The Body-Hat Syndrome is the third full-length studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on October 5, 1993, via Tommy Boy Records. The album was produced by the D-Flow Production Squad. It peaked at number 79 on the Billboard 200 and number 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
The album saw rappers Saafir and Clee were added to the line-up. The opening song, "The Return of the Crazy One", which sampled Parliament's "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)", was released on September 21, 1993, as the lead single before the album's release, and peaked at number 77 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album's second single, an anti-racism cultural awareness politico called "Wussup Wit the Luv", which features a guitar solo from the Funkadelic guitarist Michael Hampton and a verse from 2Pac, made it to number 99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Music videos were released for both of the album's singles. This was the last time 2Pac appeared on a Digital Underground studio album, despite Future Rhythm being recorded entirely before his death in 1996. The album also contains "The Humpty Dance Awards", the group's humorous shout-out to the many artists who sampled "The Humpty Dance" before 1993. Since then the list has grown to over 50 artists.
Critical reception
The Boston Globe called The Body-Hat Syndrome one of 1993's best hip hop albums. Trouser Press wrote: "Musically, Digital Underground is back at the top of its game, but conceptually the group is sounding the retreat".
Track listing
Sample credits Track 1 sampled "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" performed by Parliament. Track 3 sampled "Holly Wants to Go to California" performed by Funkadelic. Track 7 sampled "Colour Me Funky" and "Trombipulation" performed by Parliament. Track 10 sampled "Computer Love" performed by Zapp. Track 16 sampled "Funkentelechy" performed by Parliament. Track 20 sampled "The Freeze" performed by Parliament.
Notes Tracks 1, 5, 6, 12, 14, 16 and 17 features Shock G's alter ego Humpty Hump. Tracks 5, 7 and 20 are omitted from all the cassette versions of the album. The "Special Italian Vinyl Version" of the album, which is the only LP version containing the original picture sleeve and comic insert.
Personnel
Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs — vocals, keyboards, turntables, programming, producer, arranger, art direction, illustrations, layout Ronald "Money-B" Brooks — vocals Reggie "Saafir" Gibson — vocals Cleveland "Clee" Askew — vocals Tupac "2Pac" Shakur — vocals (track 9) Michael "Dirty-Red" Boston — vocals (track 18) Earl "Schmoovy-Schmoov" Cook — vocals (track 20) David "DJ Fuze" Elliot — keyboards, turntables, programming Jeremy "Jay-Z" Jackson — additional vocals, keyboards, turntables, programming Ramone "Pee-Wee" Gooden — additional vocals Descaro "Mack Mone" Moore — additional vocals Shirley "Shassiah" Tabor — additional vocals Ronald "Omar" Everett — additional vocals Toby "T-Love" Holton — additional vocals Ronvell Sharper — additional vocals Gwen Everett — additional vocals Kim Morgan — additional vocals Michael Hampton — lead guitar (track 9) Mark "Mark Sexx" Skeete — additional vocals Shawn "The Shah" Trone — additional vocals Gary "Mudbone" Cooper — additional vocals Garry Shider — additional vocals D-Love — additional vocals O.B. — additional vocals Michael Denten — recording & mixing Darrin Harris — recording & mixing Steve Counter — recording & mixing Mark Slagle — recording & mixing Matt Kelley — recording & mixing Bob Morse — recording & mixing Renwick Smith Curry — engineering Malcolm Sherwood — engineering Jeff Gray — engineering Ken Lee — mastering Erwin Gorostiza — art direction, layout Mark Weinberg — design
Charts Chart (1993) Peak position
References
External links