Dance
Check out these classic funk tracks that inspire breakers to get down with more groove in their movement.
Funk tracks where a band comes together in a fusion of instrument driven harmony always brings out a different side to breakers. Making breakers want to top rock a little more and shake their shoulders with funky style. You got to do more than an Indian step when the DJ drops some funk.
So, for all the B-Boys and B-Girls truly into their funk music, here are six classic tracks to add to your playlist:
1. Jimmy Castor Bunch – Just Begun
Released in 1972 this track has become one of the most influential and famous tracks in breaking and hip-hop culture. With a defining, and now oh so familiar, sound of a saxophone at the beginning, it has everything from sections to top rock on, to breakdowns to go off on, and parts to hit like crazy on. As the track itself says, it definitely makes you, 'feel the groove' and 'makes you move,' with the band building to a faster rhythmic pace as the track goes on, until it ends echoing the last line of, 'just began-g-g-a-a-a-n-n-n.'
2. Can – Vitamin C
Released on the 1972 album Ege Bamyasi by the band Can, this steady paced, atmospheric track is sometimes played sped up and sometimes played at normal speed by DJs.
The main chorus says, 'you're losing your Vitamin C,' but when this track comes on it's all about being funky on the repetitive 'you're losing, you're losing, you're losing...' and hitting the lyrics, 'hey you!'
3. The Soul Searchers – We The People
Also released in 1972, soulful, funky and jazzy, with a prominent trombone playing as the track builds in pace and the other instruments of the band drop in, any breaker needs to be ready to pick up the tempo of their round if they are going to dance to this song. With lyrics by Chuck Brown, even the singer picks up the speed at which he sings his vocals.
Hip-hop culture is about the people, just like the title and lyrics of this song that go; 'I got a little story I wanna tell ya, about we the people.'
With guys on congas, guitar, trombone, trumpet, piano and percussion, this track gives more than enough funk for a breaker to express themselves to.
4. James Brown – Give It Up Or Turn It Loose
Released in 1969, and becoming a rhythm and blues number one hit, filled with James Brown's talkative vocals, laced over the instruments of the band, this track gives breakers a reason to go from top rock to up rocking when the breakdowns drop in. Plus, you have the words of James saying, 'when you see me coming, hold your head down,' and later telling you to, 'clap your hands, huh, stomp your feet, huh,' to keep the groove in your dance flowing.
And there's the repeated 'BAAABY!' that any breaker who hits the floor to this track definitely will be trying to express .
5. Edwin Starr – Time
Released in 1970 this track is brimming with soulful, gospel energy, a prominent piano, and female backing vocals aside Edwin's voice. 'Time' is the key lyric in this song with just about every line building to the word 'Time!' And then the chorus of, 'it takes tiiiime!' The word 'Time' is what any breaker is looking to hit, in a funky way, when getting down to this funk track. Even the breakdown with the saxophone finishes with Edwin punctuating the end by singing the word, 'Time!'
6. Dennis Coffey – Scorpio
A funky, cool, rhythmic track with a guitar riding steadily alongside the drums, this instrumental was released in 1971 by Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar band.
This song keeps an even, too-cool-for-school, pace throughout, and is something you can rock to with smooth style. With no vocals it's all about the drums and the chords, and every so often the track breaks down to give a breaker something to get a little more expressive to before going back to its super cool, rhythmic flow.
