This Is an EP Release is the first extended play by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on January 15, 1991 through TNT Recordings and Tommy Boy Records. Production was handled by Digital Underground themselves. The EP peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was certified gold on March 18, 1991 by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 units.

This Is an EP Release
EP by
ReleasedJanuary 15, 1991 (1991-01-15)
Recorded1990
Genre
Length33:09
LabelTommy Boy
ProducerDigital Underground
Digital Underground chronology
Sex Packets
(1990)
This Is an EP Release
(1991)
Sons of the P
(1991)
Singles from This Is an EP Release
  1. "Same Song"
    Released: January 6, 1991
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90sA-[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
RapReviews8/10[5]

It's single "Same Song" made it to number 61 on the Radio Songs and number 15 on the Dance Club Songs charts in the United States. Both "Same Song" and "Tie the Knot" off of the EP were included in the soundtrack to 1991 comedy horror film Valkenvania. The album marks the expansion of the group with the debuts of 2Pac and Big Money Odis.

A music video for "Same Song" uses new footage from cast members from the film Nothing but Trouble, as well as clips from the film. Dan Aykroyd appears portraying a Scottish bagpipe artist, as well as a Los Angeles gang member, 2Pac portrayed an African king, while Dr. Dre and Eazy-E make cameo appearances. "Tie the Knot" contained jazz-influenced piano tracks and a comedic interpretation of "Bridal Chorus".

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Same Song" (featuring 2Pac)6:29
2."Tie the Knot"Jacobs3:13
3."The Way We Swing (Remix)" (featuring 2Pac)4:58
4."Nuttin' Nis Funky"9:41
5."Packet Man" (Worth a Packet Remix)4:58
6."Arguin' On the Funk"
3:50
Total length:33:09
Sample credits
  • Track 1 contains a sample taken from "Theme to the Black Hole" by Parliament.
  • Track 2 is based on copyrighted adaptation of Lohengrin's "the Wedding March".
  • Track 5 contains samples from the song "Foreplay" by Fred Wesley and The Horny Horns.
Notes
  • Shock G appears as his alter ego Humpty Hump on all songs, except track 3, on which he appears as MC Blowfish.

Personnel

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  • Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs — vocals, organ solo & synthesizer (track 1), acoustic piano & drum programming (track 2), sample arrangements (tracks: 1, 3), producer
  • Ronald "Money-B" Brooks — vocals (tracks: 1–3, 6), producer
  • Tupac "2Pac" Shakur — vocals (tracks: 1, 3)
  • Earl "Schmoovy-Schmoov" Cook — vocals (tracks: 1, 4)
  • Kent Racker — vocals (track 2)
  • "Bigg Money Odis" Brackens III — vocals (track 4)
  • David "DJ Fuze" Elliot — turntables (tracks: 4, 6), producer
  • Christopher John "CJ" Mackintosh — re-mixing (track 5)
  • Atron Gregory — executive producer

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Cook, Stephen. "This Is an EP Release - Digital Underground | Album |". AllMusic. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG: Digital Underground". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved April 2, 2024 – via www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Bernard, James (March 8, 1991). "This Is an E.P. Release". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Hunt, Dennis (March 3, 1991). "In Brief:". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Wallace, Emanuel (July 28, 2009). "Digital Underground :: This Is An EP Release :: Tommy Boy Records". www.rapreviews.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Digital Underground – This Is An EP Release". Recording Industry Association of America.
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