Ugly Duckling (hip hop group)
Ugly Duckling | |
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Background information | |
Origin | United States |
Genres | Alternative hip hop, underground hip hop, jazz rap |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | XL Recordings Fat Beats Emperor Norton/Rykodisc 1500/A&M/Universal Records |
Members | Andy Cooper Dizzy Dustin Young Einstein |
Website | www.uglyduckling.us |
Ugly Duckling is an American hip hop group that formed around 1993. Ugly Duckling's members include Dizzy Dustin (Dustin McFarland), Young Einstein (Rodney Pleasant Jr.) and Andy Cooper.[1] The band decided to take the name Ugly Duckling because they felt like outcasts in the hip hop scene of the mid-1990s.[1] According to the book How to Rap: the Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, it is one of the most prominent underground hip hop groups.[2]
History
Each of the member of the group. Dizzy, Einstein and Andy met each other through mutual friends and eventually began creating and performing music together.
In 1995, the group self-released its first album Down The Road on cassette, which was sent as promo copies to radio stations and began to build a local following. The original promos came from a rainbow pack of tapes and differ in color.[3] In 1998, they independently released their debut 12 single "Fresh Mode" on their own Special Records imprint[4] which was licensed and eventually distributed worldwide and led to the band getting its first record deal with 1500/A&M/Universal.[5]
Musical style
The group's style is primarily a throwback to the kind of hip hop popular in the late 1980s and early ’90s. It uses samples (particularly
In live shows, the group's
Ugly Duckling's music songs often incorporate themes such as love, forgiveness, and rejection of worldly values. Some songs include lyrics pertaining to the biblical end times while others express fondness for simple pleasures such as sleep and food. They frequently use language reminiscent of early hip hop hyperbole, where the primary goal of lyrics was to brag and self promote in an exaggerated and often humorous fashion.
Influences
Ugly Duckling is influenced by a variety of artists including everything from
Appearances in media
Their song "Smack" is featured in
Ugly Duckling provides the intro music for Australian radio duo
The group's music featured extensively in the BBC sitcom
The song "Einstein Do It" is used in the preview trailer for the 2021 game Riders Republic.
The songs “Audacity, Pts 1 & 2”, “Bang for the Buck”, “Left Behind”, “Lower the Boom”, and “Oh Yeah” were also featured on the in-game soundtrack for the game Riders Republic.
Discography
Albums
- Journey to Anywhere (1500/A&M/Universal Records, 2001)
- Taste the Secret (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc Records, 2003)
- Combo Meal: Taste The Secret/The Leftovers EP (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc, 2004)
- Bang for the Buck (Fat Beats, 11 April 2006)
- The Best Of (Handcuts, 2006)
- Audacity (Fat Beats Records, 2009)
- Moving at Breakneck Speed (Special Records, 2011)
EPs
- Fresh Mode (originally released on Bad Magic Records, 20 April 1999, Cat. No: MAGICCD1. Re-released on 1500/A&M/Interscope/Universal Records)
- The Leftovers EP(Earshot, 2003)
Singles
- "Fresh Mode" (Special Records, 1998)
- "Everybody, C'mon" (1500/A&M/Interscope/Universal Records, 1999)
- "Now Who's Laughin'" (1500/A&M/Interscope/Universal Records, 1999)
- "I Did it Like This" (XL Recordings & Emperor Norton/Rykodisc, 2000)
- "A Little Samba" (XL Recordings and Emperor Norton/Rykodisc, 2001) #70 UK
- "A Little Samba" (remixes) (XL Recordings and Emperor Norton/Rykodisc, 2001)
- "Eye on the Gold Chain" (XL Recordings and Emperor Norton/Rykodisc, 2001)
- "Eye on the Gold Chain" (remixes) (XL Recordings, 2001)
- "Dumb it Down" (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc Records, 2003)
- "Pass it On" (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc Records, 2003)
- "Rio de Janeiro" (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc Records, 2003)
- "Turn it Up" (Emperor Norton/Rykodisc Records, 2003)
- "Get Ready" (2004)
- "Yudee!" (Fat Beats, 2005)
- "Smack" (Fat Beats, 2006)
- "Left Behind" (Fat Beats, 2006)
- "Left Behind" (Wichita Mix) (Fat Beats, 2006)
References
- ^ AllMusic
- ^ a b Edwards, Paul. (2009) How to Rap: the Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 316.
- ^ "Ugly Duckling - Down The Road". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "Ugly Duckling - Fresh Mode". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "Ugly Duckling - Fresh Mode". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ AllMusic
External links
- Official website
- Ugly Duckling at MySpace
- Discography at Discogs.com
- Interview on GermanRhymes.de