Digital Underground

[RoyalPurple]

One Of The Most Underrated & Overlooked Groups Ever!

Shock G Is Underappreciated As A Producer !

Ain´t Nuthin But A D.U. Party, Cuz A D.U. Party Don´t Stop!!

Let´s Discuss !!!

Check Out This Smooth Cut: Digital Underground ft. Mystic-April Showers

[farlnd]

The greatest hits album "No Nose Job" is definitive. It's got all the best mixes. No Nose Job's remix over Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" is just too funky.

[MCNewY0rk]

Yeah DU is a good group. But, tbh they were kinda a fad really. The funky, colorful, hip-hop music scene 89-91' was ending. They could not keep up with the other groups emerging in the 90s. A different sound emerged from groups like; ATCQ, Souls of Mischief, Pharcyde, Camp-Lo, Digable Planets, The Roots etc.

[RoyalPurple]

Yeah DU is a good group. But, tbh they were kinda a fad really. The funky, colorful, hip-hop music scene 89-91' was ending. They could not keep up with the other groups emerging in the 90s. A different sound emerged from groups like; ATCQ, Souls of Mischief, Pharcyde, Camp-Lo, Digable Planets, The Roots etc.

what was the reason that they didn´t keep up/emerge in the 90´s?

great groups u listed there.. esp. souls of mischief & pharcyde ..

tryin to to go off topic but commercial success doesn´t mean dopeness.

[MCNewY0rk]

what was the reason that they didn´t keep up/emerge in the 90´s?

great groups u listed there.. esp. souls of mischief & pharcyde ..

tryin to to go off topic but commercial success doesn´t mean dopeness.

The reason could be Shock G not wanting to departure the funky, Parliament type of sound. The groups I mentioned above really had great debut albums and followed up their success. Shock G's image was a caricature w/ the nose job thing. Hip-hop evolved more into social commentary (ghetto communities, homelessness, street hustling etc) the whole House Party/ 'life is a party' vibe dissolved. Pac out grew DU and surpassed them he was on a different wave length than Shock G & Money B their solo careers were not that successful either.

[RoyalPurple]

The reason could be Shock G not wanting to departure the funky, Parliament type of sound. The groups I mentioned above really had great debut albums and followed up their success. Shock G's image was a caricature w/ the nose job thing. Hip-hop evolved more into social commentary (ghetto communities, homelessness, street hustling etc) the whole House Party/ 'life is a party' vibe dissolved. Pac out grew DU and surpassed them he was on a different wave length than Shock G & Money B their solo careers were not that successful either.

what is (your) definition of "successful"?does it automatically mean "commercial"?

[MCNewY0rk]

what is (your) definition of "successful"?does it automatically mean "commercial"?

The quality of music from DU members was alright. They weren't groundbreaking on their own. As a group they had success. Shock G however is very in tuned musically hooks, melody, songwriting and playing an instrument. But, it did not transform into a successful solo career. I don't know why perhaps he was better in a group atmosphere. Or people could only see him as the DU member.

[RoyalPurple]

The quality of music from DU members was alright. They weren't groundbreaking on their own. As a group they had success. Shock G however is very in tuned musically hooks, melody, songwriting and playing an instrument. But, it did not transform into a successful solo career. I don't know why perhaps he was better in a group atmosphere. Or people could only see him as the DU member.

ok, lemme aks you otherwise:

when does an artist have a "successful career"?i think it leads to "underground" vs. "mainstream"/-"Sales"/"Quality" discussion. just want to hear your opinion what you consider a successful career... another question: can an artist call his/her career successful without the mainstream-wave & sellin out/sales?

[MCNewY0rk]

ok, lemme aks you otherwise:

when does an artist have a "successful career"?i think it leads to "underground" vs. "mainstream"/-"Sales"/"Quality" discussion. just want to hear your opinion what you consider a successful career... another question: can an artist call his/her career successful without the mainstream-wave & sellin out/sales?

Any artist can consider themselves "successful" as long as they are doing what they like the most being creative & putting out material. Shock G I'm sure would consider himself successful artist. I believe his success was with DU when he became solo he fizzled out in my opinion.

I don't know if its because his voice sounds better when its accompanied by another artist. Shock G I'm sure wishes he blew up like Pac as a solo artist but he didn't for the reason that he was not intriguing & did not have the following behind him neither did Money B. They pride themselves on discovering Pac & "giving him the opportunity" but I always wondered where were they when he was incarcerated? Yes, they showed their support in his court casings but...

I've read several books on Pac + DR, documentaries & interviews but I never heard of any of the members financially contributing to his bail money. Perhaps they were broke then DU was not making much money anyway they received a surge in sales after Pac blew up & after death as well. Pac did say he helped DU make money. Shock G's artistry is overshadowed b/c of Pac. In interviews nobody talks about him as a vocalist, arranger or producer. Money B seems to like to gloat about knowing him in every interview + he is affiliated w/ this AEOM mess.

[RoyalPurple]

Any artist can consider themselves "successful" as long as they are doing what they like the most being creative & putting out material. Shock G I'm sure would consider himself successful artist. I believe his success was with DU when he became solo he fizzled out in my opinion.

I don't know if its because his voice sounds better when its accompanied by another artist. Shock G I'm sure wishes he blew up like Pac as a solo artist but he didn't for the reason that he was not intriguing & did not have the following behind him neither did Money B. They pride themselves on discovering Pac & "giving him the opportunity" but I always wondered where were they when he was incarcerated? Yes, they showed their support in his court casings but...

I've read several books on Pac + DR, documentaries & interviews but I never heard of any of the members financially contributing to his bail money. Perhaps they were broke then DU was not making much money anyway they received a surge in sales after Pac blew up & after death as well. Pac did say he helped DU make money. Shock G's artistry is overshadowed b/c of Pac. In interviews nobody talks about him as a vocalist, arranger or producer. Money B seems to like to gloat about knowing him in every interview + he is affiliated w/ this AEOM mess.

it´s crazy when you think that pac "came" from that group, a total opposite of what pac was doing.

[MCNewY0rk]

it´s crazy when you think that pac "came" from that group, a total opposite of what pac was doing.

Not really. Poverty really affected him. Being with DU he had a plan & used it as his ticket out to propel himself. The beat down by the police w/ the members of DU. Inspired some of his music on 2Pacalypse. DU members were still rapping about partying & having a good time. Pac was miles ahead of them.

[RoyalPurple]

Not really. Poverty really affected him. Being with DU he had a plan & used it as his ticket out to propel himself. The beat down by the police w/ the members of DU. Inspired some of his music on 2Pacalypse. DU members were still rapping about partying & having a good time. Pac was miles ahead of them.

all i´m saying is d.u. & pac´s style was different.

d.u. wasn´t gangsta but there was things like being attacked by the police, having dre & eazy-e in their videos & shock g producing "we all in the same gang".. other than that, d.u. was doin their own thing, even at the time west coast was flooded by gangsta rap/g-funk.

[RoyalPurple]

they can be seen as an "alternative" band, no?