Being heavily influenced by old school hip hop, they conform to the original basics of rap music; turntablism and MCing. Their DJ, Young Einstein, forms the backbone of the group; he is renowned for performing very complex scratches both on the record and live, unlike in most modern rap where the DJ has been pushed to the back in order to emphasize the MC. He is also the owner of a famous 'Dookie Gold Chain' which is the subject of the groups song 'Eye On The Gold Chain' and is donned by Einstein during most live performances of the track. They are renowned for their live shows in which they perform various antics on stage and interact with the crowd getting them very hyped and affording them the reputation as brilliant live performers.
Their song Smack was featured on Tony Hawk's Project 8, In game and also as skater Paul Rodriguez Jr.'s Footage Soundtrack.
In 2012 group member Dizzy Dustin appeared on UK Hip Hop artist Ricta's debut album Snacks & Deception.
www.uglyduckling.us/
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Slow the Flow
Ugly Duckling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your stopped in gridlock and you're berserk
Put in overtime 5 days a week
Pullin' out your hair for stress relief
But you gotta compete so you get no sleep,
You want the good life but it don't come cheap
Climbin to the top of the totem pole,
You'll fall and break your neck man slow the flow
Now I'm from southern California
Home of the laid back
We don't go lookin' for a needle in a haystack
And I say that
In a subdued mood
Kick it on the beach, eat a little mexican food
But you, I understand,
What's the rush?
All flushed
Mad like you missed the bus
Another one's comin' in about ten minutes
Man you don't gotta push yourself to the limit
[Chorus]:
Slow the flow, relax your mind
Gain control, take your time
Slow the flow, relax your mind,
Gain control, take your time
Forget about the weekdays,
Ready for the weekend
Bring your swimtrunks and jump into the deepend
Stop
For a minute or two
And take a look at the view
I guarantee you'll see something new
We only have two seasons; summer and spring
So rock your flip flops and your cutoff jeans
If you live in Long Beach then you know that I mean
California dreamin' where it's all routine
A situation comes that so soon is past
And you'll catch whiplash movin' so
Quick fast
(fast, fast, fast)
You're looking for satisfaction; mistaken again
King solomons said it like chasin the wind,
You need to slow down start takin' it in.
[Chorus]
The song 'Slow the Flow' by Ugly Duckling combines rap and hip-hop beats, delivering a message that challenges the typical hectic lifestyle people lead, encouraging them to slow down and take everything in. The song starts by referencing a typical day where the character is running late for work and is stuck in traffic, leading to stress and burnout. The lyrics advise taking things slow and relaxing the mind to gain control over life. Working overtime every day, attempting to achieve that perfect life, can be exhausting, and ultimately lead to failure. Climbing the totem pole can become dangerous if one doesn't slow down their work.
The message conveyed through the song critiques the stereotypical American lifestyle. The laid back culture of Southern California is pointed out, where people don't stress as much about the little things in life. Taking a break, eating Mexican food on the beach, and enjoying life as it comes is something that should be adopted instead of racing towards that hollow ideal. The lyrics reference Long Beach and how the place represents California Dreamin' where life is all about routine. It's essential to slow down and take a moment to appreciate the things around us; even a situation that passes quickly can catch us off guard.
Line by Line Meaning
It's half past 8 and you're late for work
You are running late for work and it's making you anxious
Your stopped in gridlock and you're berserk
You are stuck in traffic and it's driving you crazy
Put in overtime 5 days a week
You work long hours every day of the week
Pullin' out your hair for stress relief
You are so stressed that you are literally pulling out your hair
But you gotta compete so you get no sleep,
You feel like you have to work hard to compete, so you aren't getting enough sleep
You want the good life but it don't come cheap
You want to live a good life, but it's expensive
Climbin to the top of the totem pole,
You are working hard to climb the career ladder
You'll fall and break your neck man slow the flow
If you continue to rush, you will burn out and it will be detrimental to your health
Now I'm from southern California
The singer is from Southern California
Home of the laid back
People in Southern California are generally relaxed and carefree
We don't go lookin' for a needle in a haystack
People in Southern California don't stress themselves out by searching exhaustively for something
And I say that
The singer is expressing their opinion
In a subdued mood
The singer is speaking calmly and quietly
Kick it on the beach, eat a little mexican food
In Southern California, people enjoy spending time at the beach and eating Mexican food
But you, I understand,
The singer understands that you are different
What's the rush?
The singer is questioning why you are in a hurry
All flushed
You are agitated
Mad like you missed the bus
You are angry and frustrated, like you missed a bus
Another one's comin' in about ten minutes
There will be another opportunity for you soon
Man you don't gotta push yourself to the limit
You don't need to push yourself too hard
Slow the flow, relax your mind
Take it easy and calm down
Gain control, take your time
Get control of your emotions, take it slow
Forget about the weekdays
Don't think about work
Ready for the weekend
You are looking forward to the weekend
Bring your swimtrunks and jump into the deepend
Get ready to swim and have fun
Stop
Take a break
For a minute or two
Take a short break
And take a look at the view
Look at your surroundings and appreciate them
I guarantee you'll see something new
You might discover something new
We only have two seasons; summer and spring
The climate is consistently warm in Southern California
So rock your flip flops and your cutoff jeans
Wear comfortable, casual clothing
If you live in Long Beach then you know that I mean
People who live in Long Beach, CA will understand what the singer is talking about
California dreamin' where it's all routine
Life in Southern California can feel like a dream, but it can also become a routine
A situation comes that so soon is past
Opportunities can be fleeting
And you'll catch whiplash movin' so
If you move too quickly, you may get whiplash
Quick fast
Very quickly
(fast, fast, fast)
Repetition for emphasis
You're looking for satisfaction; mistaken again
You are searching for satisfaction, but you won't find it by rushing
King solomons said it like chasin the wind,
It's like chasing something that you can't catch
You need to slow down start takin' it in.
You need to take a step back and enjoy the moment
Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris T
I've been a fan of these dudes for.a long time. It's a shame they never caught on more.
ULTRAPROELITE
it is so good to hear tracks like this are still being pump'd out ... da'shit!!!!
Mari Rodrigo
Year 2022 and I still love this song
david balman
Liked these guys from their first album came out. Only just realised they have lots of videos. Loving it. Proper hip hop.
Youtube OG Since 06'
I wish I knew people in my town who liked this music. I need some real friends who dont listen to mainstream garbage.
carlottaermandez
How you doing 10 years on? :D
ovwarrior
@carlottaermandez lol yeah did it happen?
Donald Duck
@carlottaermandez no he started mainstream to don't get an outlaw
Michael Deckelman
the beat's pretty repetitive. but still a million times better than the shit they play on the radio now. these are the guys that need to be played over 3 different stations at once. maybe our generation wouldn't be degrading so quickly if they weren't forced to have role-models who are in and out of jail all the time for just being stupid.
Lizeth Sarabia
The chorus of this highly underrated jam is my mantra 🤍