Funk
R.I.P. Calvin Simon, Parliament-Funkadelic Vocalist Dead at 79
Calvin Simon, the former vocalist of George Clinton’s pioneering funk collective Parliament–Funkadelic, has died. He was 79. “Rest in peace to my P-Funk brother Mr. Calvin Simon,” Clinton wrote in a post to Facebook. “Fly on Calvin!” “We lost another original member of Parliament/Funkadelic,” bassist Bootsy Collins wrote on Twitter, describing Simon as “a friend, bandmate & a cool classic guy.” Advertisement Related Video Calvin Eugene Simon was born on May 22nd, 1942, in Beckley, West Virginia, where he grew up singing in his local church choir. After relocating to New Jersey, Simon hit it off with Clinton, eventually joining a doo-wop group called The Parliaments in the late 1950s. He sang on many of the band’s early hits like “I Can Feel the Ice Melting,” “Heart Trouble,” and “I Wan...
R.I.P. Robbie Shakespeare, Sly & Robbie Bassist Dead at 68
Robbie Shakespeare, the Jamaican bassist and producer who contributed to countless groundbreaking records as one-half of Sly & Robbie, had died at age 68. The Gleaner reports that he passed away in a Florida hospital following kidney surgery. Raised in Kingston by a family of musicians, Shakespeare learned to play the bass from legendary reggae musician Aston “Family Man” Barrett. He met his longtime musical partner, drummer Sly Dunbar, playing in the Revolutionaries, the house band at Channel One Studio. The pair split off from the studio in the 1970s and founded their own Taxi Records, and also continued playing as studio musicians on records like Culture’s 1977 record Two Sevens Clash and Gregory Isaacs’ 1978 LP Cool Ruler. Sly & Robbie were also members of the Compass Poin...
Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars Unveil New Album An Evening with Silk Sonic: Stream
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are sliding into your ear space with their debut album as Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic. Stream it below with Apple Music and Spotify. The collaboration is the audio equivalent of a velour floor-length smoking jacket. It features narration from Bootsy Collins, production from D’Mile, and an appearance by the boss of the bass, Thundercat. In an interview with Rolling Stone, .Paak said they hope to capture the feeling of “the old school,” with Mars adding that the album exists to bring joy. “We feel our purpose is this,” he said. “We need to light up a stage, put the fear of God in anyone performing before us or after us, and bring so much joy to the people we’re in front of and the people listening. Especially in times like the time we’r...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Release New Silk Sonic Single, “Smokin Out the Window”: Stream
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have released a new Silk Sonic song called “Smokin Out the Window,” which serves as the third preview of the duo’s upcoming debut album An Evening with Silk Sonic. Watch the song’s accompanying music video below. Following the release of their debut slow jam-turned-Song of the Week “Leave the Door Open” in March, and lighthearted follow-up-turned Song of the Week “Skate” in July, “Smokin Out the Window” follows in the grand tradition of funk and soul. With cinematic strings and soft bass, the duo takes cues from artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder in their mission to make an uplifting throwback album for our dark modern times. An Evening with Silk Sonic arrives on November 12th. Head here to catch up on everything we know about th...
The Gap Band Founding Member Ronnie Wilson Has Died
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty The Gap Band found measurable success in the ’70s and ’80s on the back of the powerhouse vocals of “Uncle” Charlie Wilson and his siblings, Robert and Ronnie Wilson. Founding member Ronnie Wilson died Tuesday morning (November 2) peacefully at home with family nearby. TMZ got exclusive details of Mr. Wilson’s passing from his wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson, who shared that the music legend died while holding her hand. Wilson suffered a stroke last week and didn’t recover and the outlet adds that the musician had suffered other strokes in the past. Mrs. Boulware-Wilson issued a brief statement in honor of her husband, which we’ll share below: The love of my life was called home this morning, at 10:01am. Please continue to pray fo...
R.I.P. Ronnie Wilson, Co-Founder of The Gap Band Dead at 73
Ronnie Wilson, co-founding member and multi-instrumentalist of pioneering funk group The Gap Band, has died at the age of 73. In a statement to TMZ, Wilson’s wife, Linda, said her husband suffered a stroke last week and never recovered. He passed away Tuesday morning (November 2nd). Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, The Gap Band consisted of brothers Ronnie, Charlie, and Robert Wilson. After initially serving as a backing band for fellow Oklahoman Leon Russell, the brothers found their own success after linking up with record producer Lonnie Simmons and signing to Mercury Records. Advertisement Related Video The Gap Band’s 1979 self-titled album produced the group’s first top 10 single with “Shake.” The following year, the band’s follow-up album, The Gap Band II, achieved gold status thanks in...
Sly and the Family Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On Resounds 50 Years Later: Classic Review
Editor’s Note: Sly and the Family Stone released their fifth studio album on this day 50 years ago. Read Okla Jones’ retrospective essay below, and stay tuned for an exciting giveaway on Consequence surrounding the anniversary. When There’s a Riot Goin’ On was released in 1971 — exactly 50 years ago today, November 1st — America was a nation in transition, feeling the effects of the previous decade. The shadow of Dr. King’s assassination loomed over the black community; and the Vietnam War divided an entire country. What Sly and the Family Stone’s fifth album did was give a voice to a new generation yearning to be heard. The revolution, as it was referred to by some, was when the hip, twenty-somethings of the world experienced an awakening, so to speak, and pushed the limits of sex, drugs,...
In Photos: Artist of the Month Remi Wolf’s Sold-Out Show at Music Hall of Williamsburg
After blowing up during the pandemic, Remi Wolf arrived in Brooklyn last week to deliver her sold-out headlining show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Even though this is only her first official tour, it’s likely the last chance fans will get to see her in a venue this size; before the gig even started, her next New York concert at the much larger Webster Hall in February was already sold out. Consequence was on hand at the MHOW to catch up with the funky soul pop artist for our latest Artist of the Month spotlight. Of course, we stuck around to catch the show itself, and you can check out our fully photo gallery below — including exclusive behind-the-scenes shots and portraits. Also, read our review of Remi Wolf’s debut album, Juno, and snag tickets to all her upcoming tour dates via T...
Tank and the Bangas Tap Big Freedia for New Single “Big”: Stream
Tank and the Bangas have returned with their newest single “Big” featuring fellow NOLA native Big Freedia. Stream the song below. “Big ass, big mouth, big bands, big house/ Everything I do is big/ Chillin’ at Big Freedia house/ All I drop is big sh-t/ Toilet bowls need cleaning out/ I pull up in that black thing/ I do a set, I roll out,” raps frontwoman Tarriona “Tank” Ball over Big Freedia’s wailing descant. Meanwhile, the track’s accompanying music video is a colorful science experiment gone wild, in which a lab coat-adorned Big Freedia convinces Tank to drink up a potion she’s concocted. Naturally, dancing, twerking, and all kinds of wild revelry ensue. Advertisement Related Video Says drummer Joshua Johnson of the collab: “This song boasts big energy from two talented New Orleans artis...
Big Freedia Drops New EP Big Diva Energy: Stream
Big Freedia is back (by popular demand!) with her new EP Big Diva Energy via East West Records. Stream it below. To mark the release of the project, the MC also dropped the wild music video for lead single “Not Today” featuring Jake Shears and Tank and the Bangas’ Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. “Not Today’ is a track about setting limits with people. It’s about the people who use you and think you aren’t paying attention. I’m saying, ‘I see you and it’s not gonna happen today, not tomorrow—not never b—h!” Freedia said in a statement. Advertisement Related Video Across its six tracks, Big Diva Energy also contains collaborations with Soaky Siren and the rest of Tank and the Bangas (“Betty Bussit”) and Jax and Marc Rebillet (“BDE”), as well as solo offerings “Platinum,” “Mm Mm Good,” and more. Wat...
Louis Futon Announces Sophomore Album, Drops Funky Lead Single “Ron Burgundy”
True to form, Louis Futon brought out some flute, saxophone, and trumpet to christen the announcement of his long-awaited sophomore album. The multi-genre producer incorporated all those wind instruments in his funky new track “Ron Burgundy,” which is of course named after Will Ferrell’s iconic character from the Anchorman films. Quickly moving past a gentle intro, Futon uncorks a groovy bassline before a fluttering flute takes center stage. What follows is a medley of trumpet, sax, and bass that offers danceable energy with a jazz fusion twist. In a press release, Futon spoke about the track’s inspiration and how his vision required help from two instrumentalists. “[‘Ron Burgundy]’ originally started from sampling an old song ...
R.I.P. Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Saxophonist of Kool & The Gang Dead at 70
Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, a founding member and longtime saxophonist of Kool & the Gang, has died at the age of 70. According to a lengthy obituary published on the group’s social media, Thomas passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 7th. Thomas appeared on every one of Kool & the Gang’s albums, playing alto saxophone, flute, and percussion. He was also the “master of ceremonies” at the group’s concerts. Advertisement Related Video Thomas first met Ronald Bell and Robert “Kool” Bell in high school, and together they began playing music with several other friends including Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith. After initially calling themselves the Jazziacs, the group eventually settled on the name “Kool & the Gang.” Over the proceeding ...
