James Brown

New James Brown Track From 1970 “We Got To Change” Slated For Release This Month

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UMe/Republic Records will release James Brown’s We Got To Change, a three-track EP featuring the previously unheard title track, on Feb. 16. “We Got To Change” was recorded August 16, 1970, at Criteria Studios in Miami, during a pivotal period in the world of James Brown, as longtime members of his famed James Brown Orchestra had walked out a few months earlier. Pre-order HERE

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Brown quickly assembled a new group anchored by guitarist Phelps “Catfish” Collins and bassist William “Bootsy” Collins, two young brothers from Cincinnati. They brought a harder edge and a fresh identity to Brown’s music on such singles as “Get Up (I Feel Like Being) a Sex Machine,” “Super Bad,” and “Soul Power.” Brown called them The J.B.’s.

Their Criteria session featured a reunion with one of Brown’s 1960s sidemen: the great Clyde Stubblefield. “The Funky Drummer,” as he was known, would grace several of Brown’s subsequent hits, and would become one of the most sampled drummers of the hip-hop era. Also on the track is James Brown’s longtime no. 2, Bobby Byrd, who is heard alongside Brown on the chorus.

“We Got To Change” is another example of James Brown’s social outreach (and outrage), seen in singles like “Don’t Be a Dropout,” “Say It Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved” and “King Heroin.” It is also a testament to Brown’s diverse musical language, quoting from Little Jimmy Dickens’ 1949 hit “Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)” and the African-American anti-war spiritual, “Down by the Riverside.”

“The James Brown Revue invented the Funk,” says Funk author Rickey Vincent, “and the J.B.’s perfected it.” Newly unearthed and unheard, “We Got to Change” adds a critical page to the history of that perfection’s evolution.

The post New James Brown Track From 1970 “We Got To Change” Slated For Release This Month first appeared on The Source.

The post New James Brown Track From 1970 “We Got To Change” Slated For Release This Month appeared first on The Source.

Snoop Dogg Received Big Praise From James Brown Before His Passing

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Snoop Dogg recently shared a memorable encounter he had with soul music legend James Brown. This took place before Brown’s unfortunate passing in 2006. Snoop relayed the story during his Audible episode Words + Music: From the Streets, to the Suites. The rap icon reflected on his final conversation with Brown. Throughout his career, he was known as The Hardest Working Man in showbiz. According to the West Coast rap legend, James Brown came to visit him. Snoop says that the most significant compliment he received from Brown was that he was the hardest working man in the industry. Brown told him that it was Snoop Dogg’s responsibility to take the industry to new heights where Brown himself couldn’t.

Snoop Dogg felt that Brown saw his potential. The rapper says that as he looks at his own accomplishments today, he realizes that Brown’s words were prophetic. Snoop also discussed his approach to mentoring and supporting the next generation of artists. He expressed his willingness to engage in conversations with younger rappers and creatives. He says he wants to offer them valuable advice and guidance to apply to their own journeys. Snoop Dogg believes in providing wisdom to those who admire him. He wants to ensure that they carry his knowledge with them as they climb the ladder of success.

Snoop Reflects On His Iconic Career

In the Words + Music series episode, the 51-year-old rapper spoke on various topics related to his illustrious career. Snoop was very open about his feelings at various notable moments. One of the particularly important events he discussed was his determination not to let Pharrell outshine him on their 2004 hit song “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” The track unsurprisingly reached the top of the Hot 100 chart. Snoop Dogg recalled being in the studio with Pharrell, where the latter was working on the beat and vocalizing without using words. Snoop took on the challenge of making sense of Pharrell’s non-verbal sounds. He then delivered a powerful verse.

This anecdote highlighted Snoop’s appreciation for being produced and guided in the studio. “He ain’t even got the beat all the way made. This how this n*gga get down,” Snoop said of Pharrell. “He don’t say words, he just [imitates vocalizations], so it’s my job to make that shit make sense!” However, Pharrell wasn’t afraid to speak up when it came to Snoop’s lyrics. “That third verse… that ain’t it,” he recalls the Neptunes producer saying. Of course, Snoop soon came back with a harder 16 bars for the verse. “That’s what I mean about ‘I like to be produced.’” What do you think of Snoop’s career recollections? Let us know in the comments!

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The post Snoop Dogg Received Big Praise From James Brown Before His Passing appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Black Thought Freestyles Over Classic James Brown Beats On J. Period’s New Live Mixtape

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Over the past few years, Black Thought has been branching. Primarily known as the rapper and de facto frontman of The Roots, a growing number of recent releases, the Philadelphia MC has been collaborating with an expanding roster of producers, including Danger Mouse, El Michels Affair, 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and Sean C. While his new project, Glorious Game with El Michels Affair, is due April 14, frequent collaborator and DJ J. Period put together yet another compilation of Black Thought tracks to hold fans over ’til then.

On J​.​ Period Presents The Live Mixtape [JB Edition], the DJ utilizes Thought’s status as one of rap’s preeminent technicians of the craft, pairing live freestyles taken from Thought’s most recent Roots Picnic Live Mixtape performance. over instrumentals from the late, great funk and soul icon James Brown, as well as hip-hop beats that sampled his works. These include Nas’ “Get Down,” “Big Payback,” “Hot Pants Road,” and Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power.”

While Black Thought labored for much of his career with The Roots in relative obscurity, thanks to social media and a string of strategically placed freestyles, he’s finally received recognition from rap fans as a peerless rapper, and here, he puts that reputation to the test, freestyling for 35 minutes over some of the funkiest production known to man. Check it out on J. Period’s Bandcamp.

A James Brown Documentary Produced By Mick Jagger And Questlove Is Coming In 2023

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James Brown
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A new four-part documentary series about James Brown is coming in 2023, according to A&E network. Titled James Brown: Say It Loud, it’ll be produced by the Rolling Stones‘ Mick Jagger and the Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought. It’ll feature tons of interviews with people from Brown’s life such as friends and collaborators, while also including exclusive archival footage.

“He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement,” Jagger said in a statement, also stating that he’s “thrilled” to help produce it. “I have always admired James and learned so much from him.”

“The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, which inspires us and other artists to this day, but also for the deep and lasting impression he has had on American culture,” Questlove and Black Thought added. “Brown’s life is a crucial and timely story of struggle, redemption, and self-identity and we are honored to have the chance to share it.”

James Brown: Say It Loud will be directed by Deborah Riley Draper. It follows the 2014 biopic Get On Up, in which Chadwick Boseman played Brown. That was also produced by Jagger.