Address:
237 W. 42nd St. (7-8 Aves.)
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-997-4144
Website: www.bbkingblues.com
Description: Digital Underground is an alternative rap group from Oakland, California. Although the band has seen a steadily rotating cast throughout its career, its leader has always been Greg "Shock G" Jacobs (also known as Humpty Hump). Shock G formed Digital Underground in 1987 with Jimi "Chopmaster J" Dright of Berkeley, California, and Tampa hip-hop radio DJ Kenneth "Kenny-K" Waters. The band built most of its music from Parliament-Funkadelic samples and developed a similarly weird sense of style and humor, highlighted by Shock G's outrageous costumes and the whole band's parade of alter egos. This distinctive style set the band apart from the prevailing hardcore and gangsta rap sounds of the late '80s and early '90s. Following the release of the "Doowutchyalike" single and video in the summer of 1989, Digital Underground's popularity skyrocketed with the release of "The Humpty Dance," off the band's debut album Sex Packets (1990). The success of this single pushed the album to platinum status by the end of the year. This is an EP Release (1991), the group's second album, launched the career of noted emcee Tupak Shakur. 1991 also saw the release of the gold-selling album Sons of The P, which featured the hit single "Kiss You Back." Subsequent releases included The Body-Hat Syndrome (1993), Future Rhythm (1996), and Who Got the Gravy? (1998). Digital Underground toured almost every year from 1990 until 2008, performing hundreds of live shows in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the U.S. Although Shock G and Ron "Money B" Brooks appeared on every album during the band's tenure, various characters and voices from around the U.S. have made guest appearances, including David "DJ Fuze" Elliott and Jeremy "J-Beats" Jackson. The group's latest studio effort and first release in 10 years, Cuz a D.U. Party Don't Stop!, dropped in May 2008. Continuing the tradition of the band's previous releases, the disc featured newcomers Element, Young Fifth, Liz Suwandi, and Choice Cuts.
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