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The trio of Andy Cooper, Dizzy Dustin, and Young Einstein have built up a small, but loyal fanbase over the years, with their lighthearted, classically trained brand of hip-hop. Producer Young Einstein propels the group with an endless selection of breaks and samples, changing every few bars or so, always keeping listeners on their toes. Late last year, they quietly released their fifth album, Moving At Breakneck Speed. So quiet, that it slipped under our radar, so here is the better-late-than-never review.


While Bang For You Buck abandoned the concept album formula of Taste The Secret, the group’s latest LP brings it back, even if not as brilliantly realized as an LP built around a fictional fast food restaurant called “Meat Shake”. The concept this time around is that of the mighty Ducks going on a cross-country road trip, while being chased by some faceless cartoon bad guys that want them in prison. This makes for a fun concept, keeping the album, well, moving at breakneck speed.


The album wastes no time getting underway, as both “Keep Movin’” and “Momentum” kick things off with their usual brand of funky break change-ups and old school B-Boy magnetism, leading into “$100 Weekend”, which kicks off the road trip concept. As far as the group’s catalog is concerned, tracks like these are par-for-the-course; fresh if you haven’t heard one of their albums before, yet a bit redundant if you have. The same can be said for higher energy cuts like “Elevation” and “Sprint”, which almost overkill the group’s tried and true formula. Still, as usual, they slow things down a bit with songs like the introspective “I Wonder Where She Is Now” and “How It Used To Be”, and close things out on a somber note with “Endless Summer”.


All in all, Moving At Breakneck Speed, is a fun album that doesn’t stray from the group’s usual formula, and will be shockingly refreshing for first time listeners. Make no mistake, this is of the utmost quality, but like their forefathers that they are so heavily influenced by – De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, The Beastie Boys, etc – they should look at changing things up a bit for future releases.

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3 Responses to "Ugly Duckling – “Moving At Breakneck Speed” – @@@1/2 (Review)"
  • Tommy Jr says:

    Good to see you finally review this CD, Pizzo. I’ve been a longtime fan of Ugly Duckling because of you guys at Hiphopsite, when the store was in Vegas. The CD I picked up was Fresh Mode and Journey to Anywhere.

    This CD is truly amazing. It’s amazing after all these years that Dizzy, Andy C and Young Einstein never go off track. I agree with everything you said in this review, although I always give them 5 mics. Everyone should go cop this CD!!!

  • KC says:

    I didn’t even know this came out. “Taste The Secret” is an underrated gem, as far as I’m concerned. I used to play it in the store I worked in, and we’d sell a copy every time.

  • Dayz says:

    I have loved UD since they first came out. I love their fun loving old school style. They are always on point and this LP delivers the same level of quality as all their other releases. I agree perhaps a change up in their formula would be interesting but what they do they do so damn well. BUY this LP now!

  • Comments (3)

    Tommy Jr

    July 9th, 2012 at 8:17 pm