Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling

4325 fans

Ugly Duckling, an American hip‑hop group formed in 1993, consists of rappers Dustin McFarland (Dizzy Dustin) and Rodney Pleasant Jr. (Young Einstein) and vocalist Andy Cooper. The trio met through mutual friends in the mid‑1990s and began crafting music that echoed late‑1980s and early‑1990s rap, favoring sampled drum breaks and live scratching. Their first self‑released cassette, Down The Road, circulated in 1995, building a local following that led to the 1998 independent single "Fresh Mode" on Special Records and a subsequent worldwide distribution deal with 1500/A&M/Universal. In 2001, Ugly Duckling released Journey To Anywhere on 1500/A&M/Universal, followed by Taste the Secret in 2003 on Emperor Norton/Rykodisc. The 2006 album Bang For The Buck appeared on Fat Beats, and Audacity debuted in 2009 on Fat Beats Records. Subsequent releases included the EP Left Behind (2006) and the full‑length Moving at Breakneck Speed (2011) on Special Records. Notable tracks such as "Smack" and "Just A Little Samba" were featured in films, video games, and advertising campaigns, expanding the group’s reach across more than 30 countries. 

Top tracks

05
A Little Samba
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:20
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
01
Fresh Mode (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:47
01
Einstein Do It
Ugly Duckling
Alchemy in Melody
04:15
03
Get On This (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:59
03
Journey to Anywhere
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
04:31
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
02
Now Who's Laughin' (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
02:59
06
Do You Know What I'm Sayin' (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
02:40
05
Everybody C'mon (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:19
08
Eye on the Gold Chain
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:16
03
Meatshake
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
02:43
07
Everything's Alright (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:43
09
Einstein Buys a Monkey
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
06:24
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
14
Rio De Janeiro
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:22
08
We're Here (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:37
03
$100 Weekend
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:13
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
02
Turn It Up
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:57
Writer: Ugly Duckling
02
I Did It Like This
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:12
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
07
If You Wanna Know
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:54
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
18
Do Your Thing
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:10
17
Something's Going Down Tonight (feat. Grand Puba)
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:19
01
Introduckling
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:29
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
14
Oh Yeah
Ugly Duckling
20 years of Hydrofunk
03:54
23
Andy vs. Dizzy
Ugly Duckling
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
02:19
11
Oasis
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:33
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
13
The Breakneck Theme
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
00:56
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
11
Potty Mouth
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:14
19
Another Samba
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
04:01
11
Sprint
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:46
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
04
Einstein's Takin' Off (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:18
16
Goodnight Now
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:00
21
Visions of Grandeur (feat. Double K)
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:45
04
Friday Night
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:19
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
09
Pick Up Lines
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:14
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
08
Mr. Tough Guy
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:03
15
I Wanna Go Home
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:20
07
Anything Can Happen (In the Big City)
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:36
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
10
Run for the Light
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:51
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
05
Shoot Your Shot (feat. People Under The Stairs)
Ugly Duckling
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 8 (Curated by X-Ray Ted)
04:22
Composers: Ugly Duckling
05
I Wonder Where She Is Now
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:15
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
14
Lay It on Ya
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:18
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
12
Homecoming
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
03:59
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
09
Pass It On
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
04:03
04
Elevation
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
03:57
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
06
One-Horse Town
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:20
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
02
Momentum
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:16
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
18
Turn It Up (Refried)
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
07:25
Writer: Ugly Duckling
06
The Pike
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
02:10
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
14
Endless Summer
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:11
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
12
Dizzy
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
02:18
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
16
Cardiff
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
04:22
20
Big Bank Take Little Bank
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
02:07
08
How It Used to Be
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:16
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
13
Down the Road
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:59
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
04
Dumb It Down
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:34
10
Rock on Top
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:48
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
07
The Drive-Thru
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
02:23

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
Moving at Breakneck Speed
2011 Special Records
12-04-2011
Moving at Breakneck Speed
01
Keep Movin'
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
03:53
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
02
Momentum
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:16
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
03
$100 Weekend
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:13
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
04
Elevation
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
03:57
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
05
I Wonder Where She Is Now
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:15
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
06
One-Horse Town
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:20
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant
07
Anything Can Happen (In the Big City)
Ugly Duckling
Moving at Breakneck Speed
04:36
Writer: Andy Cooper - Rodney Pleasant - Dustin McFarland
Access the complete album info (14 songs)
Journey To Anywhere
℗ 2000 Ugly Duckling, manufactured & marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group company
26-09-2000
Journey To Anywhere
01
Introduckling
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:29
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
02
I Did It Like This
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:12
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
03
Journey to Anywhere
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
04:31
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
04
Friday Night
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:19
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
05
A Little Samba
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:20
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
06
The Pike
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
02:10
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
07
If You Wanna Know
Ugly Duckling
Journey To Anywhere
03:54
Writer: Ugly Duckling / Composers: Ugly Duckling
Access the complete album info (21 songs)
Taste The Secret
℗ 2000 Ugly Duckling, Manufactured and marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group company
01-01-2000
Taste The Secret
01
Opening Act
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:55
02
Turn It Up
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:57
Writer: Ugly Duckling
03
Meatshake
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
02:43
04
Dumb It Down
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:34
05
Abigail Silk
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:26
06
Energy Drink
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
03:15
07
The Drive-Thru
Ugly Duckling
Taste The Secret
02:23
Access the complete album info (18 songs)
EPs
Fresh Mode
℗ 1999 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
01-01-1999
Fresh Mode
01
Fresh Mode (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:47
02
Now Who's Laughin' (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
02:59
03
Get On This (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:59
04
Einstein's Takin' Off (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:18
05
Everybody C'mon (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:19
06
Do You Know What I'm Sayin' (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
02:40
07
Everything's Alright (Album Version)
Ugly Duckling
Fresh Mode
03:43
Access the complete album info (8 songs)
Singles
no money no honey phonk (slowed & reverbed)
℗ 2024 DEVIL AARYA Productions
09-12-2024
no money no honey phonk (slowed & reverbed)
01
no money no honey phonk (slowed & reverbed)
Ugly Duckling
no money no honey phonk (slowed & reverbed)
01:29
Composers: Gaurav Pandey
Together
2020 DKG sound
21-06-2020
Together
01
Together
Ugly Duckling
Together
03:19
Writer: 황두희 - 조정인 / Composers: 황두희 - 조정인
02
Together (inst.)
Ugly Duckling
Together
03:19
Composers: 황두희 - 조정인
Thirty
2020 DKG sound
31-01-2020
Thirty
01
Thirty
Ugly Duckling
Thirty
03:07
Writer: 황두희 / Composers: 황두희 - 밀란(Milxn)
02
Thirty (Inst.)
Ugly Duckling
Thirty
03:07
Writer: 황두희 / Composers: 황두희 - 밀란(Milxn)
My Grandmother
2018 DKG sound
24-01-2018
My Grandmother
01
My Grandmother
Ugly Duckling
My Grandmother
04:53
Writer: 황두희 / Composers: 황두희 - 공룡발자국
02
My Grandmother (Instrumental)
Ugly Duckling
My Grandmother
04:53
Composers: 황두희 - 공룡발자국
붙잡길바랬던거니
℗ 2017 DKGsound
22-11-2017
붙잡길바랬던거니
01
붙잡길바랬던거니 (feat. 한지형 & EZ brown)
Ugly Duckling
붙잡길바랬던거니
03:20
Composers: Ugly Duckling
02
붙잡길바랬던거니 Instrumental
Ugly Duckling
붙잡길바랬던거니
03:20
Composers: Ugly Duckling
PROPOSE
℗ 2017 DKGsound
22-06-2017
PROPOSE
01
PROPOSE
Ugly Duckling
PROPOSE
03:53
Composers: Ugly Duckling
02
PROPOSE Instrumental
Ugly Duckling
PROPOSE
03:54
Composers: Ugly Duckling
Featured in
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
Bombstrikes
09-03-2018
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
01
Regulate the Volume Intro
Fort Knox Five
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
00:32
Composers: Stephen Raskin
02
Funk the Rich
Malente
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
03:40
Composers: Christoph Goettsch
03
Thing (Original)
The Fundamentals
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
03:07
Composers: The Fundamentals
04
How Gee
Black Machine
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
04:29
Composers: M. percali - G. Landro
05
Move Your Body (feat. Mustafa Akbar)
Basement Freaks
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
03:22
Composers: Georgios Fotiadis - Larry Holmes
06
Maria Juana (Fort Knox Five Remix)
Empresarios
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
04:22
Composers: Javier Miranda - John Bowen - Paul Chaconas
07
Figure It Out
Slynk
Funk n' Beats, Vol. 4 (Mixed by Fort Knox Five)
04:23
Composers: Evan Chandler - Dave Rollie - Tim Livingstone
Access the complete album info (24 songs)
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
Bombstrikes
29-10-2021
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
01
Shut It Down Intro
Jim Sharp
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
00:38
Composers: Jim Sharp
02
Revive Rap (Jim Sharp Remix) [feat. El Da Sensei]
Sam Krats
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
04:48
Composers: Elliot Williams - Sam Freeman
03
The Man
Jim Sharp
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
03:18
Composers: Jim Sharp
04
Shiznit (feat. Jesse Fischer)
Sly5thAve
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
04:34
Composers: Cordozar Broadus - Andre Young
05
Pure Love (The Nextmen Remix)
Randy Maverick
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
02:45
Composers: Randy Maverick
06
Here We Go Again (feat. Wax, Herbal T & EOM)
Lack Of Afro
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
04:29
Composers: A. Gibbons - M. Jones - C. Jones - D. Carey
07
Get Down
Shaka Loves You
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp)
03:53
Composers: Jamie Attridge
Access the complete album info (23 songs)
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
2019 Fat Beats Records
13-12-2019
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
01
Kraken
Clear Soul Forces
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
03:33
02
Tony's Killers
ILL BILL
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
02:05
03
More Out Of Life
Blu
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
03:54
04
Still Love Her
Masta Ace
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
04:35
05
Snow Remix
Roc Marciano
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
02:48
06
C.R.E.A.M.
El Michels Affair
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
02:54
07
Revolution
Edo G
Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation
03:57
Access the complete album info (25 songs)
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
(P) 2008 Brunljud
01-01-2007
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
01
Intro
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
00:37
Composers: N/A
02
Got It Good
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
03:57
Composers: N/A
03
Toolrap
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
03:42
Composers: N/A
04
Blast off for Kicksville
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
03:31
Composers: N/A
05
Skit
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
01:12
Composers: N/A
06
Superfuture Remix
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
03:59
Composers: N/A
07
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
Speech Defect
Come for da Funeral, Stay for da Food
04:26
Composers: N/A
Access the complete album info (17 songs)
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
Bombstrikes
29-10-2021
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
01
Shut It Down Intro (Mixed)
Jim Sharp
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
00:34
Composers: Jim Sharp
02
Revive Rap (Jim Sharp Remix) [Mixed] [feat. El Da Sensei]
Sam Krats
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
02:34
Composers: Elliot Williams - Sam Freeman
03
The Man (Mixed)
Jim Sharp
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
02:13
Composers: Jim Sharp
04
Shiznit (Mixed) [feat. Jesse Fischer]
Sly5thAve
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
01:49
Composers: Cordozar Broadus - Andre Young
05
Pure Love (The Nextmen Remix) [Mixed]
Randy Maverick
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
01:53
Composers: Randy Maverick
06
Here We Go Again (Mixed) [feat. Wax, Herbal T & EOM]
Lack Of Afro
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
02:44
Composers: A. Gibbons - M. Jones - C. Jones - D. Carey
07
Get Down (Mixed)
Shaka Loves You
Funk N' Beats, Vol. 9 (Curated by Jim Sharp) [DJ Mix]
01:54
Composers: Jamie Attridge
Access the complete album info (22 songs)