D'Angelo talks funk and plays a P-Funk tune.

Before the release of 'Black Messiah', singer-songwriter D'Angelo resurfaced with a tremendous tour that reestablished his status as a singular soul man while expanding his musicianship from keys to guitar. I caught up to him in a New Jersey hotel for a walk through his musical inspirations. He even blessed us with a song from the Parliament-Funkadelic catalog. Word is new music is on the way!

[@14ktGoldSLuMWizard]

Phenomenal. This is like interviewing a Unicorn.

[@28lproductions38]

I lol at this.

[@pifflepockle]

😂😂😂

[@ScantlessBeatz]

Yes lol I WAS gonna say that.

[@mfundomaweni9121]

I wanna laugh, but I wanna give you dap for this. This is equally hilarious as it is brilliant 😅

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

He's just a man.

[@glizzyhendrix]

D’angelo’s music always puts me in a great place.

[@forensicaccountant259]

The Commodores in the 70s. 🔥

[@Rasbiff]

He's a true scholar, I could listen to him for ages.

[@CharTheStarMeetsLadyBleak]

This is the most amazing interview. Ethnomusicology at its absolute finest.

[@RohgishSun]

Funk is Cosmic Black Vibes... This is why it hits you in the nose......"area". (3rd eye) For some reason we was able to tap into that tone that INSTANTLY gets people there WITHOUT them having to achieve a specific STILLNESS.🤘🏿

[@MaseTMT]

Thanks so much for this. We need more D’Angelo music in the world. I hope it’s true that he’s in a good place at the moment and working on new material

[@wd1456]

He looks amazing!

[@3hooks781]

@@wd1456 THis was done in 2012

[@concept8407]

D is such a student of the craft and you can tell in his music but you can also tell when he speaks.. it makes sense as to why him, rapheal saddiq and Questlove connected.. they know ball!!

[@Charlie616161]

Awesome!

[@charlesislaw]

So great to finally hear D'angelo play&sing this joint without Questlove talking over him lol

[@possumslim]

Loved all of this. Love to hear how he’s slowly letting the funk fly free every album!!

[@tisharenee4061]

So funk is a reclaiming of rock and roll.

[@Rebelution7]

Excellent interview

[@ekayaniperforms]

So beautiful this man. Can’t believe it’s been nearly ten years now seeing him perform at Forest Hills stadium. Such a memorable show that had all the elements including humor. #blackmessiah

[@ThePfunkadunkasaur]

“It’s not just about (no disrespect) white boys playin guitar” hahaha. As a white boy that plays guitar I approve... We need the Funk!!

[@mitchbrown2420]

"There's a thrill up on the hill, everybody's feelin' real!" Thanks D'angelo!

[@Sauvageonne]

One man whose albums get better and better

[@kpm]

Thank you for posting the full interview!!!

[@korrydowney]

Never enough of this stuff going around. 🙏🏽

[@loosendz]

Westcoast has ALWAYS embraced the funk!!

[@ScantlessBeatz]

Yo the fact you got a Dangelo interview this is the gospel. Yo Im the only hood dude in my crew that listen to Dangelo religiously my homies could not hear what I was hearing. This mans music change the path he said it first BLACK ROCK N ROLL.

[@dextergilford8336]

“Mothership Connection” and “Tales of Dr. Funkenstein” are highly under recognized coded gospel albums, perhaps some of the greatest of their kind. Their Afro-futurism and “other worldly/space is the place” stylings are the external covers, that is not the interior, inner significance of the albums. In the final analysis, none of them could really leave the church-at least in its general features and overriding symbolic structure-behind. That’s why Glenn Goines “felt” perfect when he joined- it was because he was perfect for the gospel spirit in the music. Glenn, Gary, Fuzzy, Ray and Calvin would have made one of the greatest gospel quintets. We have yet to fully explicate the funk and its real meaning to our role and experience here.

[@citronialandmark476]

Love this brotha. Keep the Funk a live. Make my Funk the P funk I wants to get Funked up.

[@rodrigobroun7218]

Funk is deeper than music. Before it was a distinct “style,” Funk existed.

[@Itsyoungagain]

Damn this was so interesting to watch! Thank you!

[@frankie.b.s9133]

OMG I Finally Found The D'Angelo ✌🏿♥️

[@nightcypha]

Finally!!! The algorithm sent me something that I didn’t know where it would take me, but I’m glad it did. I’ll go ahead and subscribe. Dope interview bringing with it Black History, Black music and name dropping that should be in a lecture hall.

[@geebee44]

VA stand up!

[@sira.scottascot8865]

Love this guy so much.

[@Mjohannb]

Thanks Nelson !!!

[@Sclass_Ent]

Cant tell me DeAngelo and Marshawn Lynch ain't the same Dude 😂😂😂

[@stephenlacey7571]

D’angelo was conneiseurs soul it was a new category!

[@godivor]

Do that Stuff....... Ah Do that Stuff....... D'Angelo !

[@jovanreid6782]

I don't blame you, D. I'd probably pick Parade too. I mean, Mountains is on it.

[@get2del]

I would’ve said Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the key of life”, for the album to show an alien! And for the one album….Sign o’ the times

[@gregmuscovalley3791]

All true. Late 60 then early 70s. Band of Gypsies, There's a riot going on. Funkadelic The Meters,Mandrill

[@aimmortalslegacy2189]

I was on the edge of my seat until he said.. Funk is like black Rock-N-Roll. I am lost in the wilderness. I cannot find my way.

[@tymathis8743]

Wow! So grateful for this interview! Coming from a multi instrumentalist music artist! Very inspiring and I just learned sooo much on the history of funk! By the way if you love funk, you’ll love my music! Ty Mathis Change of Weather!

[@keiththomas111]

Funk is called that because people basically lived in the studio creating and they were funky just like the music 😊🎤🎧🥁🎵🎹🎸🎺🎷✌️

[@Marv4MoBeats]

Sir Glen Gions would be proud 🛸🛸🛸

[@everett7903]

Next album please. Where's that next album!

[@nickbaigent2714]

Yeah it was Prince for you. It was Thelonious Monk for me my first funk

[@benisblunt7]

Imagine you got an interview with THE illusive D'Angelo, and you record with the loudest microphone ever.

[@pmatz]

Parade. wow. i hear that though. wow! thought it mighta just been me lol...

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

Great Convo B. !!

[@wadebrown502]

34:08 Funkadelic - “Do That Stuff”

[@55cleon]

Somehow I Knew That Was Jesse's Guitar 🤷🏿‍♂️❤!!

[@larrymays6771]

Come on man you got to give Sly and the Family Stone more props. James Brown, Sly, Prince, Funkadelics. Do not sleep on Sly

[@gregarmada701]

🔥

[@alivonal7442]

Funk is black rock and roll. That’s an awesome description.

[@chrisbennett6260]

fascinating conversation i wonder why their not alot of black musicians playing instruments in the RNB and Funk Soul ,genre as there was in the 70s early eighties its sad to hear what the executives , gatekeepers and Suits have done their the enemy

[@MG-bv3vu]

more please.

[@chrispetersen3151]

It should be mentioned that R&R tends to be on the beat..proper. That makes it slightly more aggressive. Funk lays back slightly behind the beat, almost more laid back, but equally assertive. On Beat / Behind Beat

[@BinkyWomack]

Tha Skunk Mob Funk 2024

[@TylerHolley-Bergin]

Well theyre gonna get to.

[@justicejones2385]

Bro I Love this interview but id way the volume goes low please reload This is LEGENDARY!!! THE youths NEED TO HEAR THIS I LOVE IT

[@mlbk7848]

jazz is also fundamental in FUNK!

[@AntwhaleNearfar]

Bernie Worrell most certainly did not say E sharp 😂 There is no such thing. “E sharp” is F. But…point well taken.

[@AskXcell]

When artists don’t do a lot of interviews- it’s very SPECIAL when they do. I have a new appreciation for D’Angelo

[@tygoldsmith8896]

Awesome interview

[@djcoolcliff]

Finally someone mention my uncle Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson!!!!! RIP to Wah Wah!!!!

[@loosendz]

@@djcoolcliff incredible musician!! His work with Herbie Hancock is legendary 🙌

[@elitedarklord315]

He’s a goat don’t worry 🫡

[@flyfermin]

​@@loosendzAnd I loved wah wah watson with meshell

[@djcoolcliff]

@@elitedarklord315 I know but it still excites me to hear his named called as being one of the ones to emulate!!! Such a cool cat and miss him dearly!!!!

[@soulbrutha23]

I was a tech in a session with him with Raphael Saadiq

[@Bluenblack17]

As Prince always said about funk “if you can describe it, it ain’t funky”. Legend

[@Rebelution7]

Booom!

[@AndreaAustoni]

The prince of cheesy funk

[@craigmack-cv3cp]

James Brown is the funk !!!

[@thesuncollective1475]

Prince sound like my man. 😊

[@shable1436]

I'm surprised he didn't mention Rick James

[@OBFLife]

Raphael Saadiq said D is working on some new stuff. Has like 5 or 6 songs right now that he's really excited about. I hope it's true.

[@isaiahsullivann]

Where did you see that? I hope so too!

[@lnapjr76]

Maaaaaaaan, I sure hope so.

[@hiatusfromtheworld]

big if true

[@whyisntitpossible404]

Omg! Thats so exciting! It means we can probably expect an album at the tail end of year 2043

[@fpdawson]

@@whyisntitpossible404😂

[@Mityob67]

D'Angelo is an institution and refuses to say it. This is class. Respect, and great interview.

[@irvin56]

Funky Stuff🎶❤️

[@chrispetersen3151]

Yeah. I couldn't believe Brown Sugar.

[@alanpage4075]

Always glad to hear D’Angelo in any context but especially talking about Black music

[@paulmayerpiano]

Yeah very interesting to hear what his thoughts are about music that I’m familiar with and love as well. He sees it from his own angle and perspective, but we definitely agree on a lot. Late 60s JB, Prince’s Dirty Mind album, Sly and the Family Stone, etc

[@Eastpointe]

This is an old interview. But thanks for sharing. D’Angelo is a phenomenal musician and artist who never gets his credit.

[@28lproductions38]

When was it filmed

[@thedonbishop55]

@@28lproductions382012.

[@ghostexits]

@@28lproductions38 says Black Messiah tour, so 10 years ago

[@chrisbennett6260]

@@ghostexits interesting

[@shable1436]

I'm surprised he didn't mention CeeLo then

[@milkman4eva]

He looks happy and healthy again. D’Angelo is a national treasure and we need him to thrive 🙏🏽

[@TheirIAre]

❤️🙌

[@pbellko]

Smokin ain’t a thing healthy people do.

[@JTD472]

This is from 2012 as you can see from the beginning

[@niccoloaurelius1587]

The world misses D'Angelo.

[@jdilla999]

I think Andre 3000 side of "The Love Below" album have elements of Funk, especially Prototype. D'Angelo & Andre 3000 should do an album together

[@pbelancsik]

It would be mind blowing. They’re both insanely humble, especially when compared to their counterparts. But part of being that humble also means you’re hypercritical of your own work. It would probably start with them over apologizing for interrupting one another when they actually didn’t lol.

[@jdilla999]

@@pbelancsik exactly lol

[@Nsurob]

The love below didn't have no funk in it all

[@jonathanallen9994]

@@NsurobPrototype was for sure funk inspired

[@dfoster4001]

@@pbelancsik To your point, I think the sessions would be dope and the product exactly what we need right now, but to both of their energies, it would never come out. Hell, it may already exist collecting dust somewhere cause “it’s not ready yet…”

[@charleanc3750]

I hadn’t thought about Ray Charles being the genesis of funk vocals. As soon as he pointed out that Sly was influenced by Ray Charles, his vocals on “If You Want Me To Stay” popped into my head. I hear that connection plain as day! Love this interview!

[@arthurswanson3285]

What I Say by Ray Charles was pure funk.

[@JoseOrtiz-rq3kx]

Hearing/seeing D’Angelo always replenishes the soul. Today is a good day. Thank you sir for this post 💜

[@STUDIO99MUSIC]

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE D’Angelo!!! Music is a tree and the different branches, leaves, etc. are what we call genres and such. Money destroys the tree…. In order to make it profitable all the grouping, compartmentalizing, and labeling diminishes the roots of the tree. It’d be so cool to know how amazing the tree would be if money never got in the way.

[@cancer_moonchild]

This is a beautiful man, not just visually but musically, vocally and expressively. He feels his words before he utters. Listening to him is like soul expression.

[@timwhiteside9971]

i'm blown away to hear a artist like D, Angelo give props to Hendrix the way he did , i always say The Band of Gypsies launched a thousand funk bands i mean look at the way black guitar players and a lot of black artist were dressing and styling their music in the seventies until this very day not to mention the Black Rock coalition ( wchich me and my band were associated with on and off during the 90's ) ; D, Angeilo's over all analysis of funk music and music period is mind blowing and inspiring to boot .

[@REM977]

I was also impressed.

[@countfrankleton]

The deep breaths before every answer lets you know you are about to hear a gem

[@goatuscrow4135]

Parliament and Funkadelic are the goats of Funk.

[@victorbrown3570]

Jimi Hendrix, still my fav musician after more than 50 years since the first time I heard him.

[@nutube06]

Funk is ham hocks in your cornflakes 🤘🏿

[@darkgreen9098]

Damn I can taste that 😆

[@davundree]

no milk

[@MoneyOverFame]

I remember hearing Garry Shider say that

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

How chill is this genius to just have a freewheeling historical conversation about his area of expertise?

[@MaroonCorey]

Props to D'Angelo for speaking to Otis Redding and Ray Charles for their influence on future funkateers - something I hadn't considered. His playing on "Do that Stuff" was sho nuff funky and had some extra swing to it with almost a Graham Central Station vibe. Props to Mr. George for the fun and insightful 2013 documentary "Finding the Funk" that this interview was filmed for - I continue to recommend it! Glad to see the full interviews being put out. He kind of revealed himself as a non-musician when mentioning "E sharp", but it made me smile. For the last question, I would have chosen the Parliament album D'Angelo played from - The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. Funk out to death, y'all!🤘And Richmond, VA represent (D'Angelo's hometown).

[@MaroonCorey]

Also, I see that Amoeba Records tag! Great store.

[@openwndowmaniac]

I think E# might be correct depending on the key but I also would say E/F/C/B rather than using sharps and flats. But his jazz background makes me think that wasn’t a mistake 🤷‍♂️

[@MaroonCorey]

@@openwndowmaniac Highly doubtful unless he is a Jazz guitarist that spends a lot of time playing in the key of F# major. When just calling out note names, you don't hear musicians saying E#, B#, Fb, Cb, etc.

[@anthonylewis6335]

Shout out to jesse Johnsons pink G&L strat chilling in the background

[@cubby6708]

It's an invader 🤙🏼

[@shable1436]

Mike turned around and was like wow what are you doing sneaking up behind me?😂

[@rickstraws92]

With Jesse Johnson’s guitar in the background lol

[@csharp57]

As a musician, I would love to know what it plays like.

[@alanpage4075]

@@csharp57he plays it near the 33 minute mark. lol

[@jaydixon32]

Yessir D’Angelo! You kept funk alive in your music! We ready for that new album!

[@rainstormer9999]

I'd love to see D'Angelo perform with the Revolution as a Great Tribute to his and my idol Prince!!

[@SuperCedlover]

He actually did. It’s here. @First Avenue of all places!

[@gbcprofesional]

Hey George… PLEASE keep Bringing Us these Dope Ass Insightful Interviews!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😇

[@KNEWLIFEMEDIA]

A Classic 2012 interview Big s/o D’Angelo I hear a new album is in the works ✌🏾✌🏾

[@Bahimo3154]

Is this interview New ???

[@sparkle3000]

What's understood doesn't have to be explained! Soul music comes from the soul, not from the head. Always imitated, never duplicated. It's simply our music. ❤🖤💚

[@1masterfader]

Sly Stone Absolutely LOVED Ray Charles. He told me a story where he had a session with Ray but didn't show up. I was perplexed and asked why!?!?. He said "I didn't have my ish together". Sly wasn't going to a session with someone like that and not being prepared. I've engineered some sessions with Sly and I imagine he ran his sessions simular to the way Ray Charles did. Sly would only give you 2 takes for vocalist and musicians. That's it. No matter what. So if Ray Charles was like that. I understand why Sly didn't show up to a Ray Charles session. I'm a musician, what I've learned about sly is he didn't want to hear what you thought would impress him. Sly Wanted to hear what you brought to the table for that song. He's told me many times play them keys like what you hear not what you think I want to hear. George Clinton, as well, told me "you need to play like you don't give a "F" ". in closing, I know theory and have a greater appreciation for it once I found out that Sly Stone learned theory from David Frolick at Solano community college up in the San Francisco Bay Area. David Frolick was the music teacher there. From what I've noticed from playing and being around him, and, catching glimpses of his creativity (I teched his computer and DAW. Garage Band) Sly did not write based on music theory he used theory to explain what he wrote. Music theory is used as a medium of retention. As a result, I've heard some of the funkiest, unreleased, Ish in my life comming from Sly and his work on Garage Band. Jaw dropping funk with Sly sitting there watching you listen to his track and laughing cause he know how funky it is. I mean no plugins just Bass, Drums, keys, vocals and some guitar. Simple FWUNKY stuff.

[@JTonthedrums]

Man, I wish the unedited/uncut version of this interview would be uploaded. Noticing a lot of cuts just when he’s about to explain something. Still awesome to see D speak as he’s not known for doing a lot of interviews.

[@nelsongeorge6539]

KZbin made me do it.

[@JTonthedrums]

@@nelsongeorge6539Mr George. Thanks so much for the reply. KZbin wrong for that… Love your work man. Thanks for this interview. Looking forward to the other ones coming up🙏🏽

[@28lproductions38]

Man the timing couldnt be more perfect!

[@oskamadison]

You can tell that D’Angelo LOVES music. Look at the joy on his face talking about the funk…

[@mimiwilliams7281]

Just smiling

[@REM977]

They stopped funding the arts in the schools. Almost everyone played some sort of instrument in school back in the 60’s and 70’s.

[@chetperry3384]

Funk is a music that, when it hits you, makes your body move in ways you can't plan. And you can't explain lol. Nice interpretation of "Do That Stuff"🎸

[@3MUnique]

Parade is among my fav Prince lps also. I wouldn’t think a lot of people would pick that 1, as far as a great funk lp.

[@tulsacaupain2882]

I loved Prince from the first song I heard. Sexy dancer anf I loved D'Angelo from the first song, Brown Sugar. ❤❤❤ His music and he doesnt hurt the eye either.

[@Yaooosteve]

This man is a living legend he really has no idea of the impact of his music. I just wish he dropped more consistently. That voodoo album still sounds firee Edit: damn all these I’m happy I’m not the only one who feels this way! This man is the 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@Black_Picaso]

Dig it.. True artist move by inspiration. So they can only move to create when they are moved inspirationally

[@tulsacaupain2882]

All his music is still fire

[@BigCheefaDaOG]

​@@Black_Picasovery well said.

[@BigCheefaDaOG]

​@@tulsacaupain2882he's my favorite male vocalist ever since Brown Sugar

[@Yaooosteve]

@@tulsacaupain2882it’s still in the rotations his albums are timeless

[@Kris102]

when is this from?

[@ronaldhill7180]

This is like an interview with Bigfoot! How did you manage this? Thank you! The music world needs this man!

[@Daddytang67]

D is badass. George Clinton said funk is its own reward. I believe him! Lordy!