After a long hiatus, the old-school rap group Digital Underground are back with "Who Got The Gravy?" The legendary big-nose rapper Humpty Hump, who has been in a Hans Solo-like deep freeze since 1993, has awakened to bring some flavor to the hip-hop world
Their first single, "Wind Me Up," is a welcome relief to the tired hip-hop out there now. As Humpty says in this track, "I’m a tell y’all what’s been missin’ from the rap game… this type of s–t!"
Humpty proves he still has what it takes with inventive lines that only he can come up with. And you can understand most of it, unlike today’s fast-talking, devoid of intonation, no word or line-stressing rappers. A big bass line and plenty of energy top off this single. Esinchill makes a guest appearance which really adds nothing to the single, but this track just can’t be denied, and is the best on the album.
I expected the rest of the album to be comparable, but was somewhat disappointed.
There are too many guest appearances and very few add anything to it. Guest MCs and singers include Mystik, Glee, John Doe, Styles, Whateva, Peanut Hakeen, Truck Turner, Esinchill, Biz-Markie, Money B, Big Pun, KRS-One, Malia Mamou and Rashida Card.
The track "Holla Holiday" has some smooth synthesized sounds and a heavy beat, but the rhymes are so-so. Likewise, "The Mission" is filled with macking and doesn’t come off well.
"The Odd Couple," with Humpty and Biz Markie, had the potential to be a great single, combining two of rap’s premiere comedians, but instead of hamming it up together, they dis each other. The single degenerates into a debate over which city is better, New York or Los Angeles.
The track "Blind Mice" dabbles in politics and current affairs with references to Bill Clinton and police abuse, but is very lackluster. The Gravy has a cool ’70s funk feel with good synthesizer use. Truck Turner is all right and we get a sample of Humpty singing.
The track "April Showers," while sexually oriented, uses poetry and has a beatnik feel to it that works fairly well.
The last track on the album is "Cyber Teeth Tigers," featuring KRS-One and Shock G, and I would say it is the second best track. It provides social commentary and, like "Wind Me Up," has some energy to it. KRS-One chants, "Smiling faces sometimes appear to be your friends," while Shock raps well about the different kinds of smiles people put on.
While I am glad to hear any old school hip-hop in this sea of trash that’s inundating the hip-hop world, this album could have been much better.
Humpty could have performed on more tracks — he’s only on five of them, two of which don’t really count.
Both Humpty and Shock could have rhymed better, like they did on "Wind Me Up" and "Cyber Teeth Tigers."
Instead of sounding so laid-back, ’90s West-Coastish, they should return more to their original sound.
In addition, I think both Humpty and Shock should sing more, considering how good they sound singing on "Wind Me Up" and other tracks on the album.
After listening to the two best tracks on the album it makes me say, "When are you coming with another one Humpty?"
Another one as good as those two, that is.
If you’re a real fan of Digital Underground you might want to get this release, but know that there are only two real keepers.
Otherwise, if you can find the "Wind Me Up" single, I would say buy that instead — and save yourself some cash.
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