Digital Underground

June 27 - July 4, 1 9 9 6
[Off the Record]

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**1/2 Digital Underground

FUTURE RHYTHM

(Radikal/Critique)

Dr. Dre and Co. use their fair share of Parliament-Funkadelic samples, but the folks at Death Row don't have the knack for George Clinton's sophisticated wackiness. Digital Underground appeared on the rap scene with "Humpty Dance" (1990) and have proven themselves to be P-Funk's rightful heirs. They take on not only the sound of '70s funk but also Parliament's cartoonish sci-fi sensibilities.

And like Clinton, Digital Underground are inconsistent. On Future Rhythm they pick up where they left off with The Body-Hat Syndrome (1993) -- it's nowhere near as enjoyable as their early releases Sex Packets and This Is an E.P. Release EP (1991), but it's miles above the thoroughly dull Sons of the P (1991). The album's early tracks, "Walk Real Kool" and "Oregano Flow," combine smooth grooves with harmonious and catchy wordplay. Later on, the music gets clunky and nondescript. Fortunately, the humor sustains itself. But the funniest element is the CD booklet; it features descriptions of silly, horny computer games including "Infant Food Fight" and "Choose from over 200 multi-colored asses (rich to poor, dark to light) to see which ones don't stank when dey poot."

-- Mark Bazer