The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Roger Troutman was an American singer and the founder of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the funk movement and influenced West Coast hip hop due to the scene's heavy sampling of his music.
"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper and producer Dr. Dre. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single as the newest artist of Death Row Records. The original version is featured on the UK version of his fourth album, All Eyez on Me (1996), and is one of 2Pac's most widely known and most successful singles. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and also topped the charts of Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. The song was posthumously nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.
Shirley Murdock is an American R&B singer-songwriter, who is best known for her 1986 R&B hit single "As We Lay" and for her vocals on Zapp and Roger's hit single "Computer Love". Her lead vocal special guest appearance with Smooth Jazz artist Ben Tankard, climbed to #1 Gospel and #20 on Billboard Top 200 on WOW Gospel 2006 and is certified Gold. Their collaboration of the Lionel Richie song "Jesus Is Love" is one of the most played songs on Sirius XM Radio gospel channel for eight years since its initial release.
Whut? Thee Album is the debut studio album by American rapper Redman. It was released on September 22, 1992, by Def Jam Recordings, Rush Associated Labels and Chaos Recordings, a dimension of Columbia Records. Taking place at Ian London Studios, North Shore Soundworks, and Power Play Studios, the recording sessions began in 1991 and continued into 1992. The album was produced by Redman, his mentor and fellow Hit Squad member Erick Sermon, and Pete Rock.
Zapp is the debut studio album by the American funk band Zapp, released on July 30, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. The album's style and sound bears a strong resemblance to Parliament-Funkadelic, as the band was working with Parliament-Funk members Bootsy Collins and George Clinton during the album's production. Produced by frontman Roger Troutman and Bootsy Collins, Zapp was recorded between late 1979 and early 1980 at the United Sound Studios in Detroit, U.S.A.
Zapp is an American funk band that emerged from Dayton, Ohio, United States, in 1977. Particularly influential in the electro subgenre of funk, Zapp were known for their trademark use of the talk-box effect. The original line-up consisted of four Troutman brothers—frontman Roger, Larry, Lester and Terry—first cousin, Sherman Fleetwood—and non-Troutman family members Bobby Glover, Gregory Jackson, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber, Jannetta Boyce and Shirley Murdock. Zapp also worked closely with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic during its early stages, their support being a factor in the group gaining a record deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1979.
Streets Is Watching is the soundtrack album to Abdul Malik Abbott's 1998 film of the same name. It was released on May 12, 1998, via Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam Recordings. Production was handled by Mahogany, Jaz-O, AK47, Darrel 'Digga' Branch, Dave G, Dinky Bingham, DJ Clue?, Irv Gotti, Ken "Duro" Ifill, M.O.P., Tone Capone, Ty Fyffe, and Dame Dash, who also served as one of executive producers together with Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. It features appearances from Jay-Z, Christión, Memphis Bleek, Diamonds In Da Rough, DMX, Ja Rule, M.O.P., N.O.R.E., Rell, Sauce Money, Usual Suspects, and The Ranjahz member Wais. The album fared well commercially reaching #27 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and having two singles appear on the Billboard Hot 100.
"More Bounce to the Ounce" is the debut single by American funk band Zapp. It is the opening track on their eponymous debut album and serves as the album's first single. The song was written, arranged, composed and produced by Roger Troutman; and it peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.
The New Zapp IV U is the fourth studio album by the American funk band Zapp, released on October 25, 1985 by Warner Bros. Records. The album contained the song "Computer Love", which reached #8 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The album became the last release before frontman Roger Troutman would focus his efforts on his solo career; their next album, titled Zapp Vibe would be released later in 1989.
Reality is the fourth album by the American R&B singer Smooth. It was released on March 10, 1998, through Perspective Records, and contained production from Chris Stokes and the production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was her first album for Perspective.
"I Want to Be Your Man" is a song by American funk singer-songwriter Roger Troutman, from his third studio album Unlimited!. It was released as the lead single from the album in September 1987 by Reprise Records. The song was co-written by Roger's brother, Larry Troutman, and produced by Roger, who conceived of the song as a statement on romantic commitment. "I Want to Be Your Man" features Roger singing in both his natural tenor and his trademark talk box.
Unlimited! is the third solo album by Zapp frontman Roger Troutman, released in 1987. It includes a cover of James Brown's 1965 single "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", as well as Roger's biggest R&B and crossover hit, "I Want to Be Your Man."
The Saga Continues... is the second solo album recorded by funk musician Roger Troutman, released in 1984 on the Warner Bros. label. The album contains Troutman's cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour", which reached #34 on the U.S. R&B chart, as well as hits "In the Mix" and "Girl Cut It Out", a duet with Wanda Rash. Like his previous solo offering, The Many Facets of Roger, Troutman and his band mates from Zapp, including brothers Lester, Larry and Terry, helped contribute to the album.
All the Greatest Hits is the first official greatest hits album by American funk band Zapp, released October 26, 1993, via Reprise Records. The album contains songs Zapp performed as a band from their first four albums, as well as songs from Roger Troutman's solo albums. It peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 and No. 9 on the R&B chart.
"Slow and Easy" is a song performed by American rhythm and blues band Zapp, issued as the second and final single from their first greatest hits album All the Greatest Hits. It was written by Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman and Shirley Murdock; and was produced by Roger. The song is the band's highest chart appearance to date on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #43 in 1993.
"Be Alright" is a song performed by the American funk band Zapp. The song was written, arranged, composed, performed and produced by Roger Troutman.
Charles Kent Wilson, also known as Uncle Charlie, is an American singer and the former lead vocalist of the Gap Band. As a solo artist Wilson has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and 11 NAACP Image Awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and was a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005. In 2009 and 2020, he was named Billboard magazine's No. 1 Adult R&B Artist, and his song "There Goes My Baby" was named the No. 1 Urban Adult Song for 2009 in Billboard.
"Love Thru the Computer" is a song by American rapper Gucci Mane, featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from the former's thirteenth studio album, Delusions of Grandeur, on May 31, 2019. The song was written by the artists alongside producer J. White Did It, with additional writing credits going to Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, and Shirley Murdock for the sampling of Zapp's "Computer Love".
Delusions of Grandeur is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Gucci Mane. It was released on June 21, 2019, by Atlantic Records and 1017 Records. The album features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Gunna, Lil Baby, Justin Bieber, Jeremih, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Dolph, Anuel AA, and Peewee Longway, among others.
