Friday Funkdown | Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone began making music in 1966 out of San Francisco, California.  Original band members include; Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Cynthia Robinson, Gregg Errico, Jerry Martini, and Larry Graham.  They were joined by Rose Stone soon after.  The band is credited as one of the first racially integrated bands in music history, which also included many family members and friends.  Their message was one of peace, love and social consciousness through a fusion of funk, rock n roll, soul and r&b.  Together, the band recorded five Billboard Top 100 hits, which reached the top 10.   Unfortunately, a mixture of drugs and ego clashes caused the band to dismantle in 1975.  Sly Stone continued to tour and record albums with a rotating lineup until he was arrested in 1987 for cocaine use and forced into retirement.  The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Sly and the Family Stone is credited for changing the face of pop, soul, r&b, rock n roll and funk music.  Their blend of rock, soul, pop and jazz paved the way for a new genre of music entitled “funk”. The band has had a significant influence on hip hop as they have been sampled by such big names as A Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg and Das EFX.

Listening to Sly and the Family Stone never gets old.  The bass line on If You Want Me To Stay is arguably one of the most recognizable of all time.  The lyrics on feel-good songs such as Stand and Everyday People are so rich and uplifting.  I can only hope that the band will get back together for a reunion tour so I can check them out in person.

Friday Funkdown | B.T. Express

The Brooklyn Trucking Express was formed in Brooklyn in the 70s by original members Barbara Joyce Lomas, Jamal and Bill Risbrook, Billy Nichols, Richard Thompson, Wesley Pike Hall, Carlos Ward, Orlando Woods, Dennis Rowe and Michael Jones.  The B.T. Express was signed to Roadshow Records in 1974.  Their debut LP “Do It (‘Til You're Satisfied)” had two number-one R&B and Top Ten pop hits.  Do It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B Hot 100 in 1974.  Express reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in the R&B Hot 100 in 1975.  Express also reached #34 in the UK Singles Chart.  It was awarded a gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in 1975.
B.T. Express has been sampled by many hip hop artists including: Dr. Dre, Gang Starr, Leaders of the New School, Snoop Doggy Dogg, 3^rd Bass, DJ Quik, O.C., and EPMD.  Although Do It is their most sampled song to date, several other gems have been sampled such as You Got Something, Do You Like It, Once You Get It, This House is Smokin, and of course Express.
Do It remains on top of my funk playlist whenever I’m spinning old school music.  Something about the intro gets me amped every time, and it is always well received by the crowd.  Recently I have been on the lookout for B.T. Express albums to add to my collection, I just picked up Energy to Burn the other day.

Nas' Illmatic Documentary

Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994 on Columbia Records. Following his signing to Columbia with the help of MC Serch, recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Its production was handled by Nas, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and DJ Premier. Stylistically a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features Nas's multi-syllabic internal rhyme patterns expressing inner city lyrical themes and narratives based on his native Queensbridge, New York.

Upon its release, the album debuted at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 59,000 copies in its first week. However, its initial sales fell below expectations and its five singles failed to achieve significant chart success. While it experienced initial low sales, Illmatic received generally positive reviews from most music critics upon its release and earned praise for its production and Nas's lyricism. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America, and in 2001, it earned platinum certification after sales of one million copies in the United States.

Since its initial reception, the album has been recognized by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. It contributed to the regional scene's artistic renaissance in New York, while marking an influential, stylistic change in hip hop at the time. Its influence on subsequent hip hop artists has been attributed to the album's production and Nas's rapping. Several writers have cited Illmatic as one of the quintessential hip hop recordings and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 400 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

GZA, RZA, ODB 1991 Public Access

Oldschoolery | 2011.04.09 | The Bitter End Lounge | PLAYLIST

Old School night at The Bitter End Lounge in Fairhaven.  The joint was jumpin!

9:02pm

12:26  The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark, Pts. 1 & 2

16:38  George Benson - Breezin'

17:52  Player - Baby Come Back

22:26  Stevie Wonder - Have A Talk With God

25:10  Noel Ellis - Dance With Me

27:55  A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum

31:41  The Gap Band - Yearning For Your Love

34:55  Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman

38:13  Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself

40:52  Leon Haywood - I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You

42:38  Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby

43:40  Toots and the Maytals - Time Tough

46:17  The Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long

50:53  A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime

53:15  Mtume - Juicy Fruit

54:15  Rufus - You've Got the Love

58:09  A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour

1:02:22  De La Soul - All Good

1:05:17  Common - The Light

1:07:36  Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Better things to do

1:09:24  Yarbourough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music

10:01pm

1:11:58  Bill Withers - Lovely Day

1:14:08  CRU - Just Another Case (Dirty)

1:15:15  De La Soul - Buddy

1:17:36  Alton Ellis - Harder & harder

1:21:27  L.T.D. - (Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again

1:22:57  Bee Gees - Night Fever

1:26:45  Brick - Dazz

1:29:16  KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It)

1:31:53  Michael Jackson - Rock With You

1:33:52  Shalamar - Forget me Nots

1:39:13  Lakeslide - Fantastic Voyage

1:40:18  Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)

1:42:55  The Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey

1:46:56  New Edition - Cool It Now

1:49:30  Stevie B - Spring Love

1:51:21  Tony Toni Tone - It Feels Good

1:54:17  Prince - Head

1:56:35  Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

1:59:16  The Jackson 5 - Shake Your Body Down

2:01:37  Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face

2:06:51  Dawn Penn - You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) (Album) 

2:09:58  Blackstreet - No Diggity (feat. Dr. Dre)

11:03pm

2:14:19  The Nonce - Bus Stops

2:15:06  Cocoa Brovaz - Sound Bwoy Bureill

2:17:37  Leroy Hutson - All Because Of You

2:19:01  Biggie - Big Poppa

2:24:32  The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets

2:27:02  Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More

2:29:19  Diamond - A Day In The Life (featuring Brand Nubian)

2:30:56  Slick Rick - The Ruler's Back

2:33:14  Earth Wind & Fire - Fatasy

2:35:45  Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child)

2:41:18  The Fugees - Fu-Gee-La

2:42:36  Biggie - One More Chance Feat. Faith Evans

2:45:56  Curtis Mayfield - Tripping Out

2:48:54  Slum Village - Fall In Love

2:51:06  De La Soul - Pony Ride Feat. Truth Enola

2:53:43  Ohio Players - Fopp

2:55:32  Rick James - Mary Jane

2:58:33  Samantha Sang & The Bee Gees - Emotion

3:02:52  Stevie Wonder - I Don't Know Why

3:04:20  William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got

3:06:54  A Tribe Called Quest - Common Ground (Get It Goin' On)

3:10:12  George Benson - Gonna Love You More

12:00am

3:11:02  Dr Dre - Nuthin' But A G Thang

3:13:39  Warren G & Nate Dogg - Regulate

3:15:42  Michael Mcdonald - I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)

3:17:32  Biggie - Juicy

3:21:31  Eric B & Rakim - Eric B. Is President

3:23:24  A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

3:24:15  Digable Planets - Rebirth Of Slick

3:25:15  Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full

3:26:44  Mad Lion - Take It Easy

3:29:02  Nas - The World Is Yours

3:30:55  Ice Cube Featuring George Clinton - Bop Gun

3:36:56  Zapp & Roger - Cutie Pie

3:39:47  Teddy Riley - Rump Shaker

3:43:29  Bell Biv Devoe - I Thought it Was Me

3:46:36  Commodores - Brick House

3:49:15  Timex Social Club - Rumors

3:50:35  BBD - Do Me!

3:51:00  George Clinton - Atomic Dog

3:57:11  Keith Sweat - I Want Her

3:58:52  Nice & Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow

4:00:06  Digital Underground - Doowutchyalike

4:00:59  Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

4:02:01  Shalamar - A Night To Remember

4:05:38  Slave - Just a Touch of Love

4:09:19  Cameo - Candy

1:01am

4:12:03  De La Soul - Say No Go

4:14:25  Big Daddy Kane - Warm It Up, Kane

4:17:31  Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love

4:19:58  Fever 105 - And the Beat Goes On

4:22:21  The Whispers - Rock Steady

4:22:58  Boz Scaggs - Lowdown

4:25:31  Cameo - Word Up

4:27:31  Newcleus - Jam On It

4:28:40  Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

4:29:40  Rick James - You and I

4:34:24  Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina

4:36:10  Heatwave - Boogie Nights

4:41:35  Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

4:45:08  Prince - RASPBERRY BERET

4:46:10  Rick James - Give It To Me Baby

4:47:02  Stevie B - I Wanna Be the One

4:48:03  Lipps Inc. - Funkytown

4:49:22  Prince - U Got The Look

4:51:56  GQ - Disco Nights (Rock Freak)

4:55:24  Anita Ward - Ring My Bell

4:56:41  Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music

5:01:05  Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back

Head Banger Boogie | 2011.04.16 | The Caz | PLAYLIST

 

Dope old school set to honor the homie Matt Pina.

 

10:22pm

00:00  Noel Ellis - Dance With Me

02:33  Ahmad - Back In The Day (Jeep Mix)

05:51  Herbie Hancock - Joanna's Theme

06:19  Aaron Neville - Hercules

11:25  Parliament - Dr. Funkenstein

15:14  Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do for Love

16:17  The Roots - Silent Treatment

19:20  Cymande - The Message

19:58  De La Soul - Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa

23:07  A Tribe Called Quest - Verses From The Abstract

24:20  Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More

26:33  KRS-One - Higher Level

29:18  Earth Wind & Fire - Fatasy

31:51  Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child)

32:43  Slum Village - 2U4U

35:51  De La Soul - Itsoweezee (Hot)

37:44  War - Slippin' Into Darkness

11:01pm

39:04  Curtis Mayfield - Tripping Out

40:12  MF Doom - Gas Drawls

42:11  Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell

43:41  Slum Village - Fall In Love

44:27  The Gap Band - Yearning For Your Love

46:48  Leon Haywood - I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You

47:27  The Meters - Handclapping Song

48:38  Das EFX - Mic Checka

50:42  Nas - One Love

51:36  Ohio Players - Fopp

52:34  Rick James - Mary Jane

54:21  William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got

56:11  Al Green - Here I Am (Come And Take Me)

59:47  George Benson - Gonna Love You More

1:01:25  A Tribe Called Quest - Get A Hold

1:03:16  De La Soul - Wonce Again Long Island

1:04:45  Delegation - Oh Honey

1:08:38  The Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long

1:09:14  Zhané - Hey Mr. D.J. Remix

1:11:49  Naughty by Nature - Hip Hop Horray

1:12:47  O'Jays - For The Love Of Money

1:13:45  Paperboy - Ditty

1:14:12  Soul For Real & Heavy D - Every Little Thing I Do

1:16:09  Erick Sermon - Music

1:17:03  Snoop Dogg ft Nate Dogg - Ain't No Fun

1:20:20  Zapp & Roger - Cutie Pie

1:22:02  Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message

1:23:30  Ice Cube - Check Yo Self [Remix]

1:24:35  Zhané - Hey Mr. D.J.

1:26:46  Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star

1:27:45  TOM TOM CLUB - GENIUS OF LOVE (FRESH1 EDIT)

1:28:30  Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love

1:29:38  Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait

1:30:44  Teddy Riley - Rump Shaker

1:32:33  Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce

1:33:19  Bell Biv Devoe - I Thought it Was Me

1:34:25  Commodores - Brick House

1:35:39  Timex Social Club - Rumors

1:36:31  James Brown - Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)

12:00am

1:38:27  Keith Sweat - I Want Her

1:39:48  Stetsasonic - Talkin' All That Jazz

1:40:51  Brick - Dazz

1:41:36  Digital Underground - Doowutchyalike

1:42:22  Junior - Mama Used To Say

1:42:46  L.T.D. - (Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again

1:44:19  Lionel Richie - All Night Long

1:46:53  Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

1:48:54  Slave - Just a Touch of Love

1:50:23  Cameo - Candy

1:54:11  Cameo - Single Life

1:55:48  Chic - Good Times

1:57:03  Kool & The Gang - Hollywood Swinging

1:58:31  Slave - Watching You

1:59:49  Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica

2:01:44  Vaughan Mason & Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll

2:05:27  Zapp & Roger - So Ruff, So Tuff

2:07:24  Kool & The Gang - Ladies Night

2:08:09  Prince - Kiss

2:10:14  Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots

2:11:26  Stevie Wonder - Do I Do

2:13:05  Carl Carlton - Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)

2:14:05  Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Head to Toe

2:14:45  Michael Jackson - Rock With You

2:15:32  Zapp & Roger - Doo Wa Ditty

2:16:17  Zapp & Roger - I Can Make You Dance

2:17:54  Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love

2:19:10  George Benson - Love X Love

2:22:23  Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)

2:23:51  Newcleus - Jam On It

2:24:59  Rick James - You and I

2:26:50  Stevie B - Spring Love

2:28:09  Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina

2:28:50  D Train - You're the One for Me

2:29:40  Run D.M.C. - Hard Times

2:32:51  Whodini - Five Minutes Of Funk

Finally!

I hope this is for reals!

Friday Funkdown | Ohio Players

The Ohio Untouchables were formed in Detroit, Michigan by original band members Robert Ward, Marshall “Rock’ Jones, Clarence “Satch” Satchell, Cornelius Johnson and Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks.  After moving to New York City they were joined by Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, Gary Webster, Joe Harris, Bobby Lee Fears, Dutch Robinson, and Edmond Weeden.  After 2 years in the Big Apple they moved to Dayton, OH where they created most of their hits under the new name, Ohio Players.  They have been recording in Dayton for over 40 years. Their first big hit was “Funky Worm” which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.  The single went gold and sold over a million copies that spring.  They went on to produce 3 more gold singles; “Skin Tight” and “Fire” in 1974 and “Love Rollercoaster” in 1975.  In addition, the band had 3 gold albums; Skin Tight, Fire and Honey.

The Ohio Players have clearly made an impression on hip hop as they have been sampled by artists such as; N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Redman and De La Soul.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers were also heavily influenced by the Ohio Players, covering "Love Rollercoaster" for the film, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.

My mom was a huge Ohio Players fan back in the day.  I can remember her hiding the album covers from me because they were too provocative, but I knew where she hid them.  “Funky Worm” is one of my all-time favorite songs.  Every time I hear the horns I get goose bumps…”ooh that’s funky, that’s funky”.

Friday Funkdown | Curtis Mayfield

Born in Chicago in 1942, Curtis Mayfield grew up in the infamous Cabrini-Green housing projects.  In search of a way out of the ghetto, he dropped out of high school, taught himself how to play guitar and eventually became the lead singer and songwriter for The Impressions.  After leaving The Impressions in 1970s, he began a very successful solo career blending his falsetto vocals with artistic medleys and funky bass grooves.   Curtis was one of the first mainstream musicians who delivered a political message through his music, which is evident in “Move On Up”.  The peak of his musical career came with the release of "Super Fly", the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film if the same name.
Tragically, Mayfield was injured in 1980 after stage lighting fell on him during an outdoor concert in Brooklyn, which left him paralyzed from the neck down.  Curtis eventually died in December 1999 from his subsequent declining health.
Mayfield’s music has left a lasting impression on hip-hop as he has been sampled by artists such as; EPMD, N.W.A., Pete Rock, Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West and 9^th Wonder to name a few.
I have always been fascinated by Curtis Mayfield’s voice, which is arguably the most recognizable falsetto of all time (sorry Aaron Neville).  Songs such as "The Makings of You", "Freddie’s Dead", "So In Love", and "Pusherman" remind me of the true beauty of music.

The Real Beastie Boys

ATCC:001 | Invocation | 2003.12.02

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This is a combination of hip-hop, funk, reggae, soul and r&b. This mix should help anyone get through a rough day. Lively up yourself!

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