam’s song “All Cried Out” peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #6 on Billboard’s Top 40 Mainstream chart, #3 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 chart, #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #9 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 22 weeks, making it Allure’s biggest hit to date.
The last two singles from the album “No Question” (featuring LL Cool J) and “Last Chance” didn’t appear to make the charts at all. After Allure was released from Crave Records, they signed with MCA Records in 2000.
In 2001, they released their follow-up album “Sunny Days” which peaked at #68 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
The lead single from the album “Enjoy Yourself” peaked at #50 on Billboard’s Hot R&B\Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 18 weeks.
The follow-up single “Kool Wit Me” failed to make any impact on the charts at all. After that, Linnie left Allure & the group signed with basketball player Ron Artest’s record label Tru Warier Records.
In 2004, Allure released their third album “Chapter III” which didn’t make the charts at all & went unnoticed by the public (even though it did get some press due to Ron Artest’s NBA suspension at the time).
The two singles released from the album “Uh Oh” (featuring reggae artist Elephant Man) and “I Think I’m in Love” (featuring rapper Joe Budden) failed to make any impact on the charts at all. After that, the group left Ron Artest’s label.
Nothing much was heard from Allure until 2010 when they released their fourth album “Time’s Up” which (according to research) has been recorded on CD-Rs & not much information is given about the album.
Allure last performed at the Barbados Music Festival in December of 2011, but currently, it’s unknown what they are up to or if they’re still active in the music business.
To see the music video for “Head Over Heels,” go to:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3h9y6_allure-head-over-heels_news
To see the music video for “All Cried Out,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “No Question,” go to:
To see the music video for “Last Chance,” go to:
To see the music video for “Enjoy Yourself,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Hate 2 Luv U,” go to:
To see the music video for “Uh Oh,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Going Crazy” (from their album “Time’s Up”), go to:
I-Level was a dance\R&B trio from Essex, London that consisted of members Duncan Bridgeman, Joe Dworniak and Sam Jones.
The trio was signed to Virgin Records. Originally, Duncan & Joe were a duo called Shake Shake! & released two singles in 1981 & 1982 respectively. In 1982, the trio was awarded “Most Promising Newcomers” by British magazine Blues & Soul.
During that same year, they released their debut single “Give Me” which managed to peak at #11 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Club Play Singles chart in the United States, but didn’t appear to make the charts in the U.K. The song was later sampled by artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and Lost Boyz.
In 1983, I-Level released their self-titled debut album which peaked at #50 on the U.K. Albums chart.
The trio’s second single “Minefield” peaked at #52 on the U.K. Singles chart and #5 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music\Club Play Singles chart.
The third single from the album “Teacher” peaked at #56 on the U.K. Singles chart.
The last single from the album “Stone Heart (Stone Woman)” peaked at #86 on the U.K. Singles chart.
In 1984, I-Level released their sophomore (and last) album “Shake” which didn’t appear to make the charts at all.
The first single from the album “Our Song” failed to make any impact on the charts at all.
The second single “In the River” peaked at #81 on the U.K. Singles chart. The third single “In the Sand” peaked at #93 on the U.K. Singles chart.
I-Level’s last single “New Day” was released in 1985 and didn’t make the charts at all. After that, the trio disbanded.
Duncan Bridgewater went on to write & produce music for various artists such as John Foxx, Transvision Vamp & Dido. He is currently a member of British electronic music trio 1 Giant Leap.
Joe Dworniak is a session musician & producer. It’s unknown what Sam Jones is up to these days.
To see a fan-made video for “Give Me,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Teacher,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Minefield,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Stone Heart (Stone Woman),” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “Our Song,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “In the River,” go to:
To see a fan-made video for “In the Sand,” go to:
rareandobscuremusic 