Damn The Shit I Do For A Free Hamburger...

Fat Cat Bigga Fish - The Coup
Gettin Down At The Amphitheatre - Common
What A Way To Go Out - Souls Of Mischief
International Zone Coaster - L.O.N.S.

Back in effect for Tuesday, April 5th 2005 with some 90's funk infused hip hop for the masses. I wanted to say thanks to those of you who hit me back on the comments/email about our new look, keep on funkin'! Over the next few weeks, we'll be adding new features to the blog in hopes that we can reach as many people as possible. If you guys know of some blogs/sites that I should be checking out/linking up, let me know so that we can add them. Muchos Tacos.
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The Coup were one of the most overtly political bands in rap history. Formed in the early '90s, the Coup were obviously influenced by the black power rhetoric of "conscious" rappers like Public Enemy and KRS-One, but they were perhaps even more inspired by a heavy-duty, leftist reading list that included Marx and Mao. Lead rapper/producer Boots (born Raymond Riley) was involved in political activism long before he was a musician; his fervent dedication to social change was the overriding influence on every Coup album. Second rapper E-Roc and DJ Pam the Funkstress rounded out the trio. Released in 1993, the Coup's debut album, Kill My Landlord, was a highly charged blend of leftist resistance and '70s funk. If it had been released a mere four or five years earlier, the highly politicized Kill My Landlord might have gained the Coup nationwide notoriety and platinum album sales. As it was, gangsta rap was all the rage, and Kill My Landlord achieved only moderate sales but nearly unanimous critical acclaim. A year later, the Coup's follow-up, Genocide & Juice, continued their agenda of sociopolitical insubordination. Not surprisingly, the Coup again received more support from critics than the record buying public. The next several years saw the Coup go through career-threatening changes. They ended their association with their label, Wild Pitch, and suspended their activity as a band. With the band dormant, Boots went to work for a shipping company but continued his political activism. Among other endeavors, he headed the Young Comrades, a group of social activists whose activities included storming the Oakland City Council. Boots' rap partner, E-Roc, left the group, and Pam continued her DJing. In 1998, the Coup, now a duo of Boots and Pam, resurfaced on the Bay Area independent label Dogday. The result: Steal This Album. Party Music, the Coup's fourth studio effort, was issued in November 2001. (taken from artistdirect.com)

I've personally been a fan of Boots & Pam The Funkstress since I first got the "Kill My Landlord" tape from my man John Chinn back in 9th grade. The unique and overt way that the production team uses the Oakland funk sound is what got me listening to them in the first place but soon after some of the messages that The Coup were preaching got me even deeper into their albums. Not necessarily the "kill whitey" stuff but the socio-economic themes opened my young eyes/ears/brain to the trials & tribulations that much of the urban population was going through in the early to mid 90's. You wouldn't really hear about the issues on regular TV (even after the LA riots) that were at the forefront of urban America. So you had to get it from other places like The Coup and others. A lot of their stuff would turn off most folks not familiar with political oriented rap music but I venture to say that if given the chance, folks would at least understand where they are coming from.
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I've posted a few Common(Sense) joints over the past month or so but I was listening to "One Day It'll All Make Sense" yesterday while I was stuck in that Northern Virginia traffic and every time I hear this track, it gets me ''amped" (pun intended). It's just raw funk, which was sampled off the "Wild Style" soundtrack LP. De La Soul adds their Native Tongues to the track and the result is one of the best songs on the LP. One day, I hope that the Tongues (past & present) do a Dungeon Family-esque type of album. I think that would be killer. Anyhow, do as the song suggests and "Get On Down".
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Souls of Mischief are to me, one of the best groups of all time. Along with the rest of the Hiero camp, they reintroduced the creativity in West Coast hip hop in the early 90's after a few years of NWA clones had raided the airwaves/sales. I can vividly remember when Souls dropped their first single "That's When Ya Lost" on that blue tape/12"...I still got 'em both. The LP "93 Til Infinity" is a certified classic and "What A Way To Go Out" is emblematic of the entire album's creative force. It's tale of 4 individuals who go out like the proverbial sucka is both a tale of the hood but also a tale of redemption/warning that hopes to teach the youth who are living foul that shit ain't always sweet. Just some dope shit.
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L.O.N.S. could have been a long-termer as far as groups go had it not been for Busta Rhymes and his Whoo-Haa intent. Much like Souls, a classic debut LP (when they had some creative control) but the follow up was off keel and widely panned as unorganized and not fresh. But their first LP, "A Future Without A Past" was my joint...I spoke on it earlier if you want to check it out. Zone Coasters was one of the better album cuts off of "...Without A Past" and it samples that classic Ike & Tina track "Cussin', Cryin, Carryin On".
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So there you have another top notch posting from the employees of The Funk. We've updated our linkage section to include some more informative/funky places for you to get educated at.

Check yawl on the flipside...
Brother B.

A Lovely Day Indeed...

*Songs are in throughout the text for today's post*

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That's right yawl! If you have not noticed already, there have been a few design changes here at The Funk. Done by the one, the only...DJ Mentos from Office Thug Graphic Designs reflect the funkiness that we are trying to spread around the globe. So Super Big Ups to Mentos for coming through in the clutch as usual. If you or anyone you know needs some seriously professional graphic work done, hit him up.

The Funk's employees went crate/file-sharing diggin' this weekend to bring to the masses some really good music in honor of our new look, and we found some real nice choice selections. I hope you all are enjoying the stuff we are posting (music/musings/advice/etc...) cause we enjoy presenting it to you. Now, on to the hits!

We are going to present today's selections by overall feel. First, to get you in the mood we have the Mellow Yellow funk...

Lamento - Nelson Riddle

Nelson Riddle was one of the most admired/versatile composer/arrangers of the post war era...(Read More).

The Morning Song - Les McCann

I was first introduced to this track (and to McCann) on DJ Mentos' excellent "I Believe In Music" mix cd that he put out a while back. Ever since then, I listen to this track as the first thing in the morning (shower CD radio steeze!). It starts the day off proper. Les has been doing his thing for a hot minute, and if you want to catch up with him, check out his website, here.

Happy Feelings - Maze feat. Frankie Beverly

We'll close out the Mellow Yellows with a classic by Frankie Beverly & Maze. This is one of those tracks that when you hear it (regardless of where you are or how you feel), it does it's best to put a smile on your face. I have loved FB&M since as far back as I can remember. I think my dad had a few of their records from his DJ days, but I'll have to check on that. Like most of the Maze tracks, the driving force behind this track is the slow-roll funk that can cause instantaneous "slow-groovin" to break out. So watch out where you peep this cause it'll make you wanna get up and groove with some co-workers/friends/random strangers.

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For the next few selections, we're gonna take it up a notch to a funkier place.

Cramp Your Style - All The People feat. Robert Moore

We all know what song this track was famously sampled by (if not, it's here). But did you know that it was also used by the following?:

Blackstreet's "Call Me"
Compton's Most Wanted's "Growin' up in the 'Hood" (Remix)
Cypress Hill's "Real Estate"
Del's "Made in America"
Downtown Science's "Radioactive"
LL Cool J's "Mr. Goodbar"
Pete Nice & Daddy Rich's "Kick the Bobo"
Redman's "Down Wit Us"
Saukrates's "Still Kaught Up"
X-Clan's "Holy Rum Swig"
Yo-Yo's "Black Pearl"

I wasn't able to find much in the way of a bio/history for All The People so I can't go into detail about thier career. But as KRS said, "Making funky music is a must!".

Hot Pants pt. 1 &2 - 20th Century

Funky, Funky, Funky, and Funky...For the record, I hope that they bring back hot pants again this summer. I know a few females that would kill dude's necks if they would rock those things. But I also know a few who would scar dudes for life if they tried to get into some hot pants...definitely not Classy Freddie Blassie. I'm not sure who the singer is on this thing but she gives Marva Whitney a run for her money. She firmly states to the listener, that "They Called Them Hot Pants, And There's Big Hips In 'Em"...hot diggity damn!

Soulful Proclamation - Messenger's Inc.

The Messengers Inc. have the 4 required parts to make a funk jam that people will remember and if they are lucky, want to sample. First, is the drum. Now this song doesn't have a break really that highlights the drum but the snare work is excellent in my opinion. Second, the horn is a very important part of the funk/soul song. Proclamation does the horn section proud with it's use of the horns. Third, the guitar gives this track the rhythm version of a Jason Kidd assist. Finally, an easily remember chorus/refrain. The Messengers get that one right seeing that the song's lyrics are one big chorus. But if you take parts 1-3 and put them into a funky intro...bam! There is your sample.

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Lastly, we'd like to give you some upbeat funky stuff to take you through the rest of your Monday.

Add A Cipher - J.Live

J-Live, Justice, J. Cadet...all in the same and all friggin dope. Some folks may disagree with this but to me, J-Live is the dopest emcee out. Yes, I said it...and I believe it. Let's run through the list real quick.
1. Lyrical Creativeness (Check)
2. Relative Subject Matter (Check)
3. Good Music (Check)
Bonus: Can cut his own records while spittin'? (Check)

Anyhow, Live is one of those cats who defys the modern day view of rappers as unintelligent bums. I'ma do an entire post on the Live One soon so I'll get more in depth but enjoy this joint off the "Always Will Be" CD.

Lean On Me (Remix) - Club Nouveau

A very go-go funky-ish remix to the classic Bill Withers joint. I can't recall if this song came out at the same time as the movie "Lean On Me" did or not (it's not on the soundtrack) but it sort of sounds right for the '89 era. Just a solid remix to funk out to. Club Nouveau's bio is here.

Welcome - The Unspoken Heard

Asheru & Blue Black make up the super underground group Unspoken Heard. Check out this for thier bio if you are unfamiliar with their work. Just another example of how True Skool Hip Hop does it righteous.

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So there you have it. A new look and some newly dug gems for yawl to sink your teeth into. Make sure you check out our links section for more of the goodness that is available on the web, you'll be doing you and your brain a public service.

I know someone who finds this man attractive...

Hope yawl have a funktafied Monday cause I know I will.

Funk Fo' Life!
Brother B.

*Mentos, is it funky enough? Affirmative.