Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling is a US hip hop group from Long Beach, California, active since 1993. The trio consists of Dizzy Dustin, Young Einstein and Andy Cooper. Their music sits within alternative hip hop and draws on old school performers and scenes such as the Zulu Nation and the Native Tongues Posse.

Style and approach

The group’s songs often treat hip hop as music made for fun, and they frequently parody the gangster rap image that dominates the mainstream. Tracks such as “A Little Samba” and “Smack” take aim at exaggerated displays of wealth, including expensive cars, pet sharks and private jets to Bermuda. Their work also reflects older rap fundamentals, with an emphasis on turntablism and MCing.

Young Einstein’s DJ work forms a central part of the group’s sound. He is known for complex scratching both on record and in live performance, and he keeps the DJ role prominent rather than pushing it into the background. He also owns a distinctive “Dookie Gold Chain”, which becomes the focus of the song “Eye On The Gold Chain” and is worn by him during most live performances of that track.

Live performance and other appearances

Ugly Duckling has a reputation for energetic live shows, with stage antics and frequent crowd interaction. Their track “Smack” appears in Tony Hawk’s Project 8 and is also used in skater Paul Rodriguez Jr.’s footage soundtrack. In 2012, Dizzy Dustin appears on UK hip hop artist Ricta’s debut album Snacks & Deception.