Funky Worm

Last updated
"Funky Worm"
Single by Ohio Players
from the album Pleasure
B-side "Paint Me"
ReleasedJanuary 16, 1973
Recorded1972
Genre Funk [1]
Length2:41
Label Westbound
Songwriter(s) Ohio Players
Producer(s) Ohio Players
Ohio Players singles chronology
"Varee Is Love"
(1972)
"Funky Worm"
(1973)
"Ecstasy"
(1973)

"Funky Worm" is a song by American funk group the Ohio Players, from their album Pleasure . It peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1973 and also peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100. [2] Billboard ranked it as the No. 84 song for 1973.

Contents

Influence

The song's ARP synthesizer [3] solos, played by Junie Morrison, [4] have become a staple part in hip hop sampling history, being sampled by artists such as MC Breed, Too $hort, Dr. Dre, Xzibit, and Game. The high-pitched whine of the synthesizer on the song was often emulated by producers from the West Coast and became a staple in G-funk music. N.W.A notably sampled "Funky Worm" on their songs "Gangsta Gangsta" and "Dope Man". Ice Cube sampled "Funky Worm" for his songs "Wicked" and "'Ghetto Bird", duo Kris Kross' 1992 single "Jump", Lil' ½ Dead's 1994 song "East Side, West Side", Tim Dog's single "Skip to My Loot" (featuring Smooth B), DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's 1993 hit "Boom! Shake the Room", and Ruff Ryders 1999 song "Bugout" also samples the song. [5]

It was also sampled in De La Soul’s "Me Myself & I”, off their 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It was also sampled for the ring entrance for L.A.X.

The song can be heard on the fictional radio station Bounce FM, in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas . The Google Doodle celebrating the 44th anniversary of Hip Hop (August 11, 2017) featured the song on a virtual record that allows users to "scratch.". [6] The song can also be heard as a Player Anthem in the video game Rocket League, where it was released in a pack called "Behind The Samples" for free on February 1, 2022. [7]

Charts

Chart (1973)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 15
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles 1

Related Research Articles

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre is heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It is represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).

<i>Doggystyle</i> 1993 studio album by Snoop Doggy Dogg

Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Dupri</span> American record producer and rapper (born 1972)

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Raised in Atlanta as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, he began his career in music production at the age of nine. He discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross in 1991. Dupri wrote and produced their 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He established his own record label, So So Def Recordings in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Kross</span> American hip hop group

Kris Kross were an American hip hop group, consisting of rappers Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith, and producer Jermaine Dupri. Kris Kross was the youngest hip-hop group to gain success, with gold and platinum albums at 12 and 13 years old. Smith and Kelly were discovered by Dupri in 1991 and hit worldwide status the following year with their smash hit debut single, "Jump", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single. They went on to release three studio albums, with their debut album Totally Krossed Out topping the US Billboard 200, and their following albums, Da Bomb and Young, Rich & Dangerous making it into the Top 20. The duo were also noted for their signature fashion style of wearing their clothes backwards. Kelly died of a drug overdose on May 1, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump Around</span> 1992 single by House of Pain

"Jump Around" is a song by American hip hop group House of Pain, produced by DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, who has also covered the song, and was released in May 1992 by Tommy Boy and XL as the first single from their debut album, House of Pain (1992). The song became a hit, reaching number three in the United States. A 1993 re-release of the song in the United Kingdom, where the initial release had been a minor hit, peaked at number eight. Its music video was filmed in New York City, featuring footage from the 1992 Saint Patrick's Day parade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump (Kris Kross song)</span> 1992 single by Kris Kross

"Jump" is a song by American hip hop duo Kris Kross, released on February 6, 1992 by Ruffhouse and Columbia, as their first single from their debut studio album, Totally Krossed Out (1992). It was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo, and achieved international success, topping charts in Switzerland, Australia, and the United States. Additionally, it was the third-best-selling song of 1992 in the United States, with sales of 2,079,000 physical copies that year. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Rich Murray and filmed in Atlanta. Billboard magazine featured "Jump" in their lists of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s" in 2019 and "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Power Generation (song)</span> 1990 single by Prince

"New Power Generation", or "N.P.G.", is a song by American musician Prince from the 1990 album and film Graffiti Bridge. It is an anthem for his backing band, The New Power Generation, who were officially co-credited on his album covers for a time, and continued to back him up until 2013, albeit with a changing lineup. The song saw minimal chart attention, and was not as successful as its predecessor, "Thieves in the Temple".

<i>Code Red</i> (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince album) 1993 studio album by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Code Red is the fifth and final studio album by the American hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, released on October 12, 1993, on Jive Records. The album peaked at number sixty-four on the Billboard 200 and number thirty-nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On January 14, 1994, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the album gold. Four singles reached the Billboard charts; "Boom! Shake the Room", "I'm Looking for the One ","I Wanna Rock", and "Can't Wait to Be With You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Not Just) Knee Deep</span> 1979 single by Funkadelic

"(Not Just) Knee Deep" is a song by the American funk band Funkadelic written by George Clinton. The song was released as a single for their album Uncle Jam Wants You (1979).

<i>Vocally Pimpin</i> 1991 EP by Above the Law

Vocally Pimpin' is the debut extended play by American hip hop group Above the Law. It was released on July 16, 1991 via Ruthless Records. The first five songs on this nine track record are newly recorded material, while the rest four are remixes or edited versions of their previously released material. The album peaked at number 120 on the US Billboard 200 and number 37 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (N.W.A album) 1996 greatest hits album by N.W.A

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American hip hop group N.W.A, released on July 2, 1996, via Priority Records. Composed of nineteen tracks, the compilation contains several poplular singles and songs from the group's 1988 debut album Straight Outta Compton, 1990 extended play 100 Miles and Runnin' and their second and final studio album 1991 Niggaz4Life. It includes "Gangsta Gangsta", "Fuck tha Police", previously unavailable remix of "Straight Outta Compton", "Alwayz into Somethin'", remixed "Express Yourself", and "100 Miles and Runnin'", as well as inserts from live concerts. Production was handled by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella with Eazy-E serving as executive producer.

<i>You Shouldnt-Nuf Bit Fish</i> 1983 studio album by George Clinton

You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish is the second studio album by American funk musician George Clinton released in 1983 by Capitol Records. The album reached No. 18 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

<i>Da Bomb</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Kris Kross

Da Bomb is the second studio album by the hip-hop duo Kris Kross, released a year after their first album Totally Krossed Out. The group tried a hardcore/gangsta look to fit with the new style of hip-hop. The album was not as successful as Totally Krossed Out, as many fans were not impressed with the new look and style and the use of the word "nigga" and reviews were mixed. The line "I drop bombs like Hiroshima" from "Da Bomb" was edited out of the album's Japanese release and the artwork was completely changed. The album was certified platinum in the US. Three singles were released, "Alright", "I'm Real" and "Da Bomb".

<i>To Hell and Black</i> 1990 studio album by CPO

To Hell and Black is the debut and only studio album by American hip hop group Capital Punishment Organization. It was released through Capitol Records on August 7, 1990, and featured its two lead singles "Ballad of a Menace" and "This Beat Is Funky". The album peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Pleasure</i> (Ohio Players album) 1972 studio album by Ohio Players

Pleasure is the third studio album by American funk band Ohio Players and the second released through the Westbound label in December 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alright (Kris Kross song)</span> 1993 single by Kris Kross featuring Super Cat

"Alright" is the first single released from American hip hop duo Kris Kross' second album, Da Bomb (1993). The song was produced and written by Jermaine Dupri and features reggae star, Super Cat on the chorus. Sampling Slave's "Just a Touch of Love", it was officially released on July 13, 1993 by Ruffhouse and Columbia, as the lead single from the album. It became the album's biggest hit, peaking at #1 in Portugal, and at numbers 19 and 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It was also the duo's third single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. "Alright" also contains a diss to rival group, Da Youngstas, who had been critical of Kris Kross due to their success on the Billboard charts and the fact that they did not write their lyrics. Chris Smith AKA "Daddy Mac" responded with the lyric "I didn't come out wack I came out right, unlike them moles who choose to pass da mic", an obvious reference to Da Youngstas single "Pass da Mic".

<i>Domino</i> (Domino album) 1993 studio album by Domino

Domino is the debut studio album by American rapper Domino. It was released on December 7, 1993, through Outburst Records with distribution via Rush Associated Labels/Chaos Recordings. The recording sessions took place at Skip Saylor Recording in Hollywood. The album was produced by DJ Battlecat, as well as AMG and Domino, with Anthony "Anti" Lewis, Greedy Greg and Big Bass Brian Walker served as executive producers. It features guest appearances from AMG and Laquan.

Make My Video is a series of four video games by Digital Pictures in 1992 for the Sega CD. These included series by INXS, Kris Kross, C+C Music Factory, and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The games featured three songs from the respective musical groups, and the player edited pre-made clips to make a new music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Players</span> American funk and R&B band

Ohio Players are an American funk band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster", and for their erotic album covers that featured nude or nearly nude women. Many of the women were models featured in Playboy.

<i>Straight Outta Compton: Music from the Motion Picture</i> 2016 soundtrack album by Various artists

Straight Outta Compton: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to the 2015 film of the same name. The album was released by Universal Music Enterprises on January 8, 2016 in digital formats. The soundtrack features songs that were mainly performed by N.W.A but also includes solo performances from N.W.A members Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre.

References

  1. Breihan, Tom (January 12, 2022). "The Number Ones: Kris Kross' "Jump". Stereogum . Retrieved July 20, 2024. ...taken from "Funky Worm," the 1973 funk workout from former Number Ones artists Ohio Players.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 437.
  3. Mao, Jeff "Chairman" (April 7, 2015). "Interview: Funk Lifer Junie Morrison". Red Bull Music Academy . Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  4. "Junie Morrison Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic .
  5. "List of artists that sampled "Funky Worm"". Archived from the original on 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  6. "44th Anniversary of the Birth of Hip Hop".
  7. "New Player Anthems Arriving For Black History Month".