Staff Pick: FUNKADELIC

The dangerous, revolutionary pioneers of funk are this week's staff pick!

What is this thing called funk? You'll know it when you hear it. Southfield-based Funkadelic, also reincarnated as Parliament and P-Funk, will point you in the right direction.

Funk is a dirty word to some. In musical terms, it means heavy bass, soulful vocals, and sexual overtones. Founder George Clinton, and legends like James Brown and the Temptations brought this dirty, radio-unfriendly sound to the masses. Before Disco, before Prince, before Michael Jackson, before OutKast. there was Funkadelic.

Behind the stinky grooves and bold, hysterically funny lyrics lies a serious political agenda. For a nation torn by the Vietnam War, Funkadelic offered a unique point of view that was was driven by the Civil Rights and Peace Movements, at all times with a wink and a nod. Funk music is driven by the issues, but reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. This is house party music, the music of a community. Music that one does not listen to alone. Funkadelic and Parliament featured music legends Buddy Miles, Bootsy Collins, and Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton.

For a brief history and discography at wikipedia.com, click here. I recommend starting with the self-titled Funkadelic and Maggotbrain, pictured above. Groove to the sublime guitar stylings of the late great Eddie Hazel. Go deep with America Eats its Young and Cosmic Slop, some of their most searingly political records. Both dig into the heart of post-traumatic stress disorder and single motherhood in the black community. This music is highly addictive and infectious. Enjoy yourself.