Few are still unfamiliar with the Ducks' humble beginnings. Ugly Duckling had the questionable fortune of forming in late 1993, at the height of the "G-Funk" era. As the gangsta stylings bred in UD's native Long Beach conquered the country, Andy, Dizzy and Young Einstein set off a battle of a distinctly different sort: a four-year struggle to get anyone to listen to their music. In 1997, they released the independent 12" single "Fresh Mode," which actually put the Duckling on the underground hip hop map, they followed this up with a superb 7 track EP in 1999 called Fresh mode which was an EP of quality old school jazzy Hip-Hop, it was only then that people started to sit up & take notice. They then followed with todays offering of their Debut album "Journey to Anywhere".
"Journey to Anywhere" is an album full of B-Boy bravado and if you can't nod your head somewhere in the midst of the 14 tracks on this album you might need to re-evaluate how Hip-Hop you really are. From funky, crunchy old school loops ("Eye On The Gold Chain") to unquestionable party starters ("Rock On Top"), the U.D. know how to create a fun atmosphere in their songs. Whether you're a club DJ or just entertaining guests tracks they provide something for everyone - hard-rock to soft-boiled.
Sparked off with "Introduckling", a simple yet effective combo of beats and rhymes. "I Did It Like That" continues with a steadfast track only intensified by the group's sharpness through the beat's considerable amount of change ups. "Rock On Top" scores as another party winner as does the Pharcyde sounding "Pick up Line" both tunes highlights on this album as the marriage of subtle vibes and bubbling drums uplift the rhymes of Dizzy and Andy to the pinnacle of what they're best at - moving the crowd. Heads might scream for more substance, and while the fellas drop a few seemingly subdued verses in "Oasis" and "Journey To Anywhere" (although re-recorded from the version The Funky Precedent Compilation), the real gems are in the straight up party joints, so just chill and like the album closer let the UD simply "Lay It You". BEY TO ANYWHERE
Ugly Duckling's JOURNEY TO ANYWHERE is simply a fine debut. And worthy though it may be of such high acclaim and expectations, it's likely to take the slow and steady route to world domination. Seriously, we're talking months, possibly even a year. On Journey to Anywhere UD are trying to make this artform fun again & this could well be a touchstone along the route to a new era of hip-hop, one which is currently nurturing the emergence of interesting and creative new forces-not to mention the resurgence of classic artists and styles from rap's early days. If so, thank you Ugly Duckling... or at least good luck.