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.
No Nose Job
Digital Underground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ruth, send in the next patient
[Chorus x4]
Dodio-doe, there'll be no nose job
Said dodio-doe, no nose job (smarter than that)
[Baby D/Humpty-Hump]
Ain't it about time for you to be bailin out
Of the race and community you come from
Yo, your face has gotta change, Hump!
Ice Cube says you're making more than Donald Trump
So yo, go on and get your nose fixed, Hump
Dr: Sit down
HH: Wait a minute, uh-uh
Dr: Get in the chair
[Humpty-Hump]
Listen, now the black girl wants to get her lip tucked
She says Doc, I want my slim hips so I'm a slim figure
The white girl says my hips are not big enough
And yo, Doc, inject the collagen and make my lips bigger
All of these so-called celebrities
Sellin millions of records and claimin no responsibilities
A young girl sees you on a TV show
She's only six, says "Mama, I don't like my nose!"
Why'd you have to go and mess up the child's head
So you can get another gold waterbed?!
You fakehaircontactwearinliposuction carnival exhibit
Listen to my rhyme, you need to hear it
[Chorus]
[Humpty-Hump]
Uh, and you don't stop, check it
I smell the message from the TV
Does my Humpty nose deceive me?
Smells like the blacker the wacker
Polly wants to be a cracker, if you let her
But see for me, the bigger the nose the better
They say the lighter the righter
Oh yeah?! Well, that's tough
Sometimes I feel I'm not black enough
I'm high yellow, my nose is brown to perfection
And if I was to change it'd be further in that direction
So catch me on the beach, I'll be gettin a tan
Make sure there's no mistake that
Humpty-Hump is from the motherland
Layin in the sun, string bikini
Between the buns of two cuties
Still mackin, there'll be no nose job
[Chorus]
[Baby D]
Come on, Humpty, let's get out of here
Dr: Hi, Humpty. My name is Dr Cook, I'll be handlin your surgery today
HH: Uh, surgery?! Ain't no surgery, said I don't want none
Dr: Yeah, but you're gonna be a big star
HH: Star? Look I'm already a star
Dr: A huge star, kid
HH: y'all don't understand, man
Dr: Big, really big!
HH: So what, I don't want to
Dr: Yeah, get his legs
HH: Put me down, put me down!
Dr: Come on, Humpty, don't worry about a thing, don't worry about it
HH: No, no!
Dr: Calm down, you're going to be fine..
HH: Hey!
Dr: Come on, sedative (sedative)..scalpel (scalpel)
HH: Sedative! Scalpel!
Dr: Knife (knife), Gauze pad (gauze), and gimme a little tape (tape)
Dr: Okay, he'll be alright..don't worry about it
HH: [gibberish]
Nr: You're falling asleep, Mr Humpty..
The song No Nose Job by Digital Underground is a commentary on the pressure put on performers and the public to conform to certain beauty standards. The main character, Humpty-Hump, is approached by someone who tells him that he needs to get a nose job to further his success. Humpty-Hump sees this as a larger issue with society and the way people are judged based on their appearance. The chorus repeats the idea of "no nose job," emphasizing that people should not have to change their appearance to succeed in the music industry or anywhere else.
Humpty-Hump describes the pressure felt by both black and white women to change their appearance by getting lip injections or tucking in their hips. He criticizes celebrities who sell records but take no responsibility for the messages they send to young girls who see them on TV. The character also touches on the issue of colorism, saying that he sometimes feels like he is not "black enough" because of the color of his skin. He affirms that he will not change his appearance and that he is proud of who he is.
Overall, Digital Underground's No Nose Job provides a commentary on the pressure to conform to certain beauty standards, which is still relevant today. The message of the song is that people should not change who they are to fit in with societal norms, and that success should not be based solely on physical appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ruth, send in the next patient
The doctor is calling for the next patient.
Dodio-doe, there'll be no nose job
The artist asserts that he will not undergo rhinoplasty (a nose job), no matter the pressure.
Said dodio-doe, no nose job (smarter than that)
The artist repeats that he is intelligent enough to resist the urge to get a nose job.
People say, yo Humpty, now that your records are sellin',
Ain't it about time for you to be bailin' out?
People are suggesting that the artist leave his community since he is becoming successful.
Of the race and community you come from,
Yo, your face has gotta change, Hump!
People are telling the artist that since he comes from a certain race and community, he needs to alter his appearance.
All of these so-called celebrities
Sellin millions of records and claimin no responsibilities
The artist is commenting on the lack of accountability amongst famous people.
A young girl sees you on a TV show
She's only six, says "Mama, I don't like my nose!"
Why'd you have to go and mess up the child's head
So you can get another gold waterbed?!
Children are negatively affected by the media's portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards in famous people. The artist is criticizing those who manipulate their appearances for material possessions.
Sometimes I feel I'm not black enough,
I'm high yellow, my nose is brown to perfection
And if I was to change it'd be further in that direction
The artist feels pressure to conform to certain standards within his race, but celebrates his unique traits instead of altering them.
Come on, Humpty, let's get out of here
Another character is urging the artist to leave the situation or location they are in.
Uh, surgery?! Ain't no surgery, said I don't want none
The artist is adamant about avoiding surgery to alter his appearance.
Yeah, but you're gonna be a big star
The doctor is trying to convince the artist that surgery will help improve his career.
Sedative! Scalpel! Knife (knife), Gauze pad (gauze), and gimme a little tape (tape)
The doctor is preparing for surgery on the artist to alter his appearance against his will.
Okay, he'll be alright..don't worry about it
The doctor reassures those around him that the artist will be fine after the surgery.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGORY E. JACOBS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mynsinger
RIP Shock G - this track gave all us people around the world with big noses hope growing up
@realnigga804
👃🏻😂😂😂😂
@stickman1373
🤣😐🤣🤣🤣
@shawnjordan657
100%!
@diamondgirl7519
😂
@waynemacomson6448
That's not a pickle.
@54andcounting17
Anyone under 18 should be required to listen to this song everyday.
My Deepest condolences to Shock G and his family. 🌹❤🌹❤🌹❤🌹❤
@maryelizabethca4560
Amen to that 🙏🏼
@acedelete_yt7447
Fr long live shock g
@shawnjordan657
May Shock G./Humpty Hump rest in Heaven/peace/power