It’s spooky how much P-Funk was blasting in our house the days leading up to Starchild’s passing. The sound that he helped develop has been playing such a huge role in our music for iB4the1.2, from Dahlak’s productions to our vocal arrangements. Although the funk blogs have been buzzing around the news, hip-hop’s remained silent for the most part. Certainly, Garry Shider wasn’t a household name – but his work shifted our culture.
One of the reasons we’re so inspired by P-Funk is because they’ve remained true to their narrative. As iLL-Literacy meanders from spoken word to hip-hop to funk, the key constant element is storytelling – to speak on real shit while daring to imagine. Starchild is a central character to the P-Funk universe. He defended humankind from Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk! If George Clinton is Goku, then Starchild was Vegeta. And I am obviously a nerd.
The above video is “Placebo Like a Mug,” the animated featurette that played in the beginning for Parliament Funkadelic’s early live shows. Acclimate yourself to the story and the music. It’s a beautiful thing. Long live Starchild.
In the alternative universe where I was alive during the 60′s and 70′s, I see myself as a borderline Parliament-Funkadelic groupie. Not to the point where I’m lifting up my shirt and screaming every time “Cosmic Slop” comes on, but at least the the point where I could get kicked offstage of air-guitaring. A couple of years ago I caught P-Funk at DC, but was surrounded by an audience of 50+ year-olds so I restrained from any form of craziness out of fear of someone reaching for my throat-eel. So up until now, I thought that the new millennium held no place for a youngin’ like me to be a Funkateer. However, Bootsy Collins is opening the Funk University, an online intensive for bass players across the world! Is this a real opportunity to tap into the Funk? Or did I just sign up for another mailing list I won’t read (damn you, David Plouffe!!). Only time will tell. But chances are, if it’s Bootsy, I can digit.
I must admit, P-Funk…it’s hard for me to accept the fact that your name’s P-Funk. Because you’re named after the music that has completely shifted the way I live my life. AndC Plus…it’s hard for me to accept the fact that your name’s C Plus. Because you’re named after the grade I consistently got in trigonometry class, and I’d normally beef with anyone who makes me think about tangents. I hate tangents! Speaking of Michael Jackson, here’s a kid really really feeling his music:
At any rate, this track is raw as hell, as well as the gentlemen who are the culprits of the vocals. Digit!
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So you win this round, rappers with names that could get mixed up for other people or things! Psh, I’m glad I don’t have that problem. Nope, I’m just plain ol’ Drizzy. And I’m the fuckin’ best.
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