The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop

Last updated
The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop
The Beat Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop.jpg
front cover: Chuck Brown at the Festival of American Folklife, July 2000.
AuthorKip Lornell
Charles C. Stephenson, Jr.
Cover artistMichael Gengaro
Language English
Subject Go-go
Genre Non-fiction
Music Reference
Publisher Billboard Books
University Press of Mississippi
Publication date
2001 (first edition)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pages256
ISBN 0-8230-7727-6
OCLC 47648299
781.64
LC Class ML3527.84

The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop is a 2001 book written by Kip Lornell and Charles C. Stephenson, Jr. [1] [2] In 2009, an updated second edition of the book was published and retitled The Beat! Go-Go Music from Washington, D.C.

Contents

Synopisis

The Beat explores the musical, social, and cultural phenomenon of go-go music (a music genre is rooted in funk, soul and old-school hip hop) the only musical from indigenous to Washington, D.C., which features highly syncopated, nonstop beats.

Charles Stephenson (a political and cultural activist, and former manager of Experience Unlimited) and Kip Lornell (professor of Africana Studies at The George Washington University) provide a chronology of go-go music, from the influences of funk music, Pentecostal churches, and West African rhythms that influenced the genre, to the emerging popularity of the genre. The authors focused on prominent figures and institutions important to the shaping of go-go music, including accomplished go-go musicians Chuck Brown (the "Godfather of Go-Go"), Experience Unlimited, Rare Essence, and Trouble Funk.

Many other Washington, D.C.–based DJ's, band managers, concert promoters and film-makers who've provided significant influences to the genre, also provided their perspective of the genre.

Compilation album

The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop
TheBeat (album cover).png
Compilation album by
Various Artists
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2001
Genre
Length1:54:07
Label Liaison Records
Producer
  • Becky Marcus
  • Tom Goldfogle
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Robert Christgau A− [4]
Spin 8/10 [5]
The Village Voice A− [6]

The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop is a double-compilation album released on September 4, 2001, in conjunction with the release of book. [3] The album features a compilation of songs by prominent go-go bands and old-school hip hop artist who contributed to the popularity of the genre between the early-80s to the late-1990s. [5]

Track listing

Disc 01
No.TitleContributing artistLength
1."Bustin' Loose (song)" (Chuck Brown) Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers 7:40
2."Pump Me Up" (Tony Fisher/Robert Reed) Trouble Funk 6:34
3."Party Time" (Kurtis Blow/Jimmy Bralower/J.B. Moore) Kurtis Blow 6:45
4."Cat In the Hat" (Anthony Harley) Little Benny & the Masters 7:01
5."Da Butt" (Marcus Miller/Edward Stevens) E.U. 6:21
6."The Music Ain't Loud Enuff" (DJ Kool/Funky Ned) DJ Kool 5:32
7."You Can Dance"Go-Go Lorenzo7:10
8."Jingling Baby!" (Harold Hall)Pleasure Band4:21
9."Lock It" (Michael Neal/J. Karen Thomas) Rare Essence 5:49
Disc 02
No.TitleContributing artistLength
1."Booty Call" Northeast Groovers 7:15
2."Ruff It Off" (D.K. Baker/W.Wright)The Junkyard Band 4:27
3."The Bud" Huck-A-Bucks 7:38
4."Um Bop Bop" Sugar Bear & Ju-Ju 3:46
5."Diamond in the Back"Suttle Thoughts5:38
6."The Hop" (Kent Wood) Rare Essence 4:31
7."People Make the World Go Round" (Thom Bell/Linda Creed)Chuck Brown4:40
8."2001" The Backyard Band 5:25
9."Hey Buddy Buddy" (Michael Neal/J. Karen Thomas) Rare Essence 7:43
10."Brown and White"911 Entertainment5:51
Total length:1:54:07

Related Research Articles

Go-go is a subgenre of funk music with an emphasis on specific rhythmic patterns, and live audience call and response.

<i>Livin Large</i> (Experience Unlimited album) 1989 studio album by E.U.

Livin' Large is a studio album released in 1989 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band E.U. The album included the charting singles "Buck Wild", "Livin' Large", and "Taste of Your Love". This album also includes the 1988 hip-hop/go-go song "Shake Your Thang", a collaboration with Salt-N-Pepa which was previously released on their 1988 album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa.

<i>Go-Go Crankin</i> 1985 compilation album by Various Artists

Go-Go Crankin' is a compilation album originally released in 1985. The compilation consist of ten original songs by prominent Washington, D.C.–based go-go bands of that time period. The music is heavily influenced by the popularity of go-go in the mid-80s in Washington, D.C., and throughout the Northeast. The album has been considered to be influential to the growing popularity of hip hop and go-go music in the 1980s.

<i>Go Go Live at the Capital Centre</i> 1987 live album by Various Artists

Go Go Live at the Capital Centre was a concert performance by various prominent go-go bands and hip-hop artists based in the Washington metropolitan area. It was recorded live in October 1987 at the Capital Centre. The double–cassette was released by "I Hear Ya Records" on December 18, 1987, and the video recording was released on VHS-tape by "G Street Express" on the same day.

<i>Drop the Bomb</i> 1982 studio album by Trouble Funk

Drop the Bomb is a studio album released in 1982 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk. The album included the songs "Drop the Bomb" and "Pump Me Up" which have been sampled numerous times by many hip hop artists.

<i>Trouble Over Here</i> 1987 studio album by Trouble Funk

Trouble Over Here is a studio album by American go-go band Trouble Funk, released in 1987 by Island Records.

<i>Live</i> (Trouble Funk album) 1981 live album by Trouble Funk

Live is a live album recorded and released in 1981 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk. This was the group's debut album, and consist of four approximately 15-minute jam sessions. The album was remastered and reissued in 1996.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> (album) 1983 live album by Trouble Funk

Saturday Night Live is a live album released in 1983 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk.

<i>Funk Express</i> Album by Chuck Brown

Funk Express is a studio album released in 1980 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers.

<i>In Times of Trouble</i> 1983 studio album by Trouble Funk

In Times of Trouble is a studio album released in 1983 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk. It was packaged with a live disc.

<i>Say What!</i> (Trouble Funk album) 1986 live album by Trouble Funk

Say What! is a live album released in 1986 by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk. The album was recorded live in London, England, during the summer of 1986.

<i>Free Yourself</i> (Experience Unlimited album) 1977 studio album by Experience Unlimited

Free Yourself is the debut studio album released in 1977 by the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Experience Unlimited.

<i>Good to Go</i> (soundtrack) Album

Good to Go is a soundtrack album released on August 1, 1986, in conjunction with the release of the film Good to Go. The album features songs by prominent Washington, D.C.–based go-go bands and Jamaican-dancehall artists from the early-1980s.

<i>Body Snatchers</i> (Rare Essence album) 1996 studio album by Rare Essence

Body Snatchers is a studio album released on August 1, 1996 by the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Rare Essence. The album peaked at No. 60 Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums on September 28, 1996.

<i>We Go On and On</i> 1998 studio album by Rare Essence

We Go On and On is a studio album released on May 26, 1998 by the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Rare Essence.

<i>Early Singles</i> (Trouble Funk album) 1997 compilation album by Trouble Funk

Early Singles is a compilation album released on March 11, 1997, by the Washington, D.C.–based go-go band Trouble Funk. The album consists of a compilations of the band earlier singles from the late-70s to the early-80s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone Cold Hustler</span> 1987 single by D.C. Scorpio

"Stone Cold Hustler" is the debut single released in 1987 by the Washington, D.C.–based hip-hop artist D.C. Scorpio. The song was performed live at Go Go Live at the Capital Centre in 1987, and the single was released thereafter. The song also appears on the 1988 compilation album The Go Go Posse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beam Me Up, Scotty (D.C. Scorpio song)</span> 1988 single by D.C. Scorpio

"Beam Me Up, Scotty" is the second single released in 1988 by the Washington, D.C.–based hip-hop artist D.C. Scorpio. This single following his debut single Stone Cold Hustler. The song also appears on the 1988 compilation album The Go Go Posse.

Northeast Groovers is a Washington, D.C.–based go-go band formed in 1985. Northeast Groovers have been active in the Washington metropolitan area, producing numerous songs in the Washington music scene and several hits nationwide, including the singles "The Water", "Van Damme" and "Booty Call".

<i>Meet Me at the Go-Go</i> 2003 compilation album by Various Artists

Meet Me at the Go-Go is a compilation album originally released on July 7, 2003. The compilation consist of eleven previously released songs by prominent Washington, D.C.–based go-go bands. The album was compiled by Snowboy.

References

  1. ↑ Triplett, William (May 16, 2012). "Going for Go-Go". Washingtonian . Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Chang, Jeff (November 2001). "Bang the Drum". Vibe Magazine . pp. 115–120.
  3. 1 2 The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Review: The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop". Robert Christgau . Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 Green, Tony (January 2002). "Various Artists: The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hip". Spin . 18 (1): 110. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Christgau, Robert (October 9, 2001). "Review: Unpatriotic?! Moi?". The Village Voice . Retrieved 23 September 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.