Few artists have been sampled by hip-hop producers more than Kool & the Gang. George “Funky” Brown’s drums have formed the backdrop to countless rap classics, while the group’s horn section has, for decades, been one of the most fiercely intimidating in music.
Public Enemy has a long sonic history with the group. Fear of a Black Planet’s “Welcome to the Terrordome” sampled the group’s 1973 classic “Jungle Boogie,” while It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’s “Louder than a Bomb” used elements from 1971’s “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight.” Chuck D incorporated many of the group’s biggest hits in his exuberant induction speech.
The get down to the get down to the get down on it — from DT to JT to the four-letter hip name to come before the gang. So cool they became their own slang. Jazziacs to the Soul Town Band to Kool & the Flames. 1969, when they hit the record game. Deejays like Mr. Bill Wildman, Steve and our own Doctor Dre, us always playing — I’m just saying that hey, hey, hey, good job is always on our minds, inside wild and peaceful jobs. To the get down to the jungle boogie, get down to the one down and jungle boogie say “uh!” I wanted to rap on that record. And if that wasn’t enough, there was more funky stuff. Representing their peers and bands like Parliament, Funkadelic, the JBs already in.
And then came the disco days, it got too hot. Then JT came in and gave it all he got. Too too hot with a gang of new hits, “Joanna” to “Cherish” Kool and the Gang remained fresh in the best B-boy vernacular, y’all. Let it be known: this is a long-due celebration. Y’all know the deal, birthdays, weddings, sports, championships. Y’all know the drill. And when they created the song “Celebration,” it was quoted that the band said, “We don’t know nothing. We just celebrate and Praise you God.” So here we are, celebration, full circle, in the the OH 10, from Youngstown, right here to Cleveland.
Here we are. Y’all say, hey, hey, hey, here we are.
