When James Brown INCEPTED Hip Hop

James Brown had an influence on early hip hop in many ways, but the most obvious way is how early hip hop DJ's sampled his music. But was this… purely coincidence? Or was this a calculated move by the Godfather of Soul to GET people to sample his music? Was he trying to expand his Godfather title to encompass other genres of music? Had he tried this before? What does Disco have to do with any of this?
Today I'm talking all about James Brown, his influence on hip hop, and how his failed attempt to claim he invented a completely different genre of music set him up to be the Godfather of Hip Hop.
Stream the Spotify Listening Guide, which includes every song mentioned in this video: open.spotify.c...
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Clyde Stubblefield saying he hates Funky Drummer: • James Brown's Impact o...
An incredible video (and terrible audio) of JB talking about Hip Hop and saying "It's something the lawyers are going to discuss, I'm very happy they love me": • JAMES BROWNS THOUGHTS ...
Topics covered:
James Brown
Godfather of Soul
Godfather of Hip Hop
Funky Drummer
Give it up or Turn it a Loose
Get on the Good Foot
DJ Kool Herc
Grandmaster Flash
Early Hip Hop
Old school hip hop
drum samples
hip hop sampling
Disco
The Original Disco Man
Rapper's Delight
Bee Gees
Stayin' Alive
Heist
In The Jungle Groove
I'm Real
Public Enemy
NWA
LL Cool J
Digable Planets
The Pharcyde

[@bingflosby]

James brown didn’t sue people who sampled his music unlike everyone else I don’t know if that’s covered just started the video but I remember djs talking about the fact that he was the only person who didn’t sue for copyright infringement and that’s a big reason why he is The Godfather of hip hop

[@trashyraccoon2615]

He did sue for a while in the early 90s. Maybe he stopped.

[@shadebug]

Yeah, if you want somebody who failed to sue you need the Winstons. The story of the amen break is fully tragic

[@waltbcouncil4786]

Wow. Never knew that.

[@sithlord926]

I think Bob James is another often sampled musician who never sued.

[@otobotrecords]

Also George Clinton was cool with the sampling of his works as far as I know.

[@d-culture927]

The way that James Brown worked with his band in the long-form sessions captured on In the Jungle Groove is just incredible to listen to. He'd have his musicians keep repeating short 1 or 2 bar long phrases over a single chord. Then he'd instruct each of the musicians when to drop in or out, when to bring the energy down or build up to a crescendo. He was "playing" the band, like he was controlling an imaginary mixing board. He was effectively working exactly the same way that a modern day hip hop or electronic producer would work, muting, unmuting and soloing tracks and launching clips and loops in a real time performance. Only difference is that he was doing it with a live band.

[@bobwasdole]

man was the maestro

[@sskmusic4971]

Reminded me of The RZA

[@Shifftee]

“THAT’S WHY HE’S THE GOAT!!! THE GOATTTTT!!!!”

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

He didnt do anything, but his producer did everything, who was the actual musically talented, coherent, educated person, giving a lesson, proper direction and blessing so as the owner of a very own studio with prior experiences, fully capable of shaping and shifting everyone into what needs to be done and owned all of their sorry asses under and above. James Brown was another media clown that was lucky to be around. It all even rhymes, feel free to use it ... that is the reality with that said you're welcome. Moving on.

[@Jaburu]

@@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy that sounds almost impossible. any links to back this up?

[@williemo44]

Fun fact: Staying Alive was the first known record to use a drum loop. True story. The drummer had to fly to England for a funeral while recording the album. They took a 1/2 inch mix down of the drum groove from an adjacent song on the album and spliced it as a loop with one of the engineers acting as the other spool using a pencil. It would be dope if you did an episode on that story. Folks might appreciate the innovative thinking.

[@arfansthename]

Drummer Dennis Bryon couldn't be available for the sessions for Stayin' Alive since his mother died, and since they were recording in the Château d'Hérouville in France due to tax reasons, he had to fly back to her funeral. After some trial and error searching for other drummers and using drum machines, they decided to loop two bars of the drums from Night Fever to be used.

[@chrismoser9676]

Wow! I never knew that. One of the greatest and most timeless songs ever

[@Frank-bn9us]

What is a spool, and what does the pencil do? Idk anything about music production

[@HolyRollerTV]

nope that is fun fiction... , marvin gaye on 't plays it cool' dropping drum loops from way before a disco pop song

[@johncollins3046]

@@Frank-bn9us Spool = Reel that held the magnetic tape that captured the recording Pencil ✏️ I assume was used to adjust the speed

[@arronhaggerty8426]

Not only is James Brown the godfather of soul, he's the reason why hip hop exist, he was the precursor to hip hop, and he was rapping before it got to NY.

[@NEEDSHES]

👏👏👏

[@carltonbanks5470]

Thats true of a lot of black artists from the south. Including Pigmeat Markam.

[@Jhericurl1291]

ny didn't invent rap, they invented Hip Hop which has a specific set of elements to make the sound. Sampling being one of them. NY invented that.

[@lockvegas05]

@@Jhericurl1291 for sure ! Rapping comes from the American south .

[@kingelement4160]

@@Jhericurl1291 im going to say ny didnt invent hip hop..people were already sampling records and looping through out the country, especially in chicago. It was herc that just made it popular with his big parties, he is the first to have these giant parties..NY south bronx made it popular but didnt invent it.

[@mader5150]

I love how you highlight the "space" in these songs. So rare in modern music these days.

[@soulie1971]

Right? I was searching for the correct expression about modern music for years, called it crowded too layered, too loud too much going on😅 and he flipped it and just blurted it out 🥰

[@i-am-mercurial]

Loudness wars

[@readventurekids]

Totally feel this with quite a bit of newly produced Jungle/DnB/Hardcore. It's all too often relentless and doesn't allow the listener any time to breathe.

[@juice2002baby]

Love how the space was highlighted. That is something a man with no knowledge of the history of black american created music genres made up. Mad disrespectful. Read my initial comment to be educated.

[@juice2002baby]

@@soulie1971 Read my inital comment to be educated. How dare you disrespect the second music genre created by the decendants of American slaves that has made a world wide impact in so many ways by calling it loud and crowed. Idiot! He flipped what/ Blurted out what dummy?

[@Heregoesnuttin]

This beat is also sampled in the theme song for PowerPuff Girls. There's even a solo part in the theme where the beat plays by itself!

[@bklyncrook]

The Power Puff Girls' theme's drum is more Amen Brother drum break which is the bedrock of Drum n Bass.

[@JabaLeeJones]

@@bklyncrook kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpKTXn2LbdSbebs 😅

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

@@bklyncrook There are two or lets say three OG themes which reading both of your comments confused me of what do you exactly mean, I mostly remember the 2nd theme. Listening to them all now again after long years I find out quickly that the drum n bass version you mention was the actual show intro which is yeah a amen brother sample based or lets say inspired, and the second and third themes are pop-rock versions which have nothing to do with the intro version and neither of these collectively have a James Brown sample in them XD The intro uses a typical DNB loop which was common for action scenes or themes. So they used it since it was a thing back then still. The OP probably confused that intro's DNB beat with this one. Which might sound similar but it's still not the same thing.

[@TornaitSuperBird]

@@bklyncrookNah, PowerPuff Girls uses the Funky Drummer break.

[@bklyncrook]

@@TornaitSuperBird - I stand corrected, it was the Funky Drummer.

[@Waluiginumberone]

Let’s not forget Clyde Stubblefield, with one take of a drum beat with no other instruments he influenced the sound of hip hop for decades to come

[@DirtyHarryMichaelMyers]

RIP Clyde 🔥🔥🔥🔥♥️♥️

[@ASSman864]

Right give credit to the right guy 😂

[@josephhall5884]

Somebody let them know. Legend.

[@turnupthesun81]

I agree. James Brown didn’t play drums on that song.

[@youngprofessor]

@@DirtyHarryMichaelMyers He mentioned it in the video at about 14:30. Even included a picture. Only problem is it was a picture of the wrong drummer - the photo is of the great Max Roach. Doesn't even look like Clyde Stubblefield. Which is one reason why I won't be watching anymore of this guy's videos.

[@MadSUPANOVA]

James Brown always said... 'Just send me a check' He was like you can use my work... just pay me accordingly. Love James Brown and because of that business thinking he had... his music lives on through generations during and after his time. Just a savvy business man.

[@pruett89]

The middle section where you mixed James Brown and the Bee Gees LIVE and it sounded amazing gave me new life! That mix was a match made in heaven and Im so glad Ive heard it!

[@kaibricturner8836]

That was crazy 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@portcreditswag]

@@kaibricturner8836 thank Serato too! 50/50

[@TheOnlyCathyCat]

White people have got to be stopped....

[@paulobarroso3907]

EXACTLY. THAT JUST WENT HAAAAARD AF

[@madmax4700]

6:26 👽🌠

[@ryanpolo1187]

Hip-hop wouldn’t exist at all without the influence of “Funky Drummer” and “Impeach the President” both are the essence of classic hip-hop songs literally the foundation

[@Solomon-kt5dc]

Pigmeat Markham "Here Comes The Judge" 1968

[@maxwellhorowitz-burdick8142]

Apache, incredible bongo band needs to be included

[@dr.dionpeoples]

Funky Worm.

[@lroyjetsonson5060]

That's not true and James Brown didn't compose his music. Plus he had alot of songs just as Funky with hard Breaks.

[@impacc4182]

@@lroyjetsonson5060exactly

[@liquidamusica]

This channel is going to blow up BIG. Top notch production and entertainment! Thank u!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardc1129]

100% TOTALLY gonna blow up !

[@guttormurthorfinnsson8758]

best music Chanel I know a bout. please prof me wrong. 4. x. 105 =

[@raze4555]

actually thought that it already was:/

[@andremclaurin2468]

Yup…There’s coming new KZbin station on African American Heavy Metal

[@Nova_Corps]

Fun fact: it wasn't only Hip Hop artist that sampled Funky Drummer. An artist I'm sure you heard of named George Michael sampled it for his song Waiting for That Day.

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Also the Powerpuff Girls theme song famously samples it

[@southpaw2k1]

Also, the British band Fine Young Cannibals sampled it for their song, "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be."

[@uitham]

funky drummer is huuuuuuge in breakbeat, jungle, dnb etc

[@uitham]

it basically defined the sound of the 90s

[@stephenwalker2924]

And Candy Flip's cover of Strawberry Fields Forever.

[@shawncharles6077]

Bruh... The Bee Gees mash up with James Brown had me jumping out my seat lol is there a way lol

[@beyourself2444]

Blasphemy…

[@shawncharles6077]

@@beyourself2444 lol

[@Drinks4450]

Facts.

[@shawncharles6077]

@@Drinks4450 FIRE! I NEED A COPY. I might do it myself just to listen to in the shower lol just for my Listening Pleasure 2.

[@MrIgnid]

Ikr

[@benji.B-side]

Sometimes, less is more. James Brown was a master with this. The 'Space' you mentions is an example of this. From off the top of my head, The Funky Drummer break and the 'Amen' break are the two biggest influences used in early Hip Hop. Great video, respect!

[@TheOnlyCathyCat]

Name the drummers that played those breaks without using Google.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

The sped-up drum break sample from Funky Drummer is prominently used during the opening theme of the 1998 version of The Powerpuff Girls cartoon as well as during the cartoon's animated episode title cards...

[@nocarbonfootprint9120]

this guy knows his sh*t. i'm almost 60 and grew up with everything he's talking about here. SUBSCRIBED

[@jnyerere]

Disco did not "die" with Demolition Night. Some of the greatest hits between 1980 -1983 were very much Disco-esque. Popular examples include "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross in 1980, "Let's Groove" by EW&F in 1981, and "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" by Irene Cara in 1983. Many more songs in the 80s incorporated Disco elements even if they weren't explicitly made obvious. One can even make the argument that 90s House Music was Disco reincarnated.

[@TheGuest954]

Let's Groove Tonight could have been played in a disco but that was straight r & b. Boogie Wonderland would be considered disco possibly but not LGT.

[@PaulChapman1bz]

Mate, house music was born in the early-mid 80s from the ashes of the disco scene. There is no argument

[@newagain9964]

Bruh. Disco beats and rhythms are still very much alive. More than the 90s 4 sure. Esp in Pop-House mainstream dance music.

[@coleycole5344]

Agreed. Disco just evolved and went more electronic with less swing.

[@truthserum6808]

Disco IS the godfather for ALL club music. Disco > Post Disco > House > Electronic & Club music (various genres)

[@Antonio_Ortiz]

I don't know what's more mind-blowing: that James Brown / Bee Gees mashup in this video, or the fact that James Brown did a Disco *and* a New Jack Swing album.

[@phinouttawater2571]

a James Brown new jack swing album is CRAZY lmao

[@glassesstapler]

One thing about the 80s Rap songs. I was living just outside Philly and 'Static' was being played in heavy rotation. Every night during the count down STATIC was being played on the main r&b station, and it lasted for months. He was legit popular in hip hop

[@SabrumBaker]

Since high school none of my friends understood what I meant when I said James Brown was the precursor to Hip Hop. I’m willing to say without JB their is a TON in music we’d be missing out on.

[@indaco7014]

man you are incredible. the way you structure your videos, the anticipation and the flashbacks in the script and the editing is crazy. quality will never pass by unnoticed. Thank you for what you're doing

[@__RonnieHouston__]

"59 Studio Albums 49 Compilation Albums 15 Live Albums" Sooo THAT'S why they call him "The Hardest Working Man in Show Buisness" 💪🏾 💯

[@diggingthegreats]

Seriously... UNREAL

[@clementinelives]

was on his grind from the ultrasound

[@ericktellez7632]

Not that much, there is a dude who has credits for writing about 1,800 songs

[@dtsdigitalden5023]

Don't forget, he also found time to invent disco and hip hop, somehow.

[@joel2421]

@@ericktellez7632 This is a joke right? There’s light years of distance between merely writing songs and making albums. Does that cat who wrote those 1,800 songs have even 15 albums?

[@caneyebus]

James was just being James. Hardest working man in showbusiness.

[@PaulDA2000]

And plus FUNKY DRUMMER was not a failed song, it went up to number 50 on the pop chart and number 20 on the soul chart so it was a decent hit although didn’t go as high as his other hits

[@sjb3240]

& by 1986 dj's already found it... they're found it in the 70s...it was rereleased in 86 to make it easier to find/buy...to cash in on itd popularity in rap

[@michaelwilcox5168]

“Failed” by pop culture standards, but when has pop culture provided anything lasting?

[@PaulDA2000]

@@michaelwilcox5168 No it was not a failed song by pop culture standards James Brown was not really part of the pop culture for long. From 1965 to 1968 he had a few songs on the pop top 10 charts and from 1969 until 1971 he made many appearances on the Mike Douglas show and other main stream shows. After 1968 he got very little AirPlay on the so-called white music stations. He did his own thing and that was it. If you wanted to come to his music you had to do it on his terms he wasn’t going to change to get a wider audience.

[@MrArsg13]

Hello✊✊🏿

[@willdiesel8431]

@@michaelwilcox5168 adult Michael Jackson. That was easy.

[@FacundoCastro89]

Man I love this channel. The combination of cool music, entertainment, examples on actual songs and super interesting information is perfect. Great work!

[@TangleWireTube]

This is golden content. Love the presentation, and the info. RIP Clyde Subblefield. RIP James Brown. Both are legends.

[@jeffbyrnes3686]

💯🏆

[@juanrojas7505]

Your channel is pure gold. Every episode is a History lesson of good music. I wish u good health and keep vibing with the music . Long live your channel!! Greetings from chile🇨🇱

[@stefanb.9293]

to give James Brown some "disco inventing" credits, check out his LPs "sex machine today" and "body heat" from '75 and '76. "Dead on it" and "body heat" f.e. are some serious heavy hitting proto disco type songs, but still with that distinctive JBs driven horns and bass lines, so something in between his early 70s funk and the upcoming disco sound. Also "Get up offa that thing" fits in :)

[@welcometu9505]

Beautifully done, my brother. You laid Soul Brother out and put it on record that, James Brown is not only the Godfather of Soul, but, of Rap and Hip Hop. James Brown was a genius. A freaking genius, now everybody knows it.

[@archangelrapheal5231]

James was on a mission and he completed it successfully

[@justinmayhew6848]

These videos are so well produced, really great work! I love how you can break down music in a technical way that can be easily understood by your average music listener (like me). I hope this channel blows up!

[@KingPurcival]

You are one of the few people that teaches me things every single time. This is a topic I know well and you still made me learn. Please don't stop.

[@kaibricturner8836]

All hail James Brown “The Godfather of Hip-Hop” 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@dave_s_vids]

Dude, you are a fantastic presenter and your videos are hip-hop history gold. Thank you for these!

[@petsounds3612]

Your videos are wonderful. Interesting topics explained in an engaging way, all edited together beautifully. Your charisma and passion shine through. Keep up the great work!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much!

[@pokorean]

There’s a reason he was known as the hardest working man in show business… man was literally a machine .. and a hell of a visionary

[@musamusashi]

The drummer in the pic at the end is not Clyde Stubberfield, but Jazz great Max Roach. Beside that, nice and entertaining video.

[@diggingthegreats]

What a mistake! Don’t know what happened! 🤦‍♂️ good catch

[@musamusashi]

@@diggingthegreats we all humans, bro... i just found your channel and watched a few videos. I really like the approach: keep up the good works.

[@linusnanor1531]

I wish this channel had over 500 videos so I'd have an unlimited number to go through. I've watched them all.

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏 Working as hard as I can to get more out!

[@linusnanor1531]

@@diggingthegreats can't wait

[@nettricegaskins1871]

Funk music came out of call-and-response participation, a technique where one musician offers a phrase and a second player answers with a direct commentary or response to the offered phrase. You can find this technique in music across the African Diaspora, as well as visual art and dance performances, including break dancing. Funk is a continuum of this.

[@I_AM_Legend_007]

Funk didn’t come out of call and response! Funk is Black American Music! That’s all!

[@porpiknala]

@@I_AM_Legend_007 😂

[@sterlin9tv849]

Y’all always gotta credit black American music to Africa huh?

[@JustJJr]

@@sterlin9tv849 as opposed to?

[@tdubb84]

@@I_AM_Legend_007 music does not have a race

[@gabrielomondi4630]

Am a producer and my take on JB is that his music was based on the "minimalist" concept..one or two chords, a few breaks here and there....and that's pretty much it. Almost like writing in CAPITAL LETTERS Very strong n effective

[@oldude73]

Herc used the live version of "Give It Up Turn It Loose" for the Merry Go Round.

[@wowmedialtd]

Has to be one of my desert island discs. I can't help but smile and shake every time he calls Clyde then Bootsy in. I'd jump into a windmill, but the ol' back won't take it anymore.

[@strauqq1]

Dang, dude this was good. You've given me a good history of James and the establishment of hip hop. Thank you.

[@SharifSourour]

The syncopated drum he popularized were patterns that were the foundation of all the most popular drum machine patterns for hip hop. The guy developed funk which was responded to with breaks, disco and hip hop. So he's not wrong when you look at it from his perspective. He learned from others in soul and took it to the next level. If you're disrespecting the man you're missing the point.

[@crownstone]

Right! James Brown IS the foundation for ALL modern forms of dance music including disco.

[@HonestTaalib]

The only problem is, James Brown didn't do any of this. His backup bands did. First w/Maceo Parker (et. al) then, w/Bootsy (et. al). He's not an arranger, composer, etc. Give credit to the ones who really created all of it.

[@jimmy_jamesjams_a_lot4171]

…. And hence the need for a ‘Godfather’! Because the father is gone. Ran away! The role of a Godfather is to be the main male influence and raise the child in the absence of it’s real father!

[@SharifSourour]

@@HonestTaalib they just did what he requested… session musicians were not coming up with the compositions or arrangements however the best ones lasted. A lot of his band members were fired or left over payment disputes yet some, like Maceo, etc… kept coming back. Why would they if James Brown was not an inspiration and leader for them?

[@HonestTaalib]

@@SharifSourour I've seen a lot of interviews with James Brown's former band mates. And the one record that fits what you're saying is "Cold Sweat". So yes, he's responsible for creating Funk Music. However, 99% of the other songs were a collaborative effort. To call most of those guys 'session musicians', is really lessening their actual roles. The reason why many stayed, even though they weren't getting paid correctly was bc he was the greatest frontman ever. His shows were electric and unlike any other. That doesn't mean that those guys were robots, waiting to be programmed.

[@aaronengland5622]

Forget the interesting stories. This man is so good at tying his videos together with cliff hangers that I'm pre-preparing myself for my 4th, 5th, and 6th videos. Don't know why I thought I was getting a nap in before work.

[@notsoberoveranalyzer8264]

Something I love about music is just how much of a group effort it is. How much inspiration goes into every single aspect, wether it be the creation of sounds, or their patterns. It is kinda sad how much people say “this guy stole this or that”, when it really is such a collaborative thing. That cultures, and people who may not have ever known each other, or hell actively hate each other, can actually unify on something. That is, excluding all of those people who try to speak for artists. Like, nobody owns a particular tone, just like a color isn’t. Yet. I do understand it’s a business that quite literally millions depend on to feed their families.

[@mattcoleman6780]

That is now my favorite video of all time on KZbin.

[@bryce253]

I applaud this dude for highlighting how important James Brown is to hip hop (general pop music in general also) but a lot of the narrative here is just flat wrong. While he is right that The Funky Drummer was and still is most sampled song in Hip Hop (probably in all of music....no it's not the amen brother beat or honey drippers although that might be second), the rerelease on In The Jungle Groove was NOT to insert it into Hip Hop. In The Jungle Groove on a whole was a compilation album produced by Cliff White and Tim Rogers of the most popular James Brown songs THAT WERE ALREADY HIGHLY BEING SAMPLED IN HIP HOP. That was the whole point. It was more of a response to show where the djs and artists were finding these James Brown beats, not to guide them to James Brown songs he wanted them to use for beats. That narrative was completely backwards. Also, the narrative about the I'm Real album. Full Force produced that album and constructed all the music for it. It was their tribute album to James Brown featuring James Brown. And that album is classic. I can't appreciate his tone and spin on that narrative either.

[@dreday3303]

Very important comment. Thank you for the knowledge 👏🏾👏🏾

[@beyourself2444]

Lord, I loved Full Force as a child

[@djb-milk9972]

Yup. The Bronx DJs already discovered Funky Drummer years before 1986 and were cutting it up in the park jams and clubs. Not to mention that Breakbeat Lenny and Breakbeat Lou also put it on Ultimate Breaks and Beats in 1986. If anything, I'd speculate that it was UBB that spawned JB to try to cash in.

[@Drewman3387]

I love your commentary and interaction. You truly love this music, and it shows.

[@thefunkexcursionon]

James Brown is rightly credited with having influenced hip hop. He released ‘funky drummer’ to cash in - And what’s wrong with that? Fact is, it was a smart business move, and he was eventually awarded some of his royalties. Copyright law now requires clearance for samples, so artists are finally being compensated. Unfortunately, Stubblefield was never properly paid for his seminal contribution to hip hop.

[@mrkilo-g8794]

Yepp

[@rockygrier3728]

Man you have a dope KZbin Channel. Presentation is great knowledge is on point. Just a great show.

[@drumfluence]

Love where you’re going with this. But you used Max Roach at “14:33” instead of Clyde!! And Funky Drummer didn’t necessarily “fail” on the charts, it was actually a B side recording that wasn’t going to make it on the album. There’s a famous Purdie break that was lifted off a B side. I think some hip hop producers at the time though they wouldn’t get in trouble or “nobody would care” from lifting a B side is my personal thought.

[@henryhuber1050]

Yo I thought I was going crazy like "The great Max Roach is dope but not on these records..."

[@djdedan]

Probably more the fact that no one would care because rap records weren't selling millions of copies, no one would care because no one would know.... also it wasn't clear that sampling was a crime or at least an enforced crime, i think sampling was so new and the records weren't selling all that much to begin with, it wasn't until the records started selling, then it became an issue... De La was one of the first to get hit hard, Biz came next even tho he wasn't selling as much...

[@thefunkexcursionon]

Thanks for pointing this out! Strange oversight considering the author’s seeming expertise.

[@jujutrini8412]

@@djdedan I agree with you. These kids were sampling for records that was doing a whole new genre of music and had no idea hip hip was all of a sudden going to be huge. They were just experimenting and having fun. No one knew in the late seventies early eighties that hip hop was going to be mainstream. They didn’t even know it would get to the ears of anyone like James Brown for them to contemplate worrying about royalties (which they knew nothing about as they were just kids without a knowledge of “obscure” laws). 😂

[@osamakheireddine9493]

This channel is too fucking good. Less than 100k and the content is 5+ mil in terms of quality. You deserve all the success you’re going to have. Keep killing it bro🔥

[@NeoStar]

DTG: “your honour if I may…” Me, lying on a couch: “you may proceed” Loved this video. I really enjoy these musical history lessons and getting a fuller picture of these topics.

[@renelarock5331]

The “jump part” later referred to “extending breakbeats” were actually first used by disco DJs like Grandmaster Flowers and DJ Pete Jones (who’s technique was used for the quick mix theory) I would also add that James Brown’s song “Soul Power” was the B-boy theme song for DJ Disco King Mario (who is also considered a founder of hip hop as well)

[@calebcaleb9808]

the quality and depth of content, production value and aesthetic of your channel is nothing short of amazing, you're going to blow up in no time i've been bingeing on your videos since i discovered your channel today

[@nanob0zo]

You should have a million subs. Top quality stuff here. Thanks for making these.

[@JermaineJagger]

WOW Loveee your breakdowns of music!!!! Your humor&dancing is great too haha! Glad I found your channel, keep it up! ❤️

[@leandrewjefferson9137]

Great vid. I would say that single "Too funky in here" was a HIT in many ways none including the way we define "hit" today. Nothing to do with streams, sells, or radio support or anything but the influence that song had was amazing. For example, the bass line in that song was used by Prince in Baby Im A Star (most of the live performances). Prince also have a few rehearsals and soundcheck of "Too funky in here". Prince might've written a few song arrangements with the influence of that one song he would jam hours to with the Revolution and The Time. He did the same with Bodyheat.

[@jonjuan2020]

Thanks for the video & great channel. Your video did get a couple of things wrong though. The version of "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" you use around the 3:55 mark is not the version DJ Kool Herc used back in 1972. The version Kool Herc used was featured on the 1970 album "Sex Machine" (a studio version with added live audience). Here is the 1986 mix: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2OUnKShfbR7etE Herc would loop the breakdown section around the 4:58 mark. Also, James Brown had no involvement with the 1986 Polydor album "In The Jungle Groove". He was no longer signed to Polydor Records at that time and consequently had no input on any reissues of his back catalogue. The album was compiled by Tim Rogers & Cliff White. The "Funky Drummer" Loop/Bonus Beat Reprise was created/edited by DJ Danny Krivit.

[@mossadon]

FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@steveonoir]

100% ☝🏼

[@meeppete7884]

Went down this music rabbit hole starting with the MJ "Can't Help It" video and now I just can't help myself - fully subscribed and this is the 4th video I watched of Digging the Greats. Great stuff!

[@DJDouglasWarden]

if you include all the underground artist who will never get any recognition in any kind of list anywhere I'm sure the number of people who have sampled the funky drummer is in excess of 10,000. I've sampled it 100 times myself.

[@discobeatsrock8720]

Soul and Funk were precursors to Disco. Disco was the golden era of human musical expression. Change my mind...

[@ExeErdna]

James Brown is legit the main man when it comes to a lot of music his influence of rock made soul, soul doubled back and made metal, disco, pop and hip hop. That's why he's "The Godfather" Everybody was influenced by him in someway.

[@schipbreukeling3]

It was empty and I hated it.

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

@@schipbreukeling3 The Gibb Brothers, Kc and the Sunshine band were great musicians with a lot to their songs,some other artists were too. I think I’ve found at least one song I’ve enjoyed in just about every genre and sun genre of music, even ones I largely dislike.

[@schipbreukeling3]

@@MrRyan-wu4jx ok Kc and the Sunshine band were the exception and you are right.

[@GuesGuess]

It's devil worship. Boogie is a nickname for the devil. If you want me to give you some songs where it's clear Disco is demonic, I can show you​@@schipbreukeling3

[@soulaschoolofhealingarts]

You got the vibes and stuff bruva. Keep up the quality. We’re watching.

[@banterj]

You are a really good dj,…no shade I am desperate for that Staying alive/James Brown mash up.That was epic!…I would literally buy it

[@allgoo1990]

I discovered James Brown through the Tower of Power. I'm stating to see the transition from funk to disco now. The guy was a genius.

[@TheoryTuckerMusic]

That stayin alive/get on the good foot mix was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@lunarmodule6419]

Discoverers you today. I love the way you analyse music. Clear, well explained with simple terms, fun but not silly. Great edition. Subscribed!

[@cdavidcd14]

Love you man you are brilliant, ive been watching ❤😂😂🎉🎉keep us all addicted to your wonderful content

[@Dangizzle]

Super grateful for this channel. The depth of knowledge and research that goes into storytelling like this is a lot. Snacks

[@MarcusThe9]

You're Legendary. Keep this channel alive.

[@jayelee7112]

James Brown created funk and without James Rap doesn't exist . Those early Rappers grew up watching their parents get down to James Brown and Parliament so they already knew .

[@Mal_Intent]

Holy shit. And now I know where the sample Sublime uses in Scarlet Begonias comes from, and that song is itself a cover of a Grateful Dead song of the same name. Learn something new everyday. I love your enthusiasm for the subject matter. It really comes across. Keep up the awesome work.

[@PD3Music]

Your such a great educator, musician and DJ! Your mixes are 🔥🔥

[@marcgibson9210]

Love watching your videos! They are very informative and I always learn something new!

[@stevencord292]

I love this guy! He’s funky and explains these things so well. The joy of love and knowledge of music is infectious. I feel like I could be instant friends with Shaw because I am exactly like him (with probably less of an encyclopedic knowledge of music), but with the same enthusiasm and love of sharing the good music. Way to go man! People like you make the world better. Thank you!

[@juice2002baby]

Really? PLEASE! Read my initial comment to be educated. How can you explain something that you don't know. Then have people like you believe it. Mad disrespectful. Not only am I first generation hip hop, there at the birth. The father Kool Herc and many other ledgends are family to me. I am a legend in 2 elements of the culture. I was taught the history of who I am meant to stay hidden from me as a decendant of American slaves. This starting in the first grade my first exposure to racism. That includes the history of our music. People like him do not make the world better. How? Not only was he disrespectful to my culture, he disrespected you and everyone else making you believe straight lies. Music is universal. I love different types. It is my pleasure to give you an edited tutoral about the origins about a genre that I am of by bloodline. What I state is enough for you to do further research in the right direction. THAT IS HOW YOU MAKE THE WORLD BETTER!

[@darrellhoward705]

@@juice2002baby Thank you for being the voice of reason. This guy is a clown behind a programmed computerized set. He can read so he's read all about James Brown but knows nothing about the music and did not grow up with it in the household, a lot like the rest of the experts who know nothing of the music or the culture.

[@siriusaldebaran7852]

I hope one day you will make a video about the influence of Parliament/Funkadelic on hip hop and on other genre of music

[@PaulDA2000]

And plus I’ll add one more thing that makes the assertion that he’s the one that orchestrated the rappers to sample him ridiculous. The rappers grew up listening to James Brown. They already knew he’s the one that created funk and started using the One. He didn’t need to tell them anything almost every single rapper admits without James Brown there would be no rap music.

[@oholm09]

That what happened to George Clinton got sampled by hip hop

[@365-g6v]

I bust out laughing for two minutes, when you pointed out James Brown asking “Ain’t it funky?” from Funky Drummer

[@stephenwalker2924]

James Brown was a genius because he KNEW the 'funky drummer' break was THE best break out there that not many people had heard of in 1986. He knew the world of music needed it and he gave it to the world.

[@tyroneepps3018]

Hi ! D. T.c. I ha e your new ! Channel I like this 📹 I will out this in my library so Keep the the videos coming your new ! No.1 fan !

[@ghosttheillest]

Herc didn’t spin the original version of Give It Up, he spun the version that appears on In The Jungle Groove with the original JB’s lineup (Bootsy, Clyde, Catfish, etc.) This is the one with the actual break beat, released in 1970.

[@paranormalproductions7136]

Facts, and we all know this! Yt people always messing up our history. I remember I told an American Music course in college and the teacher called Grand Wizzard Theodore as DJ Theodore...Like, huh?

[@akzorz9197]

Late to the party but still loved this. Amazing work, keep it up!

[@rrweed]

I mean, THIS IS FREAKING MUSIC HISTORY! 🎼 Love the storytelling way. 👏

[@juice2002baby]

THIS GUY INTENTIONALLY MADE YOU LOOK LIKE A SUCKER. THIS IS NOT MUSIC HISTORY! ALL LIES. Please read my inital comment to be educated with the truth. I am first generation hip hop. There at the birth. The father and other legends are family. I am a legend in 2 elements of hip hop. Before all of that, I was taught the history of who I am of. The inventions, discoveries and more in every area from science to every type of artistic expression I was not to know were due to the American slaves I decend from. You clearly love music and want to learn more. This idiot has less respect for you than he does me. What if I didn't come across this video. Comment with the truth, which is my pleasure then go down the line to reply to others comments. Your comments got 15 thumbs up . Thats crazy.

[@ladydulaney]

This channel is amazing. I am obsessed!!!!!

[@discomadness]

Some stuff you kinda missed out ( just an observation) James Brown did not like other people sampling his music- at all He had sent cease and disist letters to no end to some great music ( the crazy frenchman back into time : soul party is the best example) And some of his disco songs are early house standards : Body Heat, I'm Satisfied , Nature and get up offa that thing just to name a few..... Nice video anyways

[@diggingthegreats]

The house stuff could fill another video! And yeah, he didn’t like people sampling his music - but I’m saying it’s awfully suspicious how he handed them exactly what they needed to sample it first haha

[@DjBRedd]

That part, that way and in that order. Yes indeed he influence all of it. They even shout him out on some the songs.

[@PaulDA2000]

James Brown was not against people sampling his music he was against people sampling his music and not paying for it.

[@drumfluence]

Another thing is the record companies had big pull and can do stuff like that on a dime, even if the artist didn’t agree to it. It’s very possible the it was the labels idea to release that album with the Funky Drummer reprise.

[@PaulDA2000]

@@drumfluence Oh I think you hit the nail on the head! So this guy’s theories are just fluff with no substance.

[@tumishomogano1574]

I love your content 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️‍🔥you are a true hip hop historian

[@bigmoneysteppa]

James brown is a synthesiser with his own custom waveforms

[@DJKennyMan]

That was a great video sir. When you start up running down all the questions at the end, it reminded me of the TV show Soap. 🤣😂

[@driplordvonskullmangler6106]

Being a historian and reggae musician, I'd love to see something on the role that reggae and Jamaican culture had in hip hop and rap. Something that's seldom acknowledged or even recognized is the influence that American soul, jazz, and funk had on Jamaican traditional ska, rocksteady, and reggae, and vice versa.

[@qaddams]

jamaicans created punk music as well !!! 🤟🏾

[@driplordvonskullmangler6106]

@@qaddams Not exactly, but English punk was influenced by it. American punk was born out of garage rock and the back to basics ethos.

[@qaddams]

@@driplordvonskullmangler6106 true i was moreso oversimplifying the influence reggae & two tone had on english punk and the legacy of bad brains in america

[@knkytht]

I was surprised to see a mention of the MC talking over the break without ANY mention of toasting.

[@driplordvonskullmangler6106]

@@knkytht seriously, the influence of dub in particular is all over this video

[@bradnobl]

You teach entertain and inform at the same time. Bro that Good Times @5:40 breakdown was absolutely 💯 on time!

[@quincy9908]

*JAMES BROWN* The great influencer. Might not be the creator of Disco nor Hip-Hop, but definitely influence the fvck out of them both. Along with modern Soul and Rhythm & Blues. He did create Funk though undoubtedly.

[@hawkzulu5671]

Rap - itself and the Hip Hop genre being a commercial product came Much later.. ask the DJ pioneers who's music did they practice looping... when cutting and scratching evolved -- whose stabs and hits and yells were we using to teach ourselves the technique. James Brown didnt Invent hip hop..but i cant imagine the hole that would be left without having him to draw inspiration from .

[@fotisxevgenis]

the mix at 6:45 was oh so CLEAN !

[@FirstKickCamdenMacLaren]

Funky Drummer got me too 😂 He absolutely knew what he was doing lol

[@vvindovvmusic]

for me this is best channel on youtube, every single video is a treat. thankyou.

[@andreellis2167]

James Brown definitely invented hip hop. "Papa Don't Take No Mess" and "Payback" BARS!

[@lowlowseesee]

nah yo if thats the case we can go back to Louis Jordan

[@Drinks4450]

Nice vid man. First time watching your channel. Subscribed!!!😁😁😁😁

[@courtneycloyd5110]

Can we get that Get on the Good Foot/Stayin' Alive mashup please? And I also need to know if The People's Court theme was ever sampled in a song, because it's got some real potential.

[@756014]

Nelly did two songs off the people's court theme. "Put Your Hands Up" and "Iz U".

[@simonroyjonesuk]

First time I've been on your channel. Suoer interesting. Thanks, Will watch more.

[@FAMEAcademyNY]

See this is what happens when people who were NOT around give us our history. SMH. You TOTALLY left out the fact that DJs were cutting up Funky Drummer throughout the 70s and early 80s. We sampled it BECAUSE we cut it up NOT because James Brown re released it.

[@Hot_Carl]

Yeah I'm pretty sure Brown re-released it because of its popularity as a sample

[@sjb3240]

Exactly. This guy completely skips over the fact that dj's in 1970's were already using this break at park jams. Also, Ultimate Breaks & Beats volume #12, in 1986, released "Funky Drummer", on a bootleg compilation. JB got no money from the bootleg, so he released on his label to cash in on the existing popularity of it.

[@keithjenkins1153]

Great video. Very well-researched and entertaining. That being said, I wasn’t there, but I would bet that the version of Give It up Turn it Loose that Kool Herc would have used to make a break loop would have been the Bootsy-era version from 1970, which features an actual Clyde Stubblefield drum break. This version first appeared on the half-live album Sex Machine and can be found on the 1988 compilation “In the Jungle Groove”, as well as Funk Power.

[@joel2421]

You are correct.

[@disconnexionsdotcom]

Thank you. I was about to make the same comment. The drum break on the live version is THE one that rocked the parties.

[@trayoibry8246]

wow dude im mean im about 37 and i make beats for 22 Years... knew alot of the history...but this video made me learn even more... really well done 😁😁👍👍 happy new year

[@anthonytaylor2902]

Much respect to James Brown RIP to the godfather of soul 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🕊️ , the most sampled artist in hip hop, rest peacefully King