He was a full funkster because of the way he dressed

He was a full funkster because of the way he dressed
o He got his styles from the parliament funk/earth, wind, and fire
era
 Call him the first ambassador of hip hop
 One of those that attempted to keep the soul of Black music, in
particular the funk, from being diluted during the age of disco
 He approached James Brown and asked him to make a hip hop record
 Afrika Bambaataa’s definition of hip hop: the music is colourless – hip
hop music is made from Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, and White
 Digital samplers came in and replaced the need for DJs to mix live
 It is hard to understand this groups lyrics and vocals in their songs
 SONG: Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Looking For The
Perfect Beat
o First time the digital sampler was used
 This song had more beats per minute than typical songs that b-
boys would dance to
o 120 beats per minute, pace of house music
 SONG: Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Renegades Of Funk
 He didn’t follow trends – didn’t want to sound like anyone else
 Had an appreciation for the punk rock movement
o Ex. Song World Destruction by Afrika Bambaataa & John Lydon

o In this song it sounds like Bambaataa raps
o Lyrics are easier understood
o Song about panic and destruction
 SONG: Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock
o This was their biggest song (huge)
o Ultimate song for break dancing
o 128 beats per minute – faster than house – more techno
o Sounds good on any sound system
o This song samples the Kraftwerk song – Trans Europe Express
o Bambaataa gets credit for taking music that was strange and using it as he
had an open mind
o He bought the Kraftwerk record without listening to the music – he judged it
on the cover
Whodini
 1984 was their best year
 One of the first rap groups to get consistent air time
 They were rap innovators
 Known because they were very melodic when rap at the time was
a lot of drums
o Had hooks and harmony
 Two main rappers in the group: “Jalil” and “Ecstasy”
o Jalil Hutchins
o John “Ecstasy” Fletcher
o Group also included DJ Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter
 One of the first rap groups to add straight R&B twist to their music
 Promoted hip hop culture through live world tours
o Their live shows were the first rap concerts to feature
official dancers U.T.F.O.
o They headlined the giant Fresh Fes tours in 1984 starring
the Fat Boys, RUN-DC, and Kurtis Blow
 First platinum selling rap album was credited to them
o It was actually tied
o Sold 1,000,000 copies in America
o Album called Escape
 In 1984 their popularity skyrocketed with their good-humoured songs
 Radio friendly lyrically and sound
 SONG: Whodini – Magic’s Wand
o First rap song to have a rap video
 SONG: Whodini – Freaks Come Out At Night
 Biggest songs are the following:
 SONG: Whodini – Five Minutes Of Funk
o Single released like a lot of disco records – two songs both on the A side
 SONG: Friends
o Time of pure innocence and fun
o They sampled the base line from If I Ruled The World