I'm Real (James Brown song)

Last updated
"I'm Real"
Single by James Brown
from the album I'm Real
B-side "Tribute"
ReleasedApril 1988 (1988-04)
Genre Funk, hip hop, new jack swing
Length4:30
Label Scotti Bros.
07783
Songwriter(s)
  • Curt Bedeau
  • Gerry Charles
  • Hugh L Clarke
  • Brian George
  • Lucien George
  • Paul George
  • James Brown
Producer(s) Full Force
James Brown chartingsingles chronology
"The Payback Mix"
(1986)
"I'm Real"
(1988)
"Static"
(1988)
Audio video
"I'm Real" on YouTube

"I'm Real" is a hip hop-R&B song recorded by James Brown. It was co-written and produced by Full Force and appeared on Brown's 1988 album of the same name. The song's horn section is reminiscent of both "Soul Power" and "Think (About It)" [1] Released as a single the same year, it charted #2 R&B. [2] Described in Rolling Stone as "[Brown's] I'm-the-original rapper song", [3] its lyrics assert his primacy and relevance as a performer over and against the many musicians who sample his work.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Brown</span> American musician (1933–2006)

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, dancer, and musician. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by various nicknames, among them "Mr. Dynamite", "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk", "Godfather of Soul", "King of Soul", and "Soul Brother No. 1". In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he influenced the development of several music genres. Brown was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 23, 1986. His music has been heavily sampled by hip-hop musicians and other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Green</span> American soul singer, songwriter and pastor (born 1946)

Albert Leornes Greene, known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including "Tired of Being Alone" (1971), "I'm Still in Love with You" (1972), "Love and Happiness" (1973), "Take Me to the River" (1974), and his signature song, "Let's Stay Together" (1972). After his girlfriend died by suicide, Green became an ordained pastor and turned to gospel music. He later returned to secular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funky Drummer</span> 1970 single by James Brown

"Funky Drummer" is a single released by James Brown in 1970. Its drum break, improvised by Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled music recordings.

<i>Live at the Apollo</i> (1963 album) 1963 live album by James Brown and the Famous Flames

Live at the Apollo is the first live album by James Brown and the Famous Flames, recorded at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in October 1962 and released in May 1963 by King Records. Capturing Brown's popular stage show for the first time on record, the album was a major commercial and critical success and cemented his status as a leading R&B star.

<i>Sex Machine</i> (album) 1970 studio album and live album by James Brown

Sex Machine is a 1970 double album by James Brown. It showcases the playing of the original J.B.'s lineup featuring Bootsy and Catfish Collins, and includes an 11-minute rendition of the album's title song, different from the original recording of the title song which was released as a two-part single in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)</span> 1991 single by Whitney Houston

"I Belong to You" is a 1991 song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990). It was written by Derek Bramble and Franne Golde, produced by Narada Michael Walden, and was released on October 18, 1991, as the album's fifth single by Arista Records. "I Belong to You" was a Top 10 hit on the US Billboard R&B chart, and also charted in the UK and the Netherlands. The song garnered Houston a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 35th Grammy Awards (1993).

Full Force is an American music group of hip hop and R&B singers and producers from Brooklyn, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud</span> 1968 single by James Brown

"Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" is a funk song performed by James Brown, and written with his bandleader Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis in 1968. It was released as a two-part single, which held the number-one spot on the R&B singles chart for six weeks, and peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Both parts of the single were later included on James Brown's 1968 album A Soulful Christmas and on his 1969 album sharing the title of the song. The song became an unofficial anthem of the Black Power movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Please, Please, Please</span> 1956 single by James Brown and the Famous Flames

"Please, Please, Please" is a rhythm and blues song performed by James Brown and the Famous Flames. Written by Brown and Johnny Terry and released as a single on Federal Records in 1956, it reached No. 6 on the R&B charts. The group's debut recording and first chart hit, it has come to be recognized as their signature song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa's Got a Brand New Bag</span> 1965 single by James Brown

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown. Released as a two-part single in 1965, it was Brown's first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten, peaking at number eight, and was a number-one R&B hit, topping the charts for eight weeks. It won Brown his first Grammy Award, for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording.

<i>In the Jungle Groove</i> 1986 compilation album by James Brown

In the Jungle Groove is a compilation album by American funk musician James Brown, released in August 1986 by Polydor Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know You Got Soul (Eric B. & Rakim song)</span> 1987 single by Eric B. & Rakim

"I Know You Got Soul" is a song recorded by Eric B. & Rakim in 1987. A commercial and artistic success, it was ranked #23 by Rolling Stone on their list of Top 50 hip-hop songs, and #396 on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Man (Bo Diddley song)</span> Blues standard

"I'm a Man" is a rhythm and blues song written and recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955. Inspired by an earlier blues song, it was one of his first hits. "I'm a Man" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including the Yardbirds, who adapted it in an upbeat rock style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine</span> 1970 single by James Brown

"Get Up Sex Machine" is a funk song recorded by James Brown with Bobby Byrd on backing vocals. Released as a two-part single in 1970, it was a no. 2 R&B hit and reached no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Pants (James Brown song)</span> 1971 single by James Brown

"Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants)" is a 1971 song by American singer James Brown, released as a single on his People Records label (then distributed by King Records) in July of that year with "Pt. 1" on the A-side and "Pt. 2 and 3" on the B-side. It was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B chart, and reached number fifteen on the Hot 100 and number ten on the Cashbox magazine charts. "Hot Pants" was Brown's final release under King's purview before he and the People label moved to Polydor Records.

"I'll Go Crazy" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Released as a single in 1960, it was Brown's fourth R&B hit, charting at #15. Brown and the Flames also performed it as the first song on their 1963 album Live at the Apollo.

<i>Im Real</i> (album) 1988 studio album by James Brown

I'm Real is the 54th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in 1988 on Scotti Bros. Records. All of the tracks were produced, written and arranged by Full Force, with the exception of "I'm Real" and "It's Your Money $".

"(So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On", titled simply "Move On" in some releases, is a song written and recorded by James Brown. It appeared as the lead track on his 1991 album Love Over-Due and was released as a single which charted #48 R&B. Rolling Stone praised the song for its "slapping guitar groove".

"Funk on Ah Roll" is a song written by James Brown and Derrick Monk and recorded by James Brown. It appears in three different versions on his 1998 album I'm Back, two of which are remixes. A number of additional remixes of the song, including a popular UK garage mix by Grant Nelson as Bump & Flex, were issued on 12" and CD in the United Kingdom in 1999, resulting in the song reaching No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. It did not chart in the United States.

<i>Im Back</i> (album) 1998 studio album by James Brown

I'm Back is the 57th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released on November 17, 1998, by Mercury Records.

References

  1. "Full Force – Credits". allmusic. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  3. "James Brown: I Feel Good!". Rolling Stone . 27 June 1991.