May the Funk Be With You

George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic have ultimately changed the wave of music. With playful lyrics, extraterrestrial costuming and stage design, and experimental synthesizers that find their basis in R&B, blues and gospel, Clinton created a genre that influences today’s biggest artists. 

What is this genre, you may ask? 

P-Funk. 

Though Clinton’s musical journey started with a neighbourhood Doo Wop group, his revolutionary style really took form in the 70s. When the Mothership first landed in 1976, Clinton’s faith as the Godfather of this psychedelic, outlandish music style and fashion was sealed. 

In the early 90s, we saw a rise in funk inspired rap and funk rock; with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, RC Hammer, and Dr. Dre all participating in the funk-volution. As I watched Clinton’s documentary, The Tales of Dr. Funkenstien, I too became acutely aware of the influence Clinton has had on the rap community. In a more recent salute, Clinton’s hit, We Want the Funk, makes an obvious cameo in Kendrick Lamer’s song, King Kunta. 

This song is no stranger to mainstream media, and is in fact one of my personal favourite songs from Lamar. Throughout the song, Lamar pays homage to other influential Black figures such as Michael Jackson, and Afrofuturist novels such as the Invisible Man. This song is ultimately a love letter to all those that came before; saving a particularly fun twist at the end of the song for George Clinton: 

*POP*

(By the time you hear the next pop, the funk shall be within you)

*POP*

…

…We want the funk

We want the funk

(Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it)

We want the funk

And the funk will always be with us.