San Fransico, CA – Jimi “Chopmaster J” Dright, co-founder of the iconic hip hop group Digital Underground (DU), is extending his musical legacy with his label imprints, Herb n Soul Media and Digital Dope Music Group.  The veteran musician along with his son S.O.T.U. (Son of the Underground) and his band, D.U.Nx.G. (Digital Underground Next Generation) are simultaneously releasing four singles via their deal with Intercept Music, a worldwide, leading, technology-driven independent music distribution and marketing company. “Spirit” and “Something About You” are the two releases from the “ChopMaster J Body Of Works” project and the singles “Whistle” and “Move” are from the upcoming new Digital Underground featuring DUNxG album, “Evolution.” In addition, the father and son duo are hosting a new podcast, “Like Father Life Fun.”  

The “Evolution” endeavor marks an important footnote for Chopmaster J. For the first time in over 20 years, Chopmaster J will be officially releasing new Digital Underground music.  Digital Underground, one of the first hip-hop bands, included members Money B, DJ Fuze, and an 18-year-old Tupac Amaru Shakur, who Jimi is credited with discovering. The group’s rise to fame in the early ’90s featured hits like “Doowutchyalike,” “Freaks of the Industry,” “Same Song,” and “Kiss You Back.” In addition, his upcoming album “ChopMaster J Body Of Works” will mark decades of his musical contributions to pop and hip hop culture.

“Intercept Music like Digital Underground has deep history in the Bay Area. My personal music roots started here. Jimi and his bandmate Shock G, as the founders of Digital Underground, were an integral component of the area’s music scene and helped launch an international fan base for the Bay’s cultural happenings.  Independent music and hip hop go hand and hand, and this venture is a great intermingling of the two.  Jimi alongside his son S.O.T.U. represent generations of legacy,” expressed Ralph Tashjian, chairman of Intercept Music.

“Something About You” and “Spirit” will both be accompanied by videos.  “Spirit,” originally featured on the “Boyz in the Hood” soundtrack, boasts the Bay Area’s own Tramaine Hawkins and The Interfaith Gospel Choir alongside guest artist Dave Hollister and is being positioned as an official song for the city of Oakland.  The “Something About You” video features Dave Hollister with a cameo appearance by Chopmaster J’s late bandmate Gregory Edward Jacobs, better known as Shock G or Humpty Hump.

“At times it’s been a serious uphill battle maintaining a hold on my music.  I’m extremely happy with the support Intercept Music has provided me.  Their marketing and distribution platform makes is easy for an older artist like me to merge seamlessly back into today’s quickly evolving music scene.  Working alongside my son, S.O.T.U. has been an added blessing,” cites Chopmaster J.

“My dad has always included me in his musical journey. As a kid, I remember his DU studio sessions.  DUNxG is the next generation of Digital Underground and our music continues to elevate the highest of good vibrations,” adds S.O.T.U., son of Chopmaster J and lead member of DUNxG. 

“Like Father Like Fun,” hosted by Pantheon Media, can be heard on all podcast platforms and viewed on YouTube at @OfficialChopmasterJ.

Groove to the four single releases across all streaming platforms at:

Chopmaster J – “Spirit” Feat. Dave Hollister & Tramaine Hawkins with The Interfaith Gospel Choir: 

ChopMaster J – “Something About Ya” featuring Dave Hollister: 

DUNxG – “Whistle”:  

DUNxG – “MOVE”: 

San Francisco, CA – While the country is engaged in an intense presidential campaign, musical mastermind and Digital Underground cofounder Jimi “Chopmaster J” Dright, aka “Big Brutha Soul,” is determined to infuse the landscape with love and joy for a brighter future. Having just survived a triple threat health scare, Chopmaster J is claiming what he calls his ‘bonus round’ of life. The hip-hop legend has partnered with Intercept Music for worldwide distribution of his vast music catalog and is releasing a tribute album, The Kamala Album, in celebration of his fifth-grade classmate, VP Kamala Harris, on the heels of what he hopes is her historical win as the first woman president of the United States.  The Kamala Album is a powerfully potent selection of ten songs from Chopmaster J’s musical library, with the first release, “Alright,” serving as an uplifting sign of the times.

“The Kamala Album marks an unbelievable turning point for me personally, as well as for the nation at large. VP Kamala Harris and I attended Franklin Elementary School and were classmates in the fifth grade. I grew up and made an impact on the culture with music, while she impacted politics and is now running for the highest office in the land. Couple that with the fact that, after having survived an almost deadly fall, triple bypass surgery, and a near death experience, I am now reuniting with a longtime industry friend, Ralph Tashjian, and partnering with his company, Intercept Music. The added detail that VP Harris, Tashjian, and I all share Bay Area roots is sweetly serendipitous to me. I am honestly embracing a new lease on life, as I feel our nation is, with the opportunity to vote the first Black woman president into office!” notes Chopmaster J. “Accompanying The Kamala Album is a roll-out of “A Girl Named Kamala” merchandise celebrating my phenomenal classmate.”

“Chopmaster J and I go back to pre-Digital Underground days. I have watched him evolve into an incredible artist. His music archives include collaborations with artists like George Clinton, Dave Hollister, 2Pac’s first recordings, as well as new music projects from his son S.O.T.U. and his band, D.U.Nx.G (Digital Underground Next Generation).  I’m very excited about the The Kamala Album project and believe it is a major contribution to the culture!” offers Ralph Tashjian, chairman of Intercept Music.

“Intercept Music takes pride in offering independent artists an unheralded digital platform with software and services that are unmatched in the industry. The music industry is a rapidly changing landscape and often, beyond the creative endeavor of making the music, artists are overwhelmed by the many additional duties it takes to get their art to their fans. At Intercept Music, we consider ourselves their supportive home base. We welcome Chopmaster J and look forward to unleashing all the magic that he brings to our table,” notes Tod Turner, CEO of Intercept Music.

The Kamala Album is a vibrant, Bay Area nuanced embodiment of promise, unity, hope, healing, and yes, effervescent joy.  Song titles include “What’s It Gonna Be?” “Over & Over,” “Berkeley Sunday,” “Moon Dotted Colored Rainbows,” “Alright.” “EWTBL,” “Spirit,” “Reprise,” “Pick & Choose,“ “And The People Say.” Each track segues with snippets from VP Harris’ speeches.  Also, the previously unreleased version of the gospel-tinged “Spirit,” originally featured on the Boyz In The Hood soundtrack, boasts the Bay Area’s own Tramaine Hawkins and The Interfaith Gospel Choir alongside guest artist Dave Hollister. 

Check out the A Girl Named Kamala merchandise.

Tune in to Chopmaster J’s weekly podcast, “The Chop Shop,” on Pantheon Podcasts.

“The Humpty Dance” is the second single from Digital Underground’s first album, Sex Packets. Shock G produced the thick whirling beat using three samples of songs by Sly and The Family Stone and Parliament plus a kick drum, snares, bass, guitar, and hi-hats. George Clinton’s Sirnosedevoidofunk alter ego inspired Shock G’s Humpty Hump character. Sir Nose had a big nose and was in distress about being forced to dance. Humpty’s backstory was that Edward Ellington Humphrey III was the lead singer of the group Smooth Eddie and the Humpers who became a rapper after somehow burning his nose in an accident with a deep fryer, hence the fake nose. Humpty Hump is a ladies’ man, and the whole song is about his encounters with various women, most famously one he met in a Burger King restroom. Shock G not only wrote, produced, and performed the song, but he also drew the artwork for all of their releases. Digital Underground was another bridge between funk and hip-hop that was made easier thanks to George Clinton’s early understanding and acceptance of sampling and hip-hop. Tupac Shakur made one of his earliest public appearances in the background of the hilarious video. 

“The Humpty Dance” updated those grooves for Gen X, who had a seamless understanding of Digital Underground because they had grown up listening to Clinton on the radio. P-Funk’s profound influence on West Coast hip-hop was being shown in contrast to New York rap, which relied more on soul samples. The single charted well, making No. 1 on the Rap Singles chart, Top Ten on the R&B chart, and Top 40 on the pop chart, but despite its heavy popularity and influence it was not nominated for any awards.  Today, “The Humpty Dance” is celebrated as one of the most creative and eminent songs in hip-hop and of the era. Artists have sampled “The Humpty Dance” over 100 times in other songs and Shock G’s left-field approach to hip-hop is a precursor to California rap weirdo Tyler, The Creator. Shock G’s The Piano Man album of solo piano improvisations was posthumously released on TNT Recordings after his 2021 passing.