[.ca] Future Rhythm

They've Got More:
Although Digital Underground's "Future Rhythm" was received with tepid critical reviews and has experienced little popular success, it has become one of my favorite hip-hop albums. Granted, the album, DU's fifth, continues the tradition of P-funk inspired beats and kinky, goofy lyrics, but the album is more consistent than even the classic "Sex Packets." The beats are spaced-out and quirky, zooming and bouncing from left to right, and the vocals assume a laid-back, sing-song style that rolls over these future rhythms. "We've Got More" may be the album's best song: Shock-G and guests The Loonies drolly chant over an infectious, Indian beat. Other highlights include "Organo Flow" and the goofy "Food Fight," appropriately featuring the flubbery voice of Del the Funky Homosapien. Most noticeably, the album lacks the burlesque party songs that comprise DU's biggest hits. There is no equivalent of "Doowatchalike," "The Humpty Dance," or "The Return of the Crazy One." While this may have translated into poor sales, the absence of such a song is not a detriment. On the contrary, the album has an integral mellow vibe that would have been otherwise disrupted. Though I hesitate to call an album "mature" when some of its notable topics are public nudity, food fights, and kinky sex, the tight production of "Future Rhythm" makes it an album as good, if not better than "Sex Packets." Maybe "Future Rhythm" was released at the wrong time in 1996 - at the height of gangster rap, and also the year another underrated, decidedly un-gangster album was released (Del's similarly titled "Future Development" ) - but it warrants a listen by any fan of Digital Underground's music.

So this is what it feels like to smoke crack:
This is not a hip hop. This is music. It can't even be labeled and put in box. Pure extacy. I've never used drugs but listening to this album is probably the closest I'll ever know what it feels like to smoke crack.

Hip Hop Classic:
I have been a digital underground fan since Sex Packets came out almost 15 years ago. I have all their albums, including Lost Files. That said, this is not only DU's best album *by far*, it's also one of the great hiphop albums of all time. Rather than relying heavily on samples, most of Future Rhythm is strictly DU's creation. Shock G's keyboard work can be found throughout the album, most especially on the instrumentals "Hokis Pokis" and "Midnite Snack." His electric synthesizer has a futuristic, jazz fusion sound. He really hits some seriously funky, slurring notes. "Gluteus-Maximus" and "Hella Bump" are funky jams. "Stylin" has some of Shock's most soulful rapping and lyrics: "Like Billie Holiday I got a thang for them dope notes, singin makin words swing slangin soul like Po Folks -- I'm stayin away from all the overworked notes, Im missin em like prostitutes in heels & fur coats..." "Food Fight" is a collaboration between Del and Humpty. "Rumpty Rump" is a hysterical skit featuring Money-B telling Shock over the answer machine they need to get a girl in the band with a big fake plastic booty and call her Rumpty Rump. "Want it All" is their most transcendent & joyous song ever. They got the yes-saying spirit, they want to experience everything life has to offer. If you want some current DU, check out Cypher 7's "Has Not Been Diluted" EP, which has Shock G production, and Murs' song "Risky Business" which has a Humpty cameo. And check out Shock-G.com for Shock's crazy cartoons...

Future Rhythm (Sex Packets Part 2)...:
For anyone who likes songs with strange meaning in them, I reccomend any of D.U's albums! I also reccomend albums from...OutKast & GoodieMob. they have the same type of oddness that makes them such catchy groups! God Bless America! Peace & Humptyness 4 eva! Dave...a.k.a. another freak of the industry!

BAY AREA HIP HOP AT IT"S BEST!!:
This album takes hip hop and funk to a whole new level,the lyrics are all very well laid down there comical,make sense,fun and plain dope!the beats are also crazy they have all kinds of nutty beats that provide tight soundscapes for the wacky lyrics,this album also features a bunch of other great bay area hip hop artists such as Del the funky homosapien and the Luniz.

• Walk Real Kool - Digital Underground, , Shock-G,
• Glooty-Us-Maximus - Digital Underground, , , Money-B, Saafir, Shock-G,
• Oregano Flow \oGumbo Soup Mix\c - Digital Underground, Shock-G
• Fool Get a Clue - Digital Underground, , , Shock-G
• Rumpty Rump - Digital Underground, Money-B
• Food Fight - Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Digital Underground,
• Future Rhythm - Digital Underground, , Mac-Mone
• Hokis Pokis (A Classic Case) - Digital Underground, , The Piano-Man
• We Got More - Digital Underground, , Shock-G, Yukmouth
• Hella Bump - Digital Underground, , Shock-G
• Stylin' - Digital Underground, , Shock, Tyranny
• Midnite Snack - Digital Underground, The Piano-Man
• Oregano Flow \oHot Sauce Mix\c - Digital Underground, Shock-G
• Want It All - Digital Underground