digital underground
Digital Underground, a shifting stable of rappers and DJ's led by Shock G, was founded in Tampa, Florida in 1987 by Shock G and radio DJ Kenny K (of the Tampa radio station WMNF 88.5). In 1989, Shock G and Kenny K temporarily relocated to Oakland, CA to begin recording their first album under the Digital Underground name. The group's music has always been heavily influenced by George Clinton and his groups Parliament and Funkadelic, in both Digital Underground's grooves and the surreal humor in their rhymes. Digital Underground's first record was the 1987 single "Underwater Rimes" by TNT Records. At the time of their first single, the group consisted of Shock G and Chopmaster J; by 1989, when Digital Underground signed with the record label Tommy Boy, there group had expanded to a total of seven members.
The group's first album was "Sex Packets" released in March of 1990 on Tommy Boy Records. The album's singles included "Doowhutchyalike" and "The Humpty Dance" showcasing Shock G's nasally prolific and lewdly humorous alter ego Humpty Hump. "The Humpty Dance" went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart in April of 1990, pushing the "Sex Packets" album to platinum sales. The album was followed by the EP "This Is An EP Release" in 1991, featuring two songs ("Same Song" and "Tie The Knot") used in the bizarre dark comedy film "Nothing But Trouble", both of which were "performed" by the group in the film. The EP was Digital Underground's first release featuring their new member Tupac Shakur (also known as 2Pac) and the group Gold Money. The group's EP and their subsequent album "Sons Of The P" were awarded RIAA Gold certifications, with "Sons Of The P" single "Kiss You Back" also achieving an RIAA Gold certification.
However, as the 1990's wore on, mainstream interest in hip hop shifted and the more lighthearted and off-kilter music of Digital Underground was no longer as commercially viable as it had been just a few years prior. Despite debuting another successful solo rapper, Saafir, 1993's "The Body-Hat Syndrome" barely registered on the charts, and the group disappeared for three years before releasing "Future Rhythm" in 1996 and "Who's Got the Gravy?" in 1998.
discogs
discogs
Digital Underground are hip hop group that formed in 1987 in Oakland, California, United States. Shock-G could probably be called DU's center, their driving force, along with his Humpty Hump alter-ego. DJ Fuze, Money B, Schmoovy Schmoov, Chopmaster J, were some of the group's main members, and they were joined by many friends on their albums over the years. Their third single, The Humpty Dance, from their 1990 debut album called Sex Packets, was their biggest commercial hit. It helped Sex Packets go platinum by the end of the year. Tupac Shakur (then simply 2Pac) got his start with the Underground's second release, 1991's This Is An EP Release. He went on to quite an impressive solo career. Sons Of The P was released later that year, a full-length album with even heavier P-Funk influence abound. This album would go gold, with help from its biggest single, Kiss You Back. 1993 would see the release of The Body-Hat Syndrome, as well as a big shift in the hip hop world towards the previously mentioned Dr. Dre's G-funk style of 'gangsta rap' music. This shift would see a decline in Digital Underground's fan base, and it would take three years and a record label switch before we would see the return of the Underground, with Future Rhythm in 1996. It barely lasted three weeks on the charts. Rather surprising, since this album had a number of very strong songs, such as Oregano Flow, Walk Real Kool, and Food Fight. And 1998 would bring us the last official Digital Underground album, Who Got The Gravy?, which also has many very strong tunes. Also some well-known guests, including KRS One, Big Pun, and Biz Markie. Wind Me Up, The Mission, and Holla Holiday are among its strengths. They would release The Lost Files in 1999, a collection of tracks that were previously unreleased, sounding as strong as any of their albums. That would bring an end to the Underground, as it was. One might guess that poor promotion may have been the reason behind their demise, they certainly released some very strong material. Shock-G returned as a solo artist in 2004 with Fear Of A Mixed Planet, reprising his Humpty Hump character on some tracks. They still regroup and tour as Digital Underground as recent as 2005/6.
last.fm
last.fm
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