Funky 4 + 1 was an
America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
n
hip hop group from The
Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, composed of
Jazzy Jeff, Sharon Green, D.J. Breakout, Guy Williams, Keith Keith, The Voice of K.K. and Rodney Stone. The latter two members also performed together as the duo Double Trouble, notably in the film ''
Wild Style
''Wild Style'' is a 1983 American hip hop film directed and produced by Charlie Ahearn. Regarded as the first hip hop motion picture, it includes appearances by seminal figures such as Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, The Rock Ste ...
''. They were the first hip hop group to receive a record deal, as well as the first to perform live on national television. The group was also notable for being the first to have a woman
MC, Sha-Rock.
History
"That's the Joint" was interpolated from
Cheryl Lynn's "Got to Be Real". Music critic
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
of ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the cr ...
'' named it the best song of the 1980s. In his 1981 review of the single, Christgau gave it an A rating and wrote of its musical significance:
The instrumental track, carried by Sugarhill bassist Doug Wimbish
Douglas Arthur Wimbish (born September 22, 1956) is an American bass player, primarily known for being a member of rock band Living Colour and funk/dub/hip hop collective Tackhead, and as a session musician with artists such as Sugarhill Gang ...
, is so compelling that for a while I listened to it alone on its B-side version. And the rapping is the peak of the form, not verbally—the debut has funnier words—but rhythmically. Quick tradeoffs and clamorous breaks vary the steady-flow rhyming of the individual MCs, and when it comes to Sha-Rock
Sharon Green (born 1962), also known as MC Sha-Rock, is considered the "first female rapper" or emcee. Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, she grew up in the South Bronx, New York City during the earliest years of hip hop culture. Within the ...
, Miss Plus One herself, who needs variation?"
Funky 4 + 1 was the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show; on February 14 (Valentine's Day) 1981 they performed on ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves ...
'' hosted by
Blondie's Deborah Harry.
The group was subsequently asked by Harry to open up for Blondie on tour, but were forbidden to do so by
Sugarhill Records
Sugar Hill Records is an American bluegrass and Americana record label.
It was founded in Durham, North Carolina in 1978 by Barry Poss and David Freeman, the owner of County Records and Rebel Records. Poss acquired full control of Sugar Hil ...
' CEO,
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson (née Vanderpool; May 29, 1935 – September 29, 2011) was an American singer, record producer, and record label executive. Robinson achieved success as a performer on two R&B chart toppers: as half of Mickey & Sylvia with ...
.
In 2008, its song "
That's The Joint" was ranked number 41 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Discography
Singles
*"Rappin & Rocking The House" (1979)
* "
That's The Joint" (1980)
* "Do You Want to Rock (Before I Let Go)" (1982)
* "Feel It" (The Mexican)" (1983)
Compilations
*
Back To The Old School 2 – That's The Joint (1999)
Members
* The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith)
(1978–1981)
* Keith Keith (Keith Caesar)
(1978–1983)
*
Sha Rock (Sharon Green)
(1977–1983)
* Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams)
(1977)
* Lil' Rodney C! (Rodney Stone)
(1977–1981)
*
Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Miree)
(1977–1983)
* D.J. Breakout (Keith Williams)
(1977–1983)
* D.J. Baron (Baron Chappell)
(1977–1980)
NOTE: Rahiem would later join
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. The group's members were Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Kidd Creole (not to be confused with Kid Creole), Keef Cowboy, S ...
, while Smith & Stone left in 1981 to form as a duo known as Double Trouble.
References
External links
Jayquan profileMyspaceThe Career Cookbook Rahiem ProfileFunky Four Plus One Discography at Discogs.com
{{Authority control
Hip hop groups from New York City
Musical groups established in 1977
Sugar Hill Records (hip hop label) artists