James Brown’s “Funky Drummer (Part 2)”

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Why did the drum beat that birthed hip hop only cost 50 bucks? In Part 2 of our “Funky Drummer” breakdown, Diallo & LUXXURY devote an entire episode to the genius and legacy of the funky drummer himself: Clyde Stubblefield. It’s our “Oops! All Drummers!” episode, so strap in for some syncopations, paradiddles, breaks, ghost notes, backbeats, ostinados, tresillos, and the eight simple bars of hi-hat, snare, and kick that birthed decades of great (and not-so-great) samples. 

We start in the stems, deep diving on what makes this iconic beat so damn good, including the four ideas that Stubblefield abandons along the road to the titular funk. Then, we get into the song’s legacy and the decades of samples that Stubblefield’s beat created, from 80s hip hop to 90s rock to 2000s cartoons. 

We’re giving Stubblefield his due. Because after all—the name of the tune is Funky Drummer. 

Songs Discussed:

“Cold Sweat” (1967) – James Brown

“Give It Up or Turnit a Loose” (1970) – James Brown

“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) – James Brown

“Mother Popcorn” (1969) – James Brown

“The Classy M.C.'s” (1985) – MC Quick Quintin and MC Mello J.

“It’s A Demo” (1986) – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

“South Bronx” (1987) – Boogie Down Productions

“Jack the Ripper” (1989) – LL Cool J

“Mama Said Knock You Out” (1990) – LL Cool J

“Rock the Bells” (1985) – LL Cool J

“Rebel Without A Pause” (1987) – Public Enemy

“Bring the Noise” (1987) – Public Enemy

“Fuck Tha Police” (1989) – N.W.A.

“Run’s House” (1988) – Run-D.M.C. 

“Let Me Ride” (1992) – Dr. Dre

“Justify My Love” (1990) – Madonna

“To My Donna” (1991) – Young Black Teenagers

“Where I’m From” (1993) – Digable Planets

“The Next Movement” (1999) – The Roots

“The Magic Number” (1989) – De La Soul

“Freedom! '90” (1990) – George Michael

“2001” (1992) – Melissa Etheridge

“G-Bop” (1992) – Kenny G

“The Powerpuff Girls Theme” (1998) – James L. Venable, Thomas Chase, and Stephen Rucker

“In Effect” (1995) – DJ Red Alert & Mike Slammer

“Officer” (1992) – The Pharcyde

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Engineering by Katie Gilchrist

Produced, edited, and mixed by Eric Hicks

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