Sons of the P
Second studio album by Digital Underground, released in 1991.
https://www.amazon.com/Sons-P-Digital-Underground/dp/B000000HIJ · via Wikipedia: Sons of the P · Fair use
Digital Underground's second album, *Sons of the P*, dropped on October 15, 1991, through Tommy Boy Records. The Underground Production Squad handled production, with recording sessions at Starlight Sound in Richmond and additional work in New York, Tampa, and Detroit. Guest appearances came from George Clinton, Stretch, and Treach. The album hit No. 44 on the Billboard 200 and No. 23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, earning a Gold certification from the RIAA on April 9, 1992, for 500,000 copies sold.
The lead single, "Kiss You Back," peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 13 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and No. 5 on Hot Rap Songs, going Gold on March 5, 1992. It featured layered choruses and background vocals from Boni Boyer, who had recently worked with Prince's band. The second single, "No Nose Job," didn't chart on the Hot 100 but reached No. 28 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 27 on Hot Rap Songs. George Clinton contributed vocals and writing to the title track, marking one of his earliest hip-hop guest spots, following only Kurtis Blow's 1986 track "Magilla Gorilla."
Critical reception was positive. *Musician* praised its "fat, spacious grooves" and noted that "funk serves as a truth ray." *Q* gave three stars, citing "booty-shifting basslines" and "engagingly daft lyrics." Robert Christgau highlighted "The DFLO Shuffle" and "Kiss You Back," writing that "you can't wear out the cosmic slop." In retrospect, RapReviews' DJ Fatboy called it "the more worthwhile offering" than *Sex Packets*, stating it "still stands as the best effort Digital Underground ever put on wax."
The album samples several Funkadelic tracks—"Freak of the Week" on track 2, "(Not Just) Knee Deep" on track 6, and "One Nation Under a Groove" on track 7—as well as Sly and the Family Stone's "Family Affair" on track 9.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Digital Underground
- Released
- 1991-10-15
- Recorded
- 1991
- Studio
- Starlight Sound (Richmond, CA) · Unique Recording (New York, NY) · Axiom Recorders (Tampa, FL) · The Disc Ltd. (Detroit, MI)
- Genre
- West Coast hip hop
- Label
- Tommy Boy
- Producer
- The Underground Production Squad
- Prev Title
- This Is an EP Release
- Next Title
- The Body-Hat Syndrome
- Next Year
- 1993
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The recording sessions for Sons of the P took place at Starlight Sound in Richmond, with additional recordings at Unique Recording Studios in New York, Axiom Recorders in Tampa, and The Disc Ltd. in Detroit. The album's lead single, 'Kiss You Back', reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on Hot Rap Songs, receiving Gold status by the RIAA on March 5, 1992. The song featured multi-layered choruses and background vocals sung by Boni Boyer, who briefly worked with D.U. after her stint with Prince's Sign o' the Times/Lovesexy band. The second single, 'No Nose Job', did not reach the Billboard Hot 100 but charted at No. 28 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 27 on Hot Rap Songs. George Clinton contributed vocals to the title track, marking one of his earliest studio guest appearances on a hip hop release, preceded only by Kurtis Blow's 1986 song 'Magilla Gorilla'.
Reader's Guide
Sons of the P stands as a significant release in Digital Underground's discography, noted for its funk-infused hip hop sound. Critical reception was mixed to positive: Musician praised its 'fat, spacious grooves' and use of funk as a 'truth ray,' while Q gave it 3 out of 5 stars, citing 'booty-shifting basslines' and 'engagingly daft lyrics.' Robert Christgau highlighted songs 'The DFLO Shuffle' and 'Kiss You Back.' In retrospective reviews, DJ Fatboy of RapReviews called it 'the best effort Digital Underground ever put on wax,' stating it 'expands and goes deeper than its predecessor.' The album samples several Funkadelic tracks and one by Sly and the Family Stone, reflecting its deep funk roots. Its commercial performance—peaking at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 and achieving Gold certification—underscores its moderate success within the early 1990s hip hop landscape.
Did You Know?
- The album was produced by the Underground Production Squad.
- George Clinton contributed vocals to the title track, one of his earliest hip hop guest appearances.
- The lead single 'Kiss You Back' was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 5, 1992.
- The album contains samples of Funkadelic songs including 'Freak of the Week' and '(Not Just) Knee Deep'.
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