Digital Underground was an alternative rap group from Oakland,
California. They could have been considered a music "family" rather
than a group, as their personnel changed and rotated with each album
and tour.
Digital Underground's leader was Greg "Shock G" Jacobs
(also known as Humpty Hump) Shock G formed the group in 1987 with
Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright of Berkeley, California, and
Tampa hip-hop radio deejay Kenneth "Kenny-K" Waters.[2]
Heavily influenced by the various funk bands of the 1970s, Digital
Underground sampled such music frequently, which became a defining
element of West Coast rap. As "Rackadelic", Jacobs designed
album covers and cartoon-laced liner notes, in homage to Parliament-Funkadelic
album designs. Digital Underground is also notable for launching
the career of member Tupac Shakur, as well as spinning off side projects
and solo acts including Raw Fusion, Saafir, and female singer Mystic.[3]
Following the release of their "Doowutchyalike" single
and video in the summer of 1989, and the band's gained popularity
by their song "The Humpty Dance" in 1990, Digital Underground
toured nearly every year up until 2008; this consisted of thousands[quantify]
of live shows in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the U.S. While
the group's origins lay mostly in Oakland and Berkeley, California,
various characters and voices from around the U.S. appeared on the
band's albums, while Shock G and Money-B were the only individuals
to appear on every album. Other recurring key contributors were David "DJ
Fuze" Elliot, and deejay/producer Jeremy "J-Beats" Jackson,
who both assisted Jacobs in developing the sound.[3]
The group appeared in and donated music to the 1991 film Nothing
but Trouble, which was directed by Dan Aykroyd.
After approximately twenty years of touring, Shock G announced that
the group would officially disband in 2008. Shortly after that announcement
was made, the group also confirmed that their May 2008 album ..Cuz
A d.u. Party Don't Stop! would be their last studio effort.
1991 d.u. illustration by "Rackadelic", Shock G's graffiti
alias. Left to right: Tupac, Pee Wee, Humpty Hump, Shock G, Money
B, DJ Fuze.
1991 d.u. illustration by "Rackadelic", Shock G's graffiti
alias. Left to right: Tupac, Pee Wee, Humpty Hump, Shock G, Money
B, DJ Fuze.
Jacobs spent most of his youth in Tampa, Florida and New York City.
Founded in 1987, the group's image was originally more militant,
and was intended to be a tribute to social activists The Black Panthers.
However, when Public Enemy became a prominent band, Jacobs chose
to take the image in a more whimsical direction.
[edit] Sex Packets
Sex Packets, the group's debut album, was released in the spring
of 1990 following the success of its two leadoff singles. First came "Doowutchyalike," a
moderate club hit, followed by the more successful song "The
Humpty Dance", a humorous dance number that reached #11 on the
pop charts[specify], #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard
Rap Singles chart. It was rapped by Shock G's alter ego Humpty Hump,
and featured a drumtrack with over 50 confirmed usages in other songs.
Sex Packets features P-Funk samples, jazz-influenced interludes,
and a combination of samples and live instrumentation, earning it
positive reviews and platinum sales.
[edit] This is an EP Release
This is an EP Release is the RIAA Gold certified second Digital
Underground release, from which two songs, "Tie the Knot" and "Same
Song" were featured in the film Nothing But Trouble starring
Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy. "Tie The
Knot," features jazzy piano tracks and a comedic interpretation
of "Bridal Chorus". "Same Song" has an organ
solo and improvised organ bits throughout the song, making it one
of hip hop's first singles to successfully integrate live instrumentation
with music samples. Tupac Shakur made his debut on the latter song
and portrayed an African king in the video. Tupac also can be heard
joking around on the remixed version of "The Way We Swing" as
a background vocalist, adding humorous ad-libs between the verses.
[edit] Sons of the P
The group's third album featured two singles, "No Nose Job" and "Kiss
You Back", the latter of which featured multi-layered choruses
and background vocals sung by Boni Boyer, who briefly worked with
Digital Underground shortly after her stint with Prince's Sign of
the Times/Love Sexy band.[citation needed] Despite the fact that
a choir of singers were portrayed in the video, the actual studio
singing was exclusively Boni on all tracks, excluding the male voices.[5]
It has been mistakenly reported that "Kiss You Back" was
co-written and co-performed by George Clinton,[6] but his name appears
in the writers credit due to a sample of "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by
Funkadelic being used. He did, however, actively participate in the
writing and recording of the title track "Sons of the P",
which he also contributed vocals to, and which marked one of the
earliest studio guest appearances by Clinton on a Hip Hop release,[7]
which is preceded only by Kurtis Blow's "Magilla Gorilla" released
in 1986.[8] Both the album and the "Kiss You Back" single
were each certified Gold by the RIAA.
Lead vocalist Shock G in 1991 during the group's "Sons of the
P" tour.
Lead vocalist Shock G in 1991 during the group's "Sons of the
P" tour.
[edit] The Body-Hat Syndrome
With the leading single "The Return of the Crazy One," and
its accompanying X-rated video, which was reworked for public consumption,
gaining positive feedback, the rest of The Body-Hat Syndrome unfurled
to less than outstanding crossover commercial acclaim. The album's
second single, an anti-racism cultural awareness politico called "Wussup
Wit the Luv," featured a solo from Funkadelic guitarist Michael
Hampton, as well as a verse and video appearance from Tupac Shakur.
This would be the last time Tupac appeared on any Digital Underground
release, while lead rappers Saafir and Clee were added to the band's
line-up. This album also features "The Humpty Dance Awards",
the group's humorous shout-out to the artists who sampled the Humpty
Dance prior to 1993.
[edit] Future Rhythm
Future Rhythm, the group's fifth album, would be the band's first
independent release, and it spawned two songs that were featured
in the Wayans brothers' film Don't Be a Menace to South Central While
Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. The songs are "Food Fight",
which featured Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and "We Got More" with
Luniz. The latter is featured twice on the soundtrack: once as a
full song, and once as an intro edited to the beginning of "Winter
Wars" by Ghostface Killa.[citation needed] The album also contains
an early performance from rapper Sly Boogy, while he was still a
member of the Black Spooks, who appeared on the song "Fool Get
a Clue."[9]
[edit] Who Got the Gravy?
In 1998, eight years after the group's first release, Digital Underground
released Who Got the Gravy?, which reached #91 on the Top 200 R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums charts. The album intentionally featured several East Coast
rappers at a time when the East vs. West rivalry was active, in an
attempt to both ignore and ridicule it. The guests included New York
City natives Big Pun, Biz Markie, and KRS One, and introduced Whuteva
and Stylez, while also introducing west coast bay area newcomers
Esinchill and female emcee Mystic.
[edit] ..Cuz A D.U. Party Don't Stop!
Digital Underground's final studio album, ..Cuz A D.U. Party Don't
Stop!!, was released on May 20, 2008, although a substantial portion
of it was recorded at a live show from 2005. Shortly before its release,
the group embarked on an indefinite hiatus. Money-B has stated that
Shock G expressed interest in writing a book and exploring music
that the latter would deem unfit for the Digital Underground name.[10]
On May 18, 2010, The Greenlight EP was released, which features
previously unreleased Digital Underground tracks.[11]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
* Sex Packets (1990)
* This Is An EP Release (1991)
* Sons Of The P (1991)
* The Body-Hat Syndrome (1993)
* Future Rhythm (1996)
* Who Got The Gravy? (1998)
* The Lost Files (1999)
* ..Cuz A D.U. Party Don't Stop!! (2008)
* The Greenlight EP (2010)
[edit] Soundtracks
* Nothing But Trouble (1991)
* Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
(1996)
* Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
[edit] Compilations
* Oakland Soul: The Bay Area Soundtrack (1997)
* No Nose Job: The Legend of Digital Underground (2002)
* Outrageous Rap (2002)
* Playwutchyalike: The Best of Digital Underground (2003)
* Rhino Hi-Five: Digital Underground (2005)
* Songs You Know: Ol' Skool Hip Hop (2007)
* Westside Bugg Presents... The Best of The West (2008)
[edit] Videos
* "Doowutchyalike" (1989)
* "The Humpty Dance" (1990)
* "Doowutchyalike" (video remix) (1990)
* "Same Song" (1991)
* "Kiss You Back" (1991)
* "No Nose Job" (1992)
* "Return of the Crazy One" (1993)
* "Wussup Wit the Luv" (1994)
* "Oregano Flow" (1996)
* "Walk Real Kool" (1996)
* "Wind Me Up" (1998)
[edit] DVDs
* Digital Underground: Raw and Uncut (2004)
* Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw (2000)
* Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
* One Nation Under a Groove (2005)