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Funky 4 + 1 was an American hip hop group from The Bronx, New York, composed of Jazzy Jeff, Sha-Rock (b. Sharon Green), D.J. Breakout, Guy Williams, Keith Keith, The Voice of K.K., and Rodney Cee (Stone). The group originally started with K.K Rockwell, Keith Caesar, Rahiem and Sha Rock, the rest of the members joined at later times.[1] The latter two members also performed together as the duo Double Trouble, notably in the film Wild Style. They were the first hip hop group to receive a record deal, as well as the first to perform live on national television. The group was also the first to start selling their records commercially.[2] The group was also notable for being the first to have a woman MC, Sha-Rock.
Funky 4 + 1 | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
|
| Origin | Bronx, New York City |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1977–1983 |
| Labels | Enjoy Records Sugar Hill Records |
| Past members |
|
"That's the Joint" was interpolated from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Music critic Robert Christgau of The Village Voice named it the best song of the 1980s.[3] In his 1981 review of the single, Christgau gave it an A rating and wrote of its musical significance:
The instrumental track, carried by Sugarhill bassist Doug Wimbish, is so compelling that for a while I listened to it alone on its B-side version. And the rapping is the peak of the form, not verbally—the debut has funnier words—but rhythmically. Quick tradeoffs and clamorous breaks vary the steady-flow rhyming of the individual MCs, and when it comes to Sha-Rock, Miss Plus One herself, who needs variation?"[4]
Funky 4 + 1 was the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show; on February 14 (Valentine's Day) 1981 they performed on Saturday Night Live hosted by Blondie's Debbie Harry.
The group was subsequently asked by Harry to open up for Blondie on tour, but were forbidden to do so by Sugarhill Records' CEO, Sylvia Robinson.[5]
In 2008, its song "That's The Joint" was ranked number 41 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.[6]
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Crash Crew Meets Funky Four[lower-alpha 1] |
|
| That's the Joint | |
| Back to the Old School 2: That's the Joint |
|
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Rappin' and Rocking the House"[lower-alpha 2][10] | 1979 | Non-album single |
| "That's the Joint" | 1980 | Crash Crew Meets Funky Four |
| "Do You Want to Rock (Before I Let Go)"[lower-alpha 3][11] | 1982 | |
| "Feel It (The Mexican)"[lower-alpha 3][12] | 1983 | |
- The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith) (1978–1981)
- Keith Keith (Keith Caesar) (1978–1983)
- Sha Rock (Sharon Green) (1977–1983)
- Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams) (1977)
- Lil' Rodney C! (Rodney Stone) (1977–1981)
- Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Miree) (1977–1983)
- D.J. Breakout (Keith Williams) (1977–1983)
- D.J. Baron (Baron Chappell) (1977–1980)
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