FFS is this 2021's new normal where a Rapper dies every Friday? R.I.P to Shock G AKA Humpty Hump AKA Piano Man AKA MC Blowfish AKA The Packet Man AKA Rackadelic AKA the musical genius who did think with his penis. Half the Rap eccentricities Kool Keith brags he invented, Shock G has a more legitimate claim to, and, as I recently realised, Humpty Hump even pioneered Hyphy. It seems like Digital Underground have been shunted into the margins of Rap history but this shouldn't come as a surprise - any Rappers who dare to display a sense of humour get deemed "non lyrical" and end up derided as glorified novelty acts no matter how great their music is.
Well, fuk the history books and anyone who wrote 'em because Digital Underground's first album and follow-up EP are God-tier Rap music, and Shock was a true genius Rapper/producer/dancer auteur. A man of many talents, he even bodied a couple 80's Hollywood comedy legends in their own movie, somehow coaxed a good remix out of CJ Mackintosh, and transformed a forgettable Prince single into Prince's last great song. Pop a Sex Packet for the Funk Mob Extraordinaire who originated sock puppeting on wax. Oh, how we'll forever love to bump thee.
The Apollo: officially more receptive to Digital Underground than Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince!
Anyone who disses Digital Underground disses themself.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P.
Very sad news. Cherish the oddballs while they're still around. Support the eccentrics while they can feel the benefit. Appreciate the Whimsical today and leave keeping it real for tomorrow. RIP. Without Shock G there'd be no Homeboy Sandman, Open Mike Eagle, Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt nor any of these latterday "Alternative" Hip Hop acts. Shock G was going out on a creative limb decades before every other rapper was a blue-haired bisexual lean addict.
ReplyDeleteBravo 👏
ReplyDeleteNice wee tribute RIP
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute. I feel that second album was good but obviously not touching the first.
ReplyDelete2nd album has its moments but it was a disappointment after the 1st + the EP imho.
ReplyDelete3rd album was much better but I didn't end up checking that out until the very late 90s.
"Future Rhythm" has some crazy production on it.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Only got hip to Digital Underground way late, but I liked his music a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm also showing love to The Way We Swing, Gutfest '89 and The Danger Zone, besides the already mentioned songs.
Watching the video clips from Arsenio and the Apollo I REALLY wish I coulda seen Digital Underground live back in the early 90s. Looked like they put on an incredible live show.
ReplyDeleteSons of The P was crazy dope, only disappointment was it was like 9 songs
ReplyDeleter.i.p. :(
Sex Packets, Bodyhat Syndrome, Who got the Gravy and Fear of a mixed planet are all boss albums. Sons of the P and Future Rhythm have a couple jams on em but are meh overall.
ReplyDeleteShock G's production credits were pretty impressive also with So many Tears by 2pac and Broke Ho's by the Luniz being two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteSex Packets (the song) and Sons Of The P (the song) are some of the best 'no rappin' songs by rappers imo.
ReplyDeleteHmm I’ll relisten to who got the gravy but I thought beats were way better on future rhythm
ReplyDelete2Pac's Fuck The World too.
ReplyDeleteSpeakin' of Shock and The Luniz, We Got More is like a proto-Timbaland bhangra banger innit?
Digital Underground demo!
ReplyDelete^^ this demo is p much all money b so maybe it's raw fusion demo and the og uploader labeled it incorrectly?
ReplyDeleteRight, I was listening to it like "where's Shock?"
ReplyDeletefuture rhythm >>> who got the gravy
ReplyDeleteBiggest loss.
ReplyDeleteOregano Flow best song ever
ReplyDeleteHe freaked the Loose Ends sample crazy on that.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/cg6uTLKihqY Not sure if Shock produced it but this has always been one of my favorite songs.
ReplyDeleteI assume he did.
ReplyDeletefound this perusing shock g's soundcloud after he passed... wasn't sure if i was down to post a song called "used to be a sperm" on the inernert but 1 year later i know this to be undeniable !!! RIP the legend
ReplyDeletehttps://soundcloud.com/shockg-music/used-to-be-a-sperm
**Prodigy voice** this is reality rap, we really went through it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Shock making a Bobby Digital song 😄