Cool Hunting

James Brown was undeniably one of the most influential and internationally respected musicians of all time. Unfortunately, many people’s exposure doesn’t go much deeper than bad covers of “I Got You (I Feel Good)” at weddings.

James Brown’s Funky People is an essential collection of music written, produced, and performed by James Brown with the numerous side projects he released on his People imprint between ’71 and ’75, representing some of the Godfather’s best work. Unbelievably prolific in that four year period, in addition to recording thirteen classic albums as a solo artist (four of them double LPs), James Brown was behind groundbreaking records with his groups and solo artists The J.B’s, Fred Wesley and the J.B.’s, Maceo and the Macks, Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney, Hank Ballard, Myra Barnes, Vicki Anderson, and many more.

Not surprisingly, this CD doubles as a hip-hop history lesson, containing the sample fodder for Public Enemy’s seminal “Fight The Power,” Eric B and Rakim’s “It Ain’t No Joke,” Big Daddy Kane’s “Wrath of Kane,” Rob Base’s “It Takes Two,” Gangstarr’s “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight,” and literally hundreds of others.

At a mere $9 (from Dusty Groove) for thirteen blazing tracks, you owe it to yourself. Also available from Amazon.

by DJ Scribe