Funky Four Plus One
Encyclopedia
Funky Four Plus One was the first Hip-Hop/Rap group from The Bronx, New York
, United States
to receive a recording deal. They were notable for having a female MC, and were the first rap group to perform live on a national television broadcast. Jazzy Jeff from Funky Four Plus One is not the same artist as DJ Jazzy Jeff
from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
. When Jazzy Jeff was setting up a solo career after the (3rd) Funky 4 split up around 1983 he sued Jive Records
(who had subsequently signed DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince) and he won a lawsuit over the rights to the name "Jazzy Jeff".
on the song "Shake Your Rump
." "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's
"Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings included the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King Heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "The Apprentice" which taken from the O'Jays' "(For The Love Of) Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.
They were the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show, Saturday Night Live
, in a season six episode hosted by Blondie's
Deborah Harry
(some have mistakenly reported that Run-DMC was the first rap group to appear on SNL - in fact, Run-DMC were first rappers to perform on MTV
some years later).
The original members were The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar), Sha Rock (Sharon Green), Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams). Rahiem later left the group to join Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
. Sha Rock temporarily left as well, and they were replaced by Lil' Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, who became the 'New' Funky Four and with the return of Sha Rock who became the Plus One More.
This utilized elements of Cheryl Lynn
's "Got To Be Real
", over which a 16-minute rap commentary was placed. The tracks were recorded by a live band led by drummer Pumpkin
, arguably rap's first production hero, and it was an impressive overall introduction.
Shortly afterwards they switched to Sugarhill Records
, losing the "Plus One More" and adding 4 + 1 suffix. Prior to this cast D.J. Mark The 45 King would act as Breakout's record boy after Pookie D, locating and passing records up to the decks as Breakout requested them. They made their debut for Sugarhill in 1980 with "That's The Joint", a song arranged by jazz-funk organist Clifton Jiggs Chase. Their performances at Bronx Club parties included full blown dance routines.
After a dispute with Sugarhill, Lil` Rodney C! and KK Rockwell left the group and started The Original Double Trouble, at which time Rodney C! would marry Angela (Angie B) Brown of The Sequence fame aka (Grammy Nominated) Angie Stone
. Jazzy Jeff went on to have a solo career.
In 2008, their song "That's The Joint" was ranked number 41 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to receive a recording deal. They were notable for having a female MC, and were the first rap group to perform live on a national television broadcast. Jazzy Jeff from Funky Four Plus One is not the same artist as DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jeffrey Allen Townes , also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an American hip hop, R&B record producer, turntablist and actor. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince is a hip hop duo from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vocalist Will Smith met Jeff Townes while trying to make a name for himself in West Philadelphia's local hip hop scene. After joining forces with Clarence Holmes the team members became local celebrities...
. When Jazzy Jeff was setting up a solo career after the (3rd) Funky 4 split up around 1983 he sued Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
(who had subsequently signed DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince) and he won a lawsuit over the rights to the name "Jazzy Jeff".
Early formation
Formed in 1976, the group was the first hip hop group to have a female MC, Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the Beastie BoysBeastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
on the song "Shake Your Rump
Shake Your Rump
"Shake Your Rump" is the second track on Beastie Boys' second studio album Paul's Boutique, released July 25, 1989.* Produced & written by the Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers.* Engineered by Mario Caldato and Allen Abrahamson.-Samples:...
." "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's
A Taste of Honey (band)
A Taste of Honey was the name of an American recording act, formed in 1971 by associates Perry Kibble and Donald Ray Johnson. In 1978 they had one of the best known chart-toppers of the disco era, "Boogie Oogie Oogie"...
"Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings included the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King Heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "The Apprentice" which taken from the O'Jays' "(For The Love Of) Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.
They were the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, in a season six episode hosted by Blondie's
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
Deborah Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
(some have mistakenly reported that Run-DMC was the first rap group to appear on SNL - in fact, Run-DMC were first rappers to perform on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
some years later).
The original members were The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar), Sha Rock (Sharon Green), Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams). Rahiem later left the group to join Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. Composed of one DJ and five rappers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip-hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in...
. Sha Rock temporarily left as well, and they were replaced by Lil' Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, who became the 'New' Funky Four and with the return of Sha Rock who became the Plus One More.
Career
With the addition of Lil` Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, the group became the "New" Funky Four, with D.J. Breakout and D.J. Baron. None of the Emcees were older than 17 when they signed with the Enjoy label, with "Rappin' And Rockin' The House".This utilized elements of Cheryl Lynn
Cheryl Lynn
Lynda Cheryl Smith , known better by her professional name Cheryl Lynn, is a female African-American disco, R&B and soul singer known best for her 1978 disco song, "Got to Be Real".-Early career:...
's "Got To Be Real
Got To Be Real
"Got to Be Real" is a 1978 disco song by Cheryl Lynn from her self-titled album. The song, which was Lynn's debut single, was penned by David Paich, David Foster, and Lynn, and has since been called one of the defining moments in disco. Along with the tracks, "Star Love" and "You Saved My Day",...
", over which a 16-minute rap commentary was placed. The tracks were recorded by a live band led by drummer Pumpkin
Pumpkin (musician)
Errol Eduardo Bedward, better known by his stage name Pumpkin was a musician, percussionist and band leader. He was renowned for being the one behind many old school hip hop tracks for the Profile, Enjoy, and Tuff City record companies....
, arguably rap's first production hero, and it was an impressive overall introduction.
Shortly afterwards they switched to Sugarhill Records
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
, losing the "Plus One More" and adding 4 + 1 suffix. Prior to this cast D.J. Mark The 45 King would act as Breakout's record boy after Pookie D, locating and passing records up to the decks as Breakout requested them. They made their debut for Sugarhill in 1980 with "That's The Joint", a song arranged by jazz-funk organist Clifton Jiggs Chase. Their performances at Bronx Club parties included full blown dance routines.
After a dispute with Sugarhill, Lil` Rodney C! and KK Rockwell left the group and started The Original Double Trouble, at which time Rodney C! would marry Angela (Angie B) Brown of The Sequence fame aka (Grammy Nominated) Angie Stone
Angie Stone
Angie Stone is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She has been nominated for three Grammy Award. She is more successful on the charts R&B charts, with four Top 10 albums, forms including a number one album and 10 singles on the R&B chart,...
. Jazzy Jeff went on to have a solo career.
In 2008, their song "That's The Joint" was ranked number 41 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Singles
- "Rappin & Rocking The House" (1979)
- "That's The Joint" (1980)
- "Do You Want to Rock (Before I Let Go) (1982)
- "Feel It" (The Mexican) (1983)
Members
- The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith)
- Keith Keith (Keith Caesar)
- Sha Rock (Sharon Green)
- Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams)
- Lil' Rodney C! (Rodney Stone)
- Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Miree)
- D.J. Breakout (Keith Williams)
- D.J. Baron (Baron Chappell)