Digital Underground - Sons of the P

More Parlament Infuenced Tracks (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

After their debut album Sex Packets, Digital Underground comes with their next full length album "Sons Of The P". And as you can tell by the title of this album, expect some Parlament/George Clinton sounding funk all over this album. What I like about D.U. is that they can freak the samples of the group and make it into full length songs. Not many producers can do that so well (maybe Ant Banks). They did it well on their debut album, and they did it well here too.

D.U. has some newer additions to the group. This time they recruited Pee Wee (who would later join Too Short's Dangerous Crew), and 2pac who are heard on "DFLO Shuttle". Shock G., Humpty Hump, Money B, and Fuze, as well as others from the group still did their thing as well. Aside from many sexual songs, the group started rhyming about more social political topics that were popular back in 1991, such as the 5% Nation. "Heartbeat Props" has the group giving props to all of the African-American achievers in the world. With "No Nose Job" is funny track about Humpy Hump not wanting a make over. "Sons Of The P" is one hell of a great track, as it seems kind of spaced out. It's one of those tracks that sounds great, eventhough you have no idea what the hell is going on. Plus the track is about 8 minutes long. I damn near freaked out when I heard "Kiss You Back". That song got mad airplay on the radio back in spring 1992, when I was a kid. Most of the other tracks here are great, to include the final track "Good Thing We're Rapping", which Humpty Hump becomes a pimp and ends up getting into a fight (wraps a poolstick around someones head). The track is long as heck, at 12 minutes, due to a long list of shoutouts which got annoying.

Overall, the second full length LP by D.U. is exceptional. Fans of their previous album should definately pick this one up here. Most of the tracks are long in length, but shouldn't distract you from enjoying this wonderful album. If you can, I also recommend that you check out This Is an EP Release and The Body-Hat Syndrome also excellent albums. Peace.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A
Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Sons Of The P (featuring George Clinton)
2. Kiss You Back
3. Heart Beat Props
4. Tales Of The Funky
5. DFLO Shuttle

Honorable Mention:
1. Family Of The Underground
2. Good Thing We're Rapping January 21, 2008

Criminally Underrated

This album is great. The opening track, DFLO Shuttle, is prestinely infectious and my personal favorite; it calls for the repeat button and that loopy hook will pin-ball in your head all day urging you to call in sick from work and go to the beach.

The lengthy concluding number "Good Thing We're Rappin'" doesn't do much for me. I find it to be too long and it's lack-luster structure strays from what made DU shine. I get the fact that they are paying homage to their love of music and how it has steered them away from another lifestyle, but in the delivery this becomes a mediocre Ice Cube narrative to my ears. Maybe the group was itching to try the "Too " formula... it's not particularly awful, just sort of boring compared to the dizzying heights the rest of the album already took the listener.

I urge any serious music buff to re-visit the music of Digital Underground. I never fully appreciated their excellence until years later when my developed adult ear was capable of acknowledging just how clever, articulate and ahead of their times this group was. There is a sensitive politically conscious human message here. Shock G's charismatic, passionate delivery allows him to make deep statements without sounding preachy, or abrasive- in fact to the contrary he's selectively hilarious and easy to listen to on the whole.

I have yet to find a modern group this confident, creative and fun. Take the shuttle back to DU's early days... it is quite rewarding. February 19, 2007

Slept On Classic from D.U.

DU comes back with the George Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic inspired funk raps.

Top Joints:
Heartbeat Props (Gives props to people while they are alive to enjoy it)
No Nose Job (Cosmetic surgery on wax)
Sons Of The P (The best non-Parliament song you'll ever hear)
Kiss You Back (First single off the album, classic)
Tales Of The Funky (Funky, it Is)
Family Of The Underground (Posse cut featuring the whole crew)
Good Thing We're Rappin' (Shock raps a pool stick around some fool's head)
November 18, 2006

VERY SLEPT ON!

Even the reviewers for this album weren't able to appreciate this album to its fullest. The gold single, "Kiss You Back", was a great song and it once again showcased their stylish jocularity in front of understated funky rhythms. But this album has a couple of diamonds in the ruff that have gone largely unnoticed. First, "Good Thing We're Rappin'" rivals Too Short for creator of one of the most Pimpinest (yes its a word) hip hop songs in the 90s. It helps that 2Pac, one of the best ever, introduces the song. It chronicles the days and times in the life of a west coast pimp, with the taste for the material, the disdain for disrespectful, and the "I don't love them hos...", and the wonderful humor attitude that Snoop Dogg adorned on Doggystyle, all while maintaining their essentially light hearted flavor.

But the best song on this album, which barely receives mention is "Sons of the P". In my book, this song ranks as one of the funkiest hip hop songs ever...that's right, EVER. I think it deserves this status for several reasons. One, they were able to do so much in this song without it sounding overdone, overproduced, maintaining the funk, which is at its core. Two, the beats AND the lyrics were funky, in the P-Funk, free-your-mind-and-your-(butt)-will-follow sense. Here's a sample, "we're pulling down the pants to your mind/this time/we'll make love to you're intellect/the people in control are working very hard to keep your natural desires in check". Three, the song is in the funk anthem tradition, spanning 9 minutes, plus they make you feel like the song should not have ended a second sooner. Fourth, they were the perfect group to pull this off, with their funk base, comical approach, and their willingness to sacrifice album sales and commerical appeal for creativity and substance. This is truly an ode to the gods of funk. Clinton even hands the reigns of the funk over to them...the seal of approval. PLEASE GIVE THIS SONG A LISTEN! see for yourself. They are truly the "Sons of the P". January 5, 2003

tales of the funky

oh yeah digital underground are funky and has some tight p funk influenced beats george clinton himself sings on sons of the P matter of fact the whole cd is dedicated to the p funk the jam tales of the funky proves it where shorty b on the mic giving props to the whole parliament-funkadelic crew. ... November 2, 2002

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