(Los Angeles, CA. August 12, 2004) – 33rd Street Records announces the release of Shock G’s first independent album ‘Fear of a Mixed Planet’ due in stores October 12, 2004. Rapper, producer, musician, cartoonist Shock-G is the mastermind behind platinum group Digital Underground.
‘Fear of a Mixed Planet’ is Shock-G’s long-awaited solo debut. It draws on his 15 years of funk experience at the helm of Digital Underground even as it explores radical new terrain. Fans of DU will appreciate a strong crew presence. Long-time partners-in-rhyme Money B & Humpty Hump turn up for the EPMD-fueled funkfest “Weesom Hustlas” while Numskull of the Luniz
expresses his comically controversial point of view on “My Opinion.” Yukmouth
lays down a definitive autobiographical rap on “Holmedown Up,” which also
features Java & 5th Element, as well as the return of Clev MC, who debuted
as a kid on Sons of the P.
Using the solo project as license for total creative freedom, Shock G has
crafted the most distinctive & personal album of his career, ambitious in
its rethinking of the musical & lyrical possibilities of hip hop. On
“Cinnamon Waves” Shock conjures up an authentic world-weariness well beyond
the reach of today’s blinged-out emcees, in the form of a wistful letter to
an ex-lover, while on “Who’s Clean”, Shock propounds a positive spiritual
philosophy of the essential unity of the human race & speaks out against the
misogyny so often taken for granted in hip hop.
“Now more than ever,” Shock says, “with almost all emcees on the same
subject matter & viewpoint, it’s especially necessary to lift the human
spirit & break the monotony of continuous, increasingly bleak, negative or
desperate songs & topics; and to also break the chain of constant blatant
reality. The human mind also thrives & prospers from fantasy & hope.
Perhaps ‘Fear of a Mixed Planet’ is an intermission from the front line
& a visit to the recreation tent.”
In addition to 2pac, Shock has brought up a considerable amount of talent
through DU, including the Luniz, Saafir, & Mystic. In 1995, Shock appeared
on the Bay Area anthem “I Got 5 on It”, alongside the Luniz, Richie Rich,
Spice1, E-40, & Dru Down. He has also produced & recorded with such acts as
Murs, DJ Quik, George Clinton, & Prince.
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.
