Digital Underground - Future Rhythm

Step Outside Of The Box {4.5 Stars}

Some will say this is hip hop, but I think this kind of music borrows from too many genres (funk, hip hop, r&b, etc...) to fit into one box. This is what I would call a "fan album" and it may alienate the pop fans that fell in love with smash hits like "Humpty Dance", "Doowutchyalike" or "Kiss You Back". This album is a lot more stripped down and focused. There are plenty of bouncy, feel good tracks, but they're done in a more mellow, laid back way than their previous stuff. And even though this LP came out in '96, it still sounds fresh 10 years later.

As far as flaws, there are a few snoozers due the abundance of laid back cuts. The title track (Future Rhythm) is mellow and funky, but the lack of direction may have your head nodding -- as you fall asleep. The same could be said for "Hokis Pokis (A Classic Case)" and "Hella Bump". The rest of the album flows pretty well after you get past these snoozers.

Future Rhythm may be the least popular of the DU albums, but it's probably the most cohesive album in their catalogue and that makes for a real treat for their hardcore audience. If you're on the fence when it comes to DU, then you may want to pass on this and check for their earlier releases -- the funk may be too strong for you. If you're a fan this album should quickly be added to the collection. Two thumbs up.

Standout Tracks: Midnite Snack, Food Fight feat. Del The Funkee Homosapien, Oregano Flow [Gumbo Soup Mix], Glooty-Us-Mazimus (My Favorite), Want It All, Fool Get A Clue feat. The Black Spooks, We Got More feat. The Luniz, and Oregano Flow [Hot Sauce Mix], Walk Real Kool September 7, 2006

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I'm a big of Digital Underground and I just gotta say that I felt probably some of these tracks. It's a fun album, no doubt but I just didn't feel all that was coming from it.

If you're a Digital Underground fan you'll definitely like this but personally I prefer their older albums though I'll still keep looking up for their latest albums, which apparently there's already one to come out this year.

There's alot of Shock G keyboarding works here you'll notice which is pretty smooth to some or just a sleeper to others. It's got good amount of features including Del tha Funkee Homosapien in Food Fight (hard to notice though). But, nonetheless a pretty good album. April 3, 2005

Best yet

DU has always been my favorite rap act. I long ago grew bored with hip-hop and soapbox posturing about hos and bling and all that.
That being said, this is a genius album from a rap connoiseur's rap group. Probably better even than Sex Packets, which is a mighty bold statement. This is your standard DU mix of social commentary and gleeful irreverance, but this one was a little better than the rest. The beats are innovative and orignal. We Got More and Hella Bump being extremely unconventional, fusing in Middle Eastern influences. There's only one track I skip on the whole CD and that's after years of listening to it. Amazing. I have no idea how this managed to stay out of the mainstream. Could be it didn't toe the line when compared to all the ultra-conformist formula rap that was out at the time. If you are a DU fan of even modest proportions you should pick this up. February 23, 2005

i want it all

this is your hip hop fix....it's everything you want...real blunted.....silly, mad hip hop.....i'm not gonna get all academic in this piece, lord knows i've done that to death...but after listening to this slept on d.u. album...that would be in very poor taste..beats for days...give it a listen....I love the song want it all--a jeremiad to duality....describes how we all feel sometimes(at least me) October 13, 2002

D.U.'s greatest album...

"Future Rhythm" still stands as digital underground's best album (which is saying a lot--they never put out a less than incredible album), as well as one of the most slept-on hiphop albums ever.

Shock-G (a.k.a. Humpty Hump, aka MC Blowfish, aka The Piano Man, aka Peanut Hakeem Anafu Washington...etc) reigns as the most multi-talented MC in hiphop history: he raps (as himself and numerous hilarious characters), he sings, he plays slick piano as The Piano Man ("Future Rhythm" esp. highlights his piano skills), he creates beats, and he draws (check out his artwork on the covers & in the liner notes of their albums, and go to ShockG.com to view his comic strip "*holes"... very hilarious stuff). Name another MC who can do all that... quick, you have 5 seconds... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... see, you can't do it, BECAUSE NO OTHER MC CAN DO ALL THAT. Shock-Geesus reigns supreme...

In the early 90s, years before Dre was sporting Funkadelic shirts in his videos, digital underground brought P-Funk to the forefront of hiphop culture. With their brilliant usage of sampling, they reworked Parliament's "Let's Play House" into the smash hit "The Humpty Dance"... and created a new generation of funkateers. If it wasn't for digital underground, I wouldn't be the funkateer I am today...

Every hiphop enthusiast should own a copy of "Future Rhythm." Featuring slick rhymes & singing, synthesized electronic futuristic bumpin beats, a hilarious Money-B skit about Humpty's sister "Rumpty Rump," and a Del the Funky Homosapien cameo, this albums also stands as one of the greatest love-makin' albums of all time...

And if you've already got all of digital underground's mainstream releases, check out Money-B.com to get a copy of "The Lost Files"... May 20, 2002

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