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Hip Hop Loses It's Godfather James Brown
For those who don't know James Brown the hardest working man in show business aka The Godfather of Soul passed away in Atlanta from pnemonia. A lot of newscasts have been bombarded with Christmas Day fanfare so news of his death has been a bit downplayed... This story was written a couple of years ago when we celebrated James Brown's Birthday which is May 3rd... Hopefully people get to reflect upon the true essence of who this man was and what he meant to Hip Hop...Hopefully as you read this you recall the recent story we ran about the plight of Hip Hop pioneers..
Today is May 3rd and for many of us this date holds no real meaning except that it either signifies another payday or the start of Cinco de Mayo weekend {Cinco de Mayo is May 5th]. Sadly, there are many of us who are knee deep in Hip Hop culture who have never took notice when May 3rd rolled around, but perhaps we should. After all, it was on this day back in 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina that Hip Hop's true Godfather was born.
Like so many within Hip Hop he had a harsh childhood. Before he was even 5 years old, Hip Hop's 'true Godfather was shipped off to Augusta, Georgia where he lived in a brothel owned by his Aunt. As a child he earned his keep by running errands and trying to solicit soldiers from the nearby base to visit his Aunt's establishment. Like so many who came after him, the hardships and him needing to hustle led to a life of crime. He eventually had to serve jail time until he finally got himself together. It was that humble and troubled upbringing that sparked a fire and laid down the ethos of Hip Hop-to create something out of nothing.
No, I'm not talking about is not Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash or any of the other often named pioneering cats. However, if you sit any of them down in a room, they will tell unequivocally that they are children and grandchildren to this individual who wound up being Hip Hop's original driving force and musical inspiration. His music, vocal delivery and showmanship would influence everyone from Chuck D of Public Enemy to MC Hammer.
One has to understand that back in the days when Hip Hop was first evolving in the 1970s Hip Hop's pioneering figures routinely paid tribute to the musical offerings of this individual. While Black radio stations moved in a direction that embraced formalized disco, the musical landscape of the early Hip Hop Park Jams was juxtaposed. Classic songs like 'Soul Power', Pass The Peas', Funky Drummer' and 'Get Up, Get Into It, and Get Involved' would blare through the sound systems of Hip Hop's early deejays and drive the early b-boys and b-girls to the edge. In later years many would point to this individual's signature dance 'the Good Foot' and his song 'Get On the Good Foot' as the inspiration for what we now call 'break dancing'.
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Like so many within Hip Hop he had a harsh childhood. Before he was even 5 years old, Hip Hop's 'true Godfather was shipped off to Augusta, Georgia where he lived in a brothel owned by his Aunt. As a child he earned his keep by running errands and trying to solicit soldiers from the nearby base to visit his Aunt's establishment. Like so many who came after him, the hardships and him needing to hustle led to a life of crime. He eventually had to serve jail time until he finally got himself together. It was that humble and troubled upbringing that sparked a fire and laid down the ethos of Hip Hop-to create something out of nothing.
No, I'm not talking about is not Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash or any of the other often named pioneering cats. However, if you sit any of them down in a room, they will tell unequivocally that they are children and grandchildren to this individual who wound up being Hip Hop's original driving force and musical inspiration. His music, vocal delivery and showmanship would influence everyone from Chuck D of Public Enemy to MC Hammer.
One has to understand that back in the days when Hip Hop was first evolving in the 1970s Hip Hop's pioneering figures routinely paid tribute to the musical offerings of this individual. While Black radio stations moved in a direction that embraced formalized disco, the musical landscape of the early Hip Hop Park Jams was juxtaposed. Classic songs like 'Soul Power', Pass The Peas', Funky Drummer' and 'Get Up, Get Into It, and Get Involved' would blare through the sound systems of Hip Hop's early deejays and drive the early b-boys and b-girls to the edge. In later years many would point to this individual's signature dance 'the Good Foot' and his song 'Get On the Good Foot' as the inspiration for what we now call 'break dancing'.
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For more information:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...
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By Nolan Strong
Date: 12/25/2006 10:54 am
Pioneering R&B legend James "The Godfather of Soul" Brown early today (Dec. 25) from an unknown illness in Atlanta, GA.
According to his representatives, Brown, 73, was admitted to Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday, suffering from Pneumonia.
He died around 1:45 a.m. with manager Charles Bobbitt by his side.
"We really don't know at this point what he died of," Brown's agent Frank Copsidas told the Associated Press.
Brown's story is one of triumph, as the singer was born in extreme poverty in 1933 in Augusta, GA. In the late 1940's, Brown was arrested for armed robbery.
He gained parole with the help of Bobby Byrd and formed a gospel group. After unsuccessful stints as a baseball player and a boxer, Brown joined Byrd's group The Avons.
The pair later went on to form their famed group, The Famous Flames in Macon, Georgia in 1955.
Brown and The Famous Flames released a number of seminal records as artists on Syd Nathan's historic Cincinnati, Ohio based label, King Records.
In the 1950's, Brown rode the charts with singles like "Please, Please, Please," "Try Me" and others.
In 1963, Brown released what many consider the most important record in his career - Live at the Apollo. The album captured the live energy of a James Brown concert and reached #2 on the charts.
Date: 12/25/2006 10:54 am
Pioneering R&B legend James "The Godfather of Soul" Brown early today (Dec. 25) from an unknown illness in Atlanta, GA.
According to his representatives, Brown, 73, was admitted to Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday, suffering from Pneumonia.
He died around 1:45 a.m. with manager Charles Bobbitt by his side.
"We really don't know at this point what he died of," Brown's agent Frank Copsidas told the Associated Press.
Brown's story is one of triumph, as the singer was born in extreme poverty in 1933 in Augusta, GA. In the late 1940's, Brown was arrested for armed robbery.
He gained parole with the help of Bobby Byrd and formed a gospel group. After unsuccessful stints as a baseball player and a boxer, Brown joined Byrd's group The Avons.
The pair later went on to form their famed group, The Famous Flames in Macon, Georgia in 1955.
Brown and The Famous Flames released a number of seminal records as artists on Syd Nathan's historic Cincinnati, Ohio based label, King Records.
In the 1950's, Brown rode the charts with singles like "Please, Please, Please," "Try Me" and others.
In 1963, Brown released what many consider the most important record in his career - Live at the Apollo. The album captured the live energy of a James Brown concert and reached #2 on the charts.
For more information:
http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=6538
From NPR's Live Concert 12/28/06 show, "James Brown in Concert:"
"The Godfather of Soul reaches into his vast catalog of hit songs for a night of music, recorded live from the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C."
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business is backed by the Soul Generals, who play so crazy tight it make a guy weep for the state of music made by anybody else (except whatever collection of virtuosos Prince has going at the moment).
Download it here. MP3, 87MB. 90+ minutes of soul so funky you won't believe you got it from NPR.
And be extra nice to Henry Rollins today. I bet nobody loved Mr. Please, Please, Please harder.
"The Godfather of Soul reaches into his vast catalog of hit songs for a night of music, recorded live from the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C."
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business is backed by the Soul Generals, who play so crazy tight it make a guy weep for the state of music made by anybody else (except whatever collection of virtuosos Prince has going at the moment).
Download it here. MP3, 87MB. 90+ minutes of soul so funky you won't believe you got it from NPR.
And be extra nice to Henry Rollins today. I bet nobody loved Mr. Please, Please, Please harder.
For more information:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davis-sweet/...
sample below. don't buy online. find them for free through P2P, or get the vinyl/CDs with the liner notes
For more information:
http://www.mp3.com/james-brown/artists/318...
My Dad caught J.B.'S USO show while he was in Vietnam . Prior to the performance the brass was nervous . Afraid that J.B. would quote Muhammed Ali on the war or give a Black Power salute . Extra M.P's were brought in to police the G.I.s The Generals were worried about nothing . Brown was a good Negro performer . A momentary lapse ? Nope . He went to campaign for Nixon , later on that archracist Ronnie Reagan. If he was so proud of being Black how could he have supported those characters ?
I have danced to his music many times . I don't expect musicians to be revolutionaries or even progressives . But Nixon and Reagan ? Great performer but he showed his ''true essence ''by backing them .
I have danced to his music many times . I don't expect musicians to be revolutionaries or even progressives . But Nixon and Reagan ? Great performer but he showed his ''true essence ''by backing them .
"Snoop Dogg, Nas, and President George W. Bush issued statements in tribute to Brown following his death. "
This must be the apocalypse
when these three headless horsemen
are riding the same dead horse
pimp dogg bushy nas nas nasty
This must be the apocalypse
when these three headless horsemen
are riding the same dead horse
pimp dogg bushy nas nas nasty
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