The Unexpected Complexity of D'Angelo

D'Angelo's Chicken Grease is amazing. The song feels so good, and so effortless, but if you take a look under the hood, there are a lot of influences happening, from Classic Soul to Funk, from the 60s, 70s, AND 80s, and from hip hop to… Classical Music. No, I'm not kidding. That's how intricate this song is. Here are the 7 musical influences I found in D'Angelo's Chicken Grease.
Stream the Spotify Listening Guide, which includes every song mentioned in this video: open.spotify.com/playlist/2r3...
Other videos mentioned in this one:
The Soulquarians and the Power of a Music Scene: • The Musical Movement W...
James Brown's Hip Hop Heist: • When James Brown INCEP...
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TOPICS COVERED
D'Angelo
Chicken Grease
Voodoo
Questlove
Marvin Gaye
Prince
James Brown
Beethoven
Classical Counterpoint
Curtis Mayfield
George Clinton
J Dilla
Neo Soul

[@RenzoAse]

Maaaaaaan, these videos are a music/hip hop heads dream!

[@diggingthegreats]

Trying to give this music the attention and respect it deserves!

[@paperbagbrown1326]

I didn't know how to say it. I guess simple is best.

[@akvalues]

😂😂😂 ok

[@TMOTC]

Your channel is brilliance!

[@AKC-MUSIC]

I’m in heaven! Content like this is what I’ve always dreamed of! 🤗🤩🤘🏾

[@thegrimyeaper]

I remember my Dad and I sitting in the car the first time it played on the radio, we looked at each other and said "Prince?!" at the same time. Bought the album for his birthday and he danced with my mother to it. Good times.

[@BrokenEquipment.]

I bought this for my mom on her birthday. She still listens to it.

[@musamusashi]

Voodoo is my favorite album of the past 30 years. Mama's gun is probably the second...what an amazing, creative moment in music history 2000 was. Love your videos, bro.

[@diggingthegreats]

Agreed! An incredible time in music history! Thank you 🙏

[@devzeppilin]

Thank goodness we got to witness & live with the Soulquarians.

[@jokkearnt]

Both my favs too bro, good taste!

[@eyesoulyou2086]

Counter melody concept is existent way before Beethoven and is applied to a lot of music. Doubt that Angelo was thinking on it to do it 😅

[@bassdivo]

@@eyesoulyou2086 why wouldn’t he be thinking of it? He’s an incredibly sophisticated musician

[@vflap]

Masterfully done! Voodoo is my favorite album ever! It's a joy to watch these videos and feel all the love and knowledge you put on it! Hope you keep it going!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you! Many more videos on the way!

[@uso_Jus2SmooTh94]

Same here. Voodoo the best album ever.

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Brazilian or Portuguese?

[@cequario]

u might like this one :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpWyqoeCqrykia8

[@soursixteen3112]

I have the voodoo cd in storage. It's a little scratched up. I played it a lot. Chicken grease is one of my favorites 😍👑 One mo gin is my number one favorite on that album. ❤️

[@particlejones]

I got to work with d recently, was a blessing, i have a recording of this live and also a denzel curry version of him doing chicken grease pretty rad, recorded on same room too

[@user-mh9fn1os9h]

his new album is coming?

[@minibuns5397]

Cool story bro!

[@particlejones]

@@minibuns5397 🫂

[@marlonlew5084]

Pino on bass was so key on this album!

[@idontwantahandlethough]

First time I heard Black Messiah it absolutely blew my mind. Was definitely worth the wait! Don't think I've ever heard an artist incorporate so many different kinds of music and sounds in his work. There's all sorts of parts where there's a random clarinet riff or something, and then then that's the only time that instrument makes a noise the whole song and I'm left thinking "wow, I wonder why that's there. I wouldn't have thought of that in a thousand years"

[@darthknowl9222]

That’s such a great Album 💿

[@Iam.AminB_]

It’s truly a masterpiece. I was a kid during the voodoo era so this have me a sense of what it may have felt like.

[@yellowbones]

this. The fact that Black Messiah came out almost at the same weeks that TPA came out kinda ruined the release, but damn is that album just perfect

[@byanymeansnecessary9329]

@@yellowbones TPA? What dat?

[@danielmarston4499]

@@byanymeansnecessary9329 could be wildly off but maybe To Pimp A Butterfly, was a similar time I think. Anyway, Black Messiah is one my all time albums, continues to blow my mind to this day, an absolute masterpiece!

[@usinganear]

Dude.. This is an extremely well-researched and executed video. Amazing job. So much useful info and amazing connections in here! I wish you the best with your channel, this stuff is gold!

[@thevahnblack]

"Chicken Grease" is one of my favorites on Voodoo! I've always thought of it as his "Sexy MF" or "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud". Prince was a bog fan of James so this lineage is no secret. D'Angelo put his FOOT in Voodoo and the band elevated the magic. Pino's bass playing on this track is some of the best on the album. He's such a thoughtful player playing with space in such a fun way. It's the most prevalent on "Chicken Grease." So happy to see other musicians analyzing D'Angelo's work! Good video.

[@chu2ks2dfutur]

I love your content...much needed in these times. My only feedback to this great digging is that James Poyser probably deserved more flowers in this piece. He allegedly did the bulk of this, going from an Okay Player video on the song, and D'Angelo and Questlove came to him and asked him to give it to them, instead of Common. When he agreed, they proceeded to swap with Common. Poyser worked with Dilla on Common's The Questions, and his beatmaking influenced him on the rest of his Electirc Lady sessions. Great content though. Many blessings!

[@_soulful.woman311]

As a huge fan of D'Angelo, I'm here to say, this video was amazing !!

[@maelorach]

This is some real talent here, your pedagogy and your video’s production value are just excellent. My hat is off

[@user-sp4ps6oc4s]

This channel is gold!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@norwoodsstokes3883]

Because of this segment, i have a whole nutha appreciation of the song...👐🏽👐🏽💪🏽💪🏽💯

[@Waynetronics]

I rarely comment on here but this video truly blew me away man. I've been a Voodoo truther for years now because I believe that Voodoo is the best R&B album so far this century but also how much of a homage it was to the great Black music that proceeded it so to see you so eloquently break this down was amazing man. Keep up the good work & I'm looking forward to seeing your channel continue to grow & take off. Salute

[@mdp1991]

Not only do you do your homework, but you put alot of time in your videos. Love it.

[@MossyB4Prez]

This is the greatest R&B album of all time to me. I'm sayin all time. I put this above Thriller. There are no skips on this album. The content in the songs. The emotional depth. Songs like Send It On, The Root, Spanish Joint...sheesh. D'Angelo did that! I hope he comes around one more time! I love all 3 of his albums.

[@nikhilrampal7488]

thriller is sill better, lets be honest

[@nikhilrampal7488]

songs like devils pie feel quite dated.... thriller is timeless

[@MossyB4Prez]

@@nikhilrampal7488 to you. Not to me. I skip multiple songs on Thriller and the sound is dated. You can tell it was constructed in the 80s. I'm speaking sonically, lyrically, arrangement...TO ME, there is nothing touching the Voodoo masterpiece. It could be released today and still be light years ahead of R&B.

[@MossyB4Prez]

@@nikhilrampal7488 ok. 😂 Do you see all of these protests going on in the world? Do you see what's happening in music especially with rappers? And Devil's Pie is dated? Do you know what the song is about? Yeah. Jay-Z asked once do you listen to music or skim through it...

[@nikhilrampal7488]

​@@MossyB4Prez you're speaking to a 0.01% jay z fan.... You can rate it over thriller if you want to. But be careful, Thriller is widely considered as the best of all time. Questlove himself would also conceed to this. Sure its better than modern RnB... but all modern music is shit. devils pie.. save some desert from us😁

[@justdope1963]

Pino Palladino's bass grooves make the rest of us look like we got no rhythm whatsoever. lol.

[@mattob4619]

Can’t believe I haven’t found your visa and channel until now. Been a huge D’Angelo fan since Brown Sugar. So deeply appreciative of your incredible deep dives. Thank you 😎

[@RyanShawtech]

finishes video immediately puts chicken grease on loop

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Ms.TriceyK]

I came across this channel in my KZbin feed and can’t stop watching the videos!!!! Amazing content! Thank you for highlighting real music!!!

[@thenameisomari]

Fantastic video, man. You broke down the intricacy of “Chicken Grease” in layman’s terms so well - especially the counter-melody bit (which I was totally unaware of) and Questlove’s drumming technique. It’s made me appreciate the ‘loose precision’ and risk-taking of Voodoo more than I did. Subbed to you yesterday, hoping you continue to gain subs over time. Your stuff is quality.

[@jahspace]

lmao i love that head bobbing to "ode to joy" at 6:31 😂

[@_sethweaver]

cannot get enough of your channel, man. so well done and way enjoyable.

[@OrdinaryLatvian]

When I clicked on this video I wasn't expecting to Hear Beethoven's counterpoint, lol. Great analysis!

[@thedonbishop55]

I love these musical break downs.

[@user-rp4bz8sq2e]

This is a great video, thank you! Being a fan of all those elements and influences I enjoyed every second. Btw hats off for the way you explain counterpoint to non-knowers - couldn't have done that better. I heard D'Angelo in Berlin, Daddy Dave was not short of Quest, his groove with Palladino made me cry😌

[@jonathanholder1]

Dude! As a young bass player in the 2000s Chicken Grease was my favorite track and Voodoo is still my favorite album of all time and the most influential on my playing. You have no idea what a treat it was to find this video. Incredible work man! Great production value and even though I'm a dedicated fan of this record I learned some stuff I never knew.

[@eriknilsson4994]

You’re videos are incredible! From one bass player to another, you’re proving again and again that the bass is the glue that holds it all together. Making me so hyped to pick up and play along to these records

[@bapflips]

This is the KZbin content I've always wanted. Thank you 🙏🏾 So incredible.

[@rwebiscool]

I love the left turns! I love the dots representing counterpoint ACTUALLY being the example you continue to explain beautifullly! I love the early photo including Pino who I had no idea was involved with D'Angelo at all! You're amazing! WHAT'S UP?!

[@iancurriden]

Yoooo Brandon, this video just blew my mind. I love the attention to detail and the effort to make all the editing so clean. Well done! Also, every time I read or watch about D'Angelo, I love him more. The dude is just so immersed in the history of music. Thanks for making me love him even more.

[@geneleoneii3013]

It's not an F#min9 chord. It's an F#min traid and he's adding the 13 (6th).

[@Qmooremusic]

Great Video and thanks for highligthting this, but there is nothing UNEXPECTED about D'angelo's complexity! He's won a grammy for everything he's put out! He's a Soul Icon! He's the musician's musician. The Artist's Artist! 🔥🔥🔥

[@tolga_-]

Super high-quality content! Thank you!

[@CRhythmOfficial]

Wow, this is such a great video. I had never thought of that counterpoint idea while listening to D'Angelo, and it was like a light switch that went off when I realized that correlation between the bass and drums haha. Please keep making these videos!

[@diggingthegreats]

Yeah, it’s really incredible how it all works together! Many more videos on the way!

[@leostew.art.]

Thank you for this! Voodoo is one of the greatest albums ever and D’Angelo is one of my greatest musical heroes. Watching this one and the Soulquarians one you did has given me so much to think about in my own music career, so I’m really grateful I found your videos. I love the research and enthusiasm you put into this work man!

[@veljack]

Love your channel dude. I started Djing disco/house etc about 2 years ago, and ever since it has opened me up to so much more music, and your channel brings me exactly where I want to be when it comes to learning about music - entertaining way that also isn't overbearing, with on point history and musical knowledge. Keep it up!

[@dutchrob_]

To anyone who has seen Lost, do you remember how Desmond was holding on to his copy of 'Our Mutual Friend' by Charles Dickens? That is how I feel about these videos, going through them carefully, one by one, like treasures. Voodoo is in my all time top 10 best albums ever, learned new things here. Thank you Brandon, perfectly produced, fantastic content.

[@MaxIsBackInTown]

This content is really incredible!! Do not stop making videos!

[@tshepotshenkeng7597]

I just found your channel and I'm quickly watching everything. Best musical breakdowns ever

[@kaylad1669]

All time favorite artist!!!

[@innovati]

Your musical understanding is amazing

[@logantodd6500]

So fun dude. Love the charisma and passion for the music your covering

[@tyler8902]

This is stellar. Great job and thank you for putting the spotlight on D'angelo.

[@SilverTheFlame]

DUDE. Sick video. Absolutely loved learning about all this. Some inspiring stuff for sure

[@MHicksMusic]

As a D’Angelo super fan, thank you for this! Excellent video.

[@ohohsnowsnow]

So glad I found your channel. Great content, thanks!

[@leecoates]

Wow! I stumbled upon this video and stayed for the full duration. What an excellent analysis! Subscribed! 👍🏻

[@kooshnuts]

First time viewer and long time D’Angelo fan. Bravo! So much content packed into such a short video. Thanks for the history lesson.

[@1macirone]

Outstanding, what an amazing analyses; thank you!

[@JDNoble]

This channel is a musician’s dream!! I love it!

[@mosesmunthali8382]

It's finally dawned on me that you should have been a music teacher of some sort. Your story telling is smooth and luring. Keep it up.

[@Darell3.0]

That was the great Spanky Alford on guitar. A Gibson ES-345. 👌🏾🤝🏾

[@jcashtr02]

This is incredible! Well done!

[@dlz0811]

Thoroughly enjoyed this breakdown video of one of, if not my favourite album. Subbed!

[@Ramoonmusica]

You killed this breakdown, thank you!

[@edisontang9776]

Nice, this video was very in depth and made me think about other artists and their connections, like a constellation that keeps growing. Nice job Brandon!

[@thomasjenningsmusic]

This channel is unreal, you do the most incredible work!

[@brokensystems830]

What's up! This was beautiful I will be digging through the rest of your videos🙌🏾👏

[@X-101]

Guitar style on funk/disco records is called the chicken scratch(guess prince renames it to grease) thus James had a massive influence to disco :P

[@noodlessoul8356]

1st time watchin, great content. That album is a certified classic and the sound of the bass is supreme.

[@jrvisions]

This was an awesome deep dive/breakdown and so glad it popped up on my feed! How could I not subscribe to this channel! Great Job!

[@jonleonguerrero]

Damn, that was deep, well researched, with an entertaining mix of reverence and levity. Nicely done. I salute.

[@michaelbruns610]

Great Video! I love how you show and tell how the funk is made. I am a big Soulquarian fan myself and knew lot's of bits and pieces you mentioned. But the way you illustrate and play the little things is just great. I really learned some new stuff, after nerding along for 10+ years about Dilla & D'Angelo!

[@elasticoGomez]

Simply great content - due diligence and execution. Bravo I’m loving it

[@TheWriter86]

5 and a half minutes in, and my mind is blown already. Sheesh! Thanks for this , msn! Mad inspiring 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@davidscott3006]

Excellent video… I’ve listened to that song a million times and enjoyed it mostly in solitude! Excellent breakdown for a new appreciation!

[@kyleconnolly4440]

What an incredible video on an incredible artist and an incredible track. Thank you for this. Subscribed!

[@aeonflux3132]

Man, I've just found out your channel, I'm already following, definitely!! I'm from Brazil, big hug and peace out!! Big D'Angelo fan!! Really great knowledge your share brother!! Keep on!!

[@markustheaters]

so good!! thanks for making this breakdown.

[@IzunaSlap]

Awesome! Sly Stone's influence is also felt throughout this album, but even more strongly on Black Messiah.

[@aliaedwards]

So true!!

[@zmcs]

Your videos are just incredible and becoming better and better. Congrats for that and keep them coming.

[@marcelloficial4194]

kick @ss video! Great edition work! To many details...

[@samb6841]

First time seeing a vid of yours and this is dope! Thank you man!

[@hlurpseed]

Just. Amazing. My new favorite channel. ❤

[@kemigyrl1]

Great content and editing. Very entertaining. Happy I found your channel.

[@brewxx]

This is so great, I've just found this video by chance. Me volo la cabeza, saludos desde Argentina

[@IanJamesBeats]

You’re filling a huge void on KZbin. Thanks so much for these videos.

[@ayodelesoderbergshekoni1794]

Best ish I have seen on YT for a good while. Outstanding analysis Brother!!❤️💛💚

[@rossjesus1315]

Great content! Looking forward to seeing this channel grow!

[@Demelo558]

Great work! Thank you

[@afrikankodo]

this one video, the first i've watched by you, is enough for me to subscribe. meticulous and masterful! 👏🏾

[@khersy]

all of your videos are so amazing

[@CopeSpokenCast]

This was all my space. I am checking out your Soulquarians video now. thanks.

[@theyrecousins]

Dude, just came across this video and had to subscribe. Excellent quality of video making, and also great musical listening and investigation. Sweet stuff!

[@ancsautonoisecreationstati6824]

Greta video man, Will be keeping an eye on your channel. Thanks.

[@kch3661]

Beautiful video mate - keep em coming!!!

[@grzegorzkurowski3198]

Great material !!!

[@kundinga]

man!!! you did a great job, thanks for that

[@colinridley6259]

Oh man! That description of counterpoint was so so well done. It took me quite a while to try to grasp the idea of counterpoint, if only this video was my exposure to it.

[@GreenNgold7]

Just found your channel the other day and I’m absolutely loving it!!

[@gustavofreire11]

Found your channel today. Fine art you are doing in this corner of the internet. You deserve much more recognition. Thank you and subscribed.

[@PabloFlores-qs5mq]

Thanks for your work!

[@djwhutevas]

I JUST HEAR JAMES BROWN, THIS WAS AWESOME!! THANK YOU❤️❤️❤️💪🏿👍🏿👌🏿

[@dandrechesterfield5411]

I’m glad as a little middle school kid I somehow discovered voodoo, like water for chocolate and mamas gun all at the same time and now I’m the most tasteful musician in the world

[@johnrambler8034]

Great video. A minor note about the counterpoints. Use of counterpoints was a standard tradition during Baroque, so it does not really "increased" during late classical. You might argue that it had been perfected by Beethoven, Mozart, but it was the Baroque era that had started it all, and most definitely inspired by Bach, more than anyone else. Good luck with your channel!

[@lewishamel8788]

Pokémon Gen 1 counterpoint was fire!

[@Muzikman127]

@@lewishamel8788 you're not wrong lmao

[@Muzikman127]

@@lewishamel8788 I've never thought about it as counterpoint but it actually is! Little did my 8 year old brain know it was getting conditioned to appreciate interplay between melody, countermelody, and bassline, at an early age lmao

[@TheMotiveDJ]

Your videos are incredible. So glad I discovered your channel.

[@frederickalexanderii8077]

Great job - very well done!