Funk's Death Trip

FANTASTIC article by Yuval Taylor. Thanks for the providing such a detailed history on Funk, how it fit into the tapestry of black history, and for shedding light on this very iconic album. I’ve been familiar with it my entire life but have never listened to it(save for the title track). After seeing Erykah Badu pay homage to it in her “Honey” video, my curiosity was piqued about it, and now I have a better understanding of this album’s significance, not only in black culture, but also pop culture. Hey, Pop...Matters, right??  You guys/gals Rock! Or should I say FUNK?!! My deepest respect to the Editors(Zupko and Zarker) and the incredible team of intelligent, insightful, articulate and cutting-edge writers at PM.

Comment by Yoruba from NYC — March 24, 2008 @ 9:41 am

OK article. I dont agree with Yuval’s dismissal of Cosmic Slop or Standing on the verge.. Both are wonderful albums and unique in their own category just like Maggot Brain.Check them out and form your thesis.

Comment by chronwell — March 25, 2008 @ 8:26 am

A truly brilliant and enlightening article. Yuval Taylor made me feel like I was there with Funkadelic during this critical time in the band’s history. The article made me confront a side of P-Funk most people avoid - the raw blues underlying those unforgettable grooves. Thank you. I write about George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and the funk movement in my book about Sly Stone. Check it out at http://www.lulu.com/content/1412956

Comment by Eddie Santiago from Uptown — March 25, 2008 @ 8:13 pm

Very informative and inspirng article.  But a couple of things - Clinton wasn’t against playing with white musicians (Polish-American Ron Bykowski played on something like 6 Funkadelic/Parliament albums) so the “blackness” aspect is overstated, and Cosmic Slop is a great album - the title track is one of Funkadelic’s best tunes ever.  Also, the first two Funkadelic albums are not really any more sloppy than Maggotbrain - in fact they are brilliantly produced and sound just as incredible.  Maggotbrain isn’t really that much of a departure from the first two.

Comment by JST from LA — April 21, 2008 @ 4:11 pm