“La Femme Fétal:” Digable Planets’ Reachin’... in the 1990s and Today
The year 1993 was legendary in popular music culture all over the world. Monumental album releases from artists such as Nirvana, The Cranberries, Björk, and The Smashing Pumpkins characterize a prolific year in one of music’s most important decades. In particular, 1993 was incredibly explosive for the world of Hip-Hop. One of the most notable achievements from the genre’s output was Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space). Coming straight out of 1992’s Presidential election and the Planned Parenthood v. Casey case, in which the Supreme Court upheld reproductive freedoms in the United States, the album features multiple songs that directly reference reproductive rights and freedom of choice.
Riding the wave of enormous success from their first ever single, “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” Mariana 'Mecca the Ladybug' Vieira, Ishmael 'Butterfly' Butler, and Craig 'Doodlebug' Irving pushed the boundaries of Hip-Hop fusion with Reachin’... and became instant household names. Along with creative jazz sampling and inspiration from groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Parliament, and the Last Poets, the album also dives into controversial and important human rights issues that are extremely relevant to this day. Songs such as “La Femme Fétal” and “Examination of What” exemplify the influence of Hip-Hop’s consistent activism and social critique–both in the 90s and now in the post-Roe era.
“La Femme Fétal”, the most glaringly pro-choice track in Digable Planets’ discography, tells the story of a young couple contemplating their options when they realize they are expecting. Due to their financial state and age, they are seeking an abortion; but, as the lyrics tell, “The feds have dissed me/They ignore and dismiss me/The pro-lifers harass me outside the clinic/And call me a murderer, now that’s hate.” The song continues on as a critique of pro-life ideologies, stating that its real purpose is to control female bodies rather than preserve life. Furthermore, restricting abortion rights would not diminish the amount of unwanted pregnancies and would only lead to unsafe medical procedures and death. The lyrical content of “La Femme Fétal” is audacious and heavily political–characteristic of the Hip-Hop genre as a whole. However, Digable Planets was one of the first Hip-Hop groups to specifically discuss and take a clear stance on reproductive freedom in their music. This song in particular became a beacon for pro-choice sentiments and beliefs amidst unrest in the early 1990s.
As Reachin’...’s 56-minute runtime comes to a close, the album finishes off with “Examination of What”, a song about the futility and relativity of time. The piece references the group’s name and principles, stating “Every man’s a planet” and “We’re just babies, man,” taking a largely metaphysical stance on reality in the grand scheme of human life. While the song is not entirely about abortion rights, one lyric stands out: Mecca the Ladybug’s question “What is really what if I can’t even get comfortable/Because the Supreme Court is, like, all in my uterus?” Following Clarence Thomas’ 1990 appointment to the Supreme Court and subsequent vows to fight against reproductive freedoms, the early 90s saw a sharp rise in the debate on abortion. Digable Planets were pioneers in Hip-Hop’s discussion of abortion but were not the only famed artists to write about the topic.
In this time of uncertainty regarding reproductive rights, 2Pac also released his classic “Keep Ya Head Up”. The song features the famous lyrics, “And since a man can’t make one/He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one.” The year also saw releases from other prominent Hip-Hop names, such as A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In addition, Souls of Mischief and the Wu-Tang Clan both launched acclaimed debut albums: 93 ‘til Infinity and Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), respectively. 1993 proved a fruitful and essential year for the creative development of Hip-Hop as a genre and movement. Most importantly, however, the protest songs and reproductive conversations the genre hosted during the year still recirculate in the 21st century.
On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court voted in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending almost fifty years of federal abortion protection. Since this date, thirteen states have established complete abortion bans, and only nine U.S. states retain full reproductive rights. In the past two and a half years since this decision, pro-choice protesters and activists have recalled the lyrics of Digable Planets to voice their frustrations and attempt to make change. Digable Planets helped pave the way for modern pro-choice artists such as Megan Thee Stallion and Latto to freely discuss these issues in the Hip-Hop circle. Despite three decades’ worth of musical output since Reachin’...’s initial release, the album remains at the forefront of conversations about abortion protection and continues to remind music enthusiasts of the value of lyrical protest.
To further your exploration into the world of 90s Hip-Hop, check out Align Spotify’s playlist containing some of the greatest Hip-Hop tunes of 1993. Curated by Mia Fairchild.