Digital Underground: Difference between revisions
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'''Digital Underground''' is an [[Alternative hip hop|alternative rap]] group hailing from [[Oakland, California]], who played a big part in giving West Coast rap the spotlight. Their leader was Greg “[[Shock G]]” Jacobs, who spent most of his youth in [[New York City]] and southern [[Florida]]. Heavily influenced by the various funk bands of the [[1970s]], Digital Underground sampled their music frequently, which quickly became a defining element of west-coast rap. Their ‘alternative’ status owes much to their unabashedly spaced-out image, which lay in contrast to the gangster rap that most west coast acts focused on. The group's original image was set up to be a tribute to social activists [[The Black Panthers]], but when [[Public Enemy]] became a prominent band, Jacobs chose to take the group's image in a more whimsical direction, that of an updated [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] for the hip-hop audience. Jacobs designed detailed album covers and cartoon-laced liner notes, |
'''Digital Underground''' is an [[Alternative hip hop|alternative rap]] group hailing from [[Oakland, California]], who played a big part in giving West Coast rap the spotlight. Their leader was Greg “[[Shock G]]” Jacobs, who spent most of his youth in [[New York City]] and southern [[Florida]]. Heavily influenced by the various funk bands of the [[1970s]], Digital Underground sampled their music frequently, which quickly became a defining element of west-coast rap. Their ‘alternative’ status owes much to their unabashedly spaced-out image, which lay in contrast to the gangster rap that most west coast acts focused on. The group's original image was set up to be a tribute to social activists [[The Black Panthers]], but when [[Public Enemy]] became a prominent band, Jacobs chose to take the group's image in a more whimsical direction, that of an updated [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] for the hip-hop audience. Jacobs designed detailed album covers and cartoon-laced liner notes, a [[homage]] to Parliament-Funkadelic album designs. They are also notable for catapulting member [[Tupac Shakur]] into the spotlight. |
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==Early success and Humpty's "secret identity"== |
==Early success and Humpty's "secret identity"== |
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Revision as of 02:38, 25 December 2007
Digital Underground |
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Digital Underground is an alternative rap group hailing from Oakland, California, who played a big part in giving West Coast rap the spotlight. Their leader was Greg “Shock G” Jacobs, who spent most of his youth in New York City and southern Florida. Heavily influenced by the various funk bands of the 1970s, Digital Underground sampled their music frequently, which quickly became a defining element of west-coast rap. Their ‘alternative’ status owes much to their unabashedly spaced-out image, which lay in contrast to the gangster rap that most west coast acts focused on. The group's original image was set up to be a tribute to social activists The Black Panthers, but when Public Enemy became a prominent band, Jacobs chose to take the group's image in a more whimsical direction, that of an updated Parliament-Funkadelic for the hip-hop audience. Jacobs designed detailed album covers and cartoon-laced liner notes, a homage to Parliament-Funkadelic album designs. They are also notable for catapulting member Tupac Shakur into the spotlight.
Early success and Humpty's "secret identity"
Their first album, 1990’s Sex Packets, was named after a sketchy invention idea Schmoovy Schmoov (Earl Cook - early member) had for a hallucinogen that could induce orgasm. To promote the album, a fake newsletter was circulated to California medical clinics, for which the ‘sex packets’ even got notice in USA Today (the newsletter claimed that NASA was secretly developing them for astronauts, as relief on extended space stints). "Underwater Rimes" was an early single that became a surprise hit in the Netherlands. "Doowutchyalike" was an underground American hit in 1989.
"The Humpty Dance" was a crossover club hit. It also received much critical acclaim. It was named the 72nd best song of 1980-2005 by Blender Magazine [1], and one of the 100 best rap singles by The Source in 1998. [2] Sex Packets (recorded with Chopmaster J, Money-B, DJ Fuze) became a hit after "The Humpty Dance" went to #11 on the pop charts. The album received platinum status, selling over 1 million copies. The LPs Sons Of The P (1991), The Body-Hat Syndrome (1993), Future Rhythm (1996), Who Got The Gravy? (1998), and The Lost Files would follow.
As Shock G, Jacobs was a cool, breezy-voiced commentator. On the other hand, his secret alter ego, Humpty Hump, was an uninhibited clown in a Groucho Marx glasses/nose combo and pimp-inspired clothes. At concerts, a stand-in would silently play either one person or the other, and when a smoke bomb dropped (or some other trick), Jacobs would switch gears (and clothing) and rap as the other person. A fictional biography was constructed for Humpty, the story being that "Edward G. Humphreys" had become a musician after burning his nose in a kitchen accident with a deep-fryer. Jacobs also performed as a character by the name of MC Blowfish on "Underwater Rimes".
The group was also featured in the Dan Aykroyd film Nothing But Trouble, in which it performed "Same Song" and later "Tie the Knot." The music video for "Same Song" featured clips from the film. (This video also featured the first appearance by a young Tupac Shakur.)
Proteges and current developments
The band also orchestrated a handful of spin-off acts, including Gold Money (Pee Wee and Bigg Money Odis) and Raw Fusion (Money B and DJ Fuze). They discovered and catapulted Tupac Shakur to fame (he was a dancer and roadie for the band before joining as a full member and subsequently getting his record deal) as well as the Luniz. Saafir was also a member of Digital Underground and went on to release several solo albums. Hip hop artist Mystic also got her start as a member of Digital Underground.
Their group work stands on its own, however. The band hasn’t recorded in years, but still does tours, and Jacobs still maintains a relationship with the core members, releasing a solo LP (as Shock G), Fear of a Mixed Planet, in 2004. Rumors of a new album have been swirling around the group's website suggesting a 2007 release but nothing official has been announced.
Discography
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)
Soundtracks
- Nothing But Trouble (soundtrack) (1991)
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
- Tupac: Resurrection (2004)
Compilations
- No Nose Job: The Legend of Digital Underground (2001)
- Playwutchyalike: The Best of Digital Underground (2003)
DVDs
- Digital Underground: Raw and Uncut (2004)
- Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw (2000)
- Tupac: Resurrection (2004)
- One Nation Under a Groove (2005)