"The Danger Zone" Handwritten Lyrics by Greg (Shock-G) Jacobs

This single piece of notebook paper contains the original, handwritten lyrics to “The Danger Zone,” a song written by Shock G in 1989 which also  includes samples from Parliament’s “Flashlight,” Bootsy Collins’s “Bootzilla,” and EPMD’s “You’re a Customer.” “The Danger Zone” was the 7th track on Digital Underground’s debut album Sex Packets. Released in 1990, Sex Packets revitalized hip-hop’s party vibe through funk samples and fun, carefree culture. The album sold over 1 million copies in 1990 which included their biggest hit “The Humpty Dance.” 

Digital Underground is a ’90s Hip-Hop group from Oakland, California. Digital Underground’s Hip-Hop sound was unique compared to other artists and groups as their signature sound incorporated P-Funk from Funk bands of the 1970s, which helped shape their Oakland based Hip-Hop sound. Digital Underground was known for their fun, quirky lyrics and eccentric style. Their founder was Shock G (Gregory Jacobs, 1963-2021) who created the group in 1987 with Chopmaster (Jimi C. Dright, Jr, b. unknown) and Kenny K (Kenneth Waters, b. unknown d. 1994). Money-B (Ronald Brooks, b. 1969), DJ Fuse (David Elliot, b. 1970), Pee-Wee (Ramon Gooden, b. 1970), and Bigg Money Odis (Odis Brackens III, b.1969) were also members, along with a rotating list of others throughout the group’s discography, notably 2Pac (Tupac Amaru Shakur, 1971 - 1996).

What made Digital Underground popular was Shock-G’s alter ego—Humpty Hump—who was a nasally-voiced, overly-energetic ladies man who wears a Groucho Marx nose. Monica Lynch of Tommy Boy Records suggested that Humpty Hump should have his own song, thus “The Humpty Dance” became a hit -single under the Tommy Boy label. The song “The Humpty Dance” debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song was eventually certified platinum in and became a nostalgic ’90s hit. Digital Underground is also notable for launching the career of Tupac Shakur, who was featured on “Same Song.”.