Shock-G could probably be called DU's center, their driving force, along with his Humpty Hump alter-ego. DJ Fuze, Money B, Schmoovy Schmoov, Chopmaster J, were some of the group's main members, and they were joined by many friends on their albums over the years.
Their third single, The Humpty Dance, from their 1990 debut album called Sex Packets, was their biggest commercial hit. It helped Sex Packets go platinum by the end of the year. Tupac Shakur (then simply 2Pac) got his start with the Underground's second release, 1991's This Is An EP Release. He went on to quite an impressive solo career. Sons Of The P was released later that year, a full-length album with even heavier P-Funk influence abound. This album would go gold, with help from its biggest single, Kiss You Back. 1993 would see the release of The Body-Hat Syndrome, as well as a big shift in the hip hop world towards the previously mentioned Dr. Dre's G-funk style of 'gangsta rap' music. This shift would see a decline in Digital Underground's fan base, and it would take three years and a record label switch before we would see the return of the Underground, with Future Rhythm in 1996. It barely lasted three weeks on the charts. Rather surprising, since this album had a number of very strong songs, such as Oregano Flow, Walk Real Kool, and Food Fight. And 1998 would bring us the last official Digital Underground album, Who Got The Gravy?, which also has many very strong tunes. Also some well-known guests, including KRS One, Big Pun, and Biz Markie. Wind Me Up, The Mission, and Holla Holiday are among its strengths. They would release The Lost Files in 1999, a collection of tracks that were previously unreleased, sounding as strong as any of their albums.
That would bring an end to the Underground, as it was. One might guess that poor promotion may have been the reason behind their demise, they certainly released some very strong material. Shock-G returned as a solo artist in 2004 with Fear Of A Mixed Planet, reprising his Humpty Hump character on some tracks.
They still regroup and tour as Digital Underground as recent as 2005/6.
Arguin' on the Funk
Digital Underground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Humpty Hump:
Yeah! Yo, shock, this a funky groove, man, it's kind of funky...
Shock G:
You think so? I appreciate that, Hump.
But, yo, player, how come you and Money B decided to call it, why did y'all name it "Rhymin' on the Funk?" You know what I'm sayin'?
Shock G:
Well--
Humpty Hump:
I mean, like, alright, the beat is funk, and y'all was rappin' over it, so obviously you rhymin' on the funk, you know what I'm sayin'?
Shock G:
Yeah, that's what I'm sayin--
Humpty Hump:
So why would you even name a song like that, it's obviously rhymin' on the funk, it's like you not tryin' to be creative at--
Shock G:
Yo, Humpty, man, if you want me to answer your question, you gotta cool out and listen. alright?
Humpty Hump:
Uh-huh.
Shock G:
Yo, I just named it "Rhymin' on the Funk," we kinda, we decided to call it that, because we know the beat's funky and everything, but it, it--
Humpty Hump:
Ooh, dig it!
Shock G:
Listen! Just listen! It goes beyond that! The beat's funky, but we wanted to let people know where the real funk came from, we didn't mean funk as in "funky beats," we meant funk as in the Funk Mob, you know what I'm sayin'--
Humpty Hump:
Oh, Funk Mob?
Shock G:
Yeah.
Humpty Hump:
What the hell is the funk mob, bunch a brothers go take a bath? Ha, ha.
Shock G:
No, no. Humpty, listen, man. Sometimes you act real dumb, you kow what I'm sayin'?
Humpty Hump:
Oh, come on!
Shock G:
Funk Mob is like, you know, all the new def producers who's doin' the fly beats now, like the Lynch Mob, the Bomb Squad, PMD, Dr. Dre-- they droppin' all the hype new stuff, the hip-hop stuff, the Funk Mob was the old production crew, man, you know what I'm sayin'? The Funk Mob is Parliament, Funkadelic, Brides of Funkenstein, Freddie Wesley and the Horny Horns, George Clinton, and Bootsy Collins, you know what I'm sayin'? Those kind of people.
Humpty Hump:
Yo, I know, I know all of them brothats, man--
Shock G:
They laid the groundwork, man, we gotta give it up.
Humpty Hump:
Man, I know all of them, Bootsy and George Clinton and them, but what I'm tryin' to say, is it ain't really like that a new thing, man, the new stuff is DJ's and samplers and things, ya got people like me sayin' "Stop what'cha doin'"--
Shock G:
They laid the groundwork--
Humpty Hump:
--you know what I'm sayin'?
Shcok G:
Naw.
Humpty Dance:
--it's a new thing, it ain't nothin' like you tryin' to back there, the--
Shock G:
Alright, Humpty, be quiet, man, listen--
Humpty Hump:
Pffft you can be quiet, man--
Shock G:
--all the hip-hop stuff we doin' now is BASED on what these brothas did-- James Brown, all of these people--
Humpty Hump:
I know that, Shock--
Shock G:
--you got to give credit where credit is due, you know what I'm sayin?
Humpty Hump:
I know this, man, yo, yo, yo, I'm givin' credit, man, I'm givin' credit, all I'm tryin' to say--
Shock G:
No! You're not, though.
Humpty Hump:
See, you makin' me upset, man!
Shock G:
You're not givin' credit, though!
Humpty Hump:
All I'm tryin' to say is that it's cool, man, but it ain't like the newer stuff, man, I ain't from that time period, and I don't understand all of that, and it ain't all that,
Shock G:
So what? You don't have to be, yo, you don't have to be from that time period to understand-, you know what I'm sayin'-
Humpty Hump:
It's some of that!
Shock G:
Nuh-uh, it's all of that!
Humpty Hump:
Psssh, aw, man--
Shock G:
"Not Just Knee Deep," Humpty!
Humpty Hump:
Oh, uh, I didn't know the Funk Mob made "Not Just Knee Deep." Aw, man!
Shock G:
Well, that's what it is! You ain't even up on nothin', you ain't even up on--
Humpty Hump:
Alright, man, shut up--
Shock G:
You ain't up on nothin!
Shock G:
Why don't you just--
Humpty Hump:
Alright, it's MOST of that!
Shock G:
Huh?
Humpty Hump:
(Humpty is walking away from the microphone and says something barely audible) Man, I'm sick of this--
Shock G:
Aw, naw, man, I heard you, you said its "Most of that." Alright, cool, man, you finally gave it up, though!
Humpty Hump:
Leave me alone, Shock! Leave me alone!
The song "Arguin' on the Funk" by Digital Underground is a conversation between Shock G and Humpty Hump about the name of their song "Rhymin' on the Funk." Humpty questions the name of the song, stating that it is obvious they are rapping over a funky beat, so why would they name it that way. Shock G explains that the name represents the Funk Mob, referring to the originators of funk music like Parliament, Funkadelic, George Clinton, and Bootsy Collins, and their influence on modern hip-hop music. The conversation becomes heated as Humpty defends the newer style of hip-hop and Shock G insists on giving credit to the pioneers of funk.
The lyrics provide an insightful commentary on the origins of hip-hop and the influence of funk music, highlighting the importance of recognizing and respecting the history and roots of the genre. It also sheds light on the tension and disagreements that can arise within artistic communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah! Yo, shock, this a funky groove, man, it's kind of funky...
Humpty Hump acknowledges that the beat is funky and appreciates Shock G for producing it.
You think so? I appreciate that, Hump.
Shock G responds to Humpty Hump's compliment and expresses gratitude.
But, yo, player, how come you and Money B decided to call it, why did y'all name it "Rhymin' on the Funk?"
Humpty Hump asks Shock G why they named the song "Rhymin' on the Funk."
Well--
Shock G begins to answer Humpty Hump's question but is interrupted.
I mean, like, alright, the beat is funk, and y'all was rappin' over it, so obviously you rhymin' on the funk, you know what I'm sayin'?
Humpty Hump points out the obvious that the song is called "Rhymin' on the Funk" because they were indeed rapping over a funky beat.
Yeah, that's what I'm sayin--
Shock G agrees with Humpty Hump's observation.
Yo, Humpty, man, if you want me to answer your question, you gotta cool out and listen. alright?
Shock G tells Humpty Hump to calm down and listen if he wants an answer to his question.
Ooh, dig it!
Humpty Hump expresses enthusiasm to hear Shock G's explanation.
Listen! Just listen! It goes beyond that! The beat's funky, but we wanted to let people know where the real funk came from, we didn't mean funk as in "funky beats," we meant funk as in the Funk Mob, you know what I'm sayin'--
Shock G explains that while the beat is funky, the song is actually meant to honor the Funk Mob, a group of influential funk artists.
Oh, Funk Mob?
Humpty Hump expresses curiosity about the Funk Mob.
They laid the groundwork, man, we gotta give it up.
Shock G acknowledges the contributions made by the Funk Mob and believes they deserve recognition.
Man, I know all of them, Bootsy and George Clinton and them, but what I'm tryin' to say, is it ain't really like that a new thing, man, the new stuff is DJ's and samplers and things, ya got people like me sayin' "Stop what'cha doin'"--
Humpty Hump reiterates his perspective that while he understands the influence of the Funk Mob, he believes that the new generation of DJs and samplers are responsible for the current state of music.
You're not givin' credit, though!
Shock G challenges Humpty Hump's belief that he is giving credit to the Funk Mob.
Well, that's what it is! You ain't even up on nothin', you ain't even up on--
Shock G is frustrated with Humpty Hump's lack of knowledge about the Funk Mob.
Man, I'm sick of this--
Humpty Hump expresses frustration and begins to walk away from the microphone.
Aw, naw, man, I heard you, you said its "Most of that." Alright, cool, man, you finally gave it up, though!
Shock G hears what Humpty Hump said and is relieved that he finally recognizes the influence of the Funk Mob.
Leave me alone, Shock! Leave me alone!
Humpty Hump tells Shock G to leave him alone and ends the conversation.
Contributed by Micah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mr. O
When I was a kid listening to this I didn't know Humpty and Shock were the same person because of songs like this. 😳
R.I.P. Shock G, Humpty Hump, and 2 Pac
nemo bush
Funkier than a old batch of collard greens . Thanks for this upload 🤓🙏
Craig Smith II
Shock G basically arguing with himself LMAO
Kenya Swain aka south boy
👍
G ROC
SHOCK G R.I.P 🙏😔
David Rivera
THIS IS MY CLASSIC SHIT WHY LIE R.I.P !!!! TRUE LEGEND GONE TOO SOON AND SOOO YOUNG SO 😢!!
ROCKNROLLFAN
They should have kept that loop @ 3:41 going throughout the whole argument. Now, that would have been FUNKY.
Kevin Jordan
RIP Shock....
Jay
This is Genius ❗️
Neosoulgroovydude
Definitely a funk argument