Tag Archives: Sly Stone

At this point it appears there’s no end to the inception of another “Reality Show.”  I put the term in quotation marks, because by now even those who are not media savvy, have come to realize that there’s a lot of scenarios and drama created amidst the actual ‘reality’ on these shows.  There’s a new show depicting aspects of reality, centered around a circle of sisters.

 
Every now and then you come across art that blows you away. For me it’s Kagan McLeod.

The Museum of UnCut Funk recently featured Kagan McLeod and his Infinite Kung Fu graphic novel in Aesthetic Grooves. VERY FUNKY STUFF. You can read all about it here - http://museumofuncutfunk.com/2012/04/07/infinite-kung-fu-part-1-by-kagan-mcleod/. While checking out Kagan’s work I stumbled across his amazing music themed ink drawings of some of my musical heroes. I reached out to Kagan and got his approval to post this work on our site. This cat creates some of the flyest images that fully represents what the Museum is all about.

Thanks Kagan…Sista ToFunky!

 
 
One who started out as a hair stylist and a staff writer for Motown Records in the late 60s, these days is known as one of the architects of FUNK.  To honor his contributions and innovative approach to music, Berklee will grant the musician a Doctorate of Music degree on February 16th.

 
 
Recent reports would have us believe that Sly Stone is destitute and homeless. Although the now Michael Jackson Estate owns the publishing of Sly Stone’s music, he still has ownership as a writer. How much money he has or as to extent of what his resources are are unbeknown-st to me and none of my business, but I hope and believe the living legend is actually not on his last leg.

 
Sly Stone has been reported to be homeless. Living out of a van in Crenshaw, here’s a report from the L-A Times: Sly Stone is homeless and living in a camper-van in L.A., the world learned Sunday, thanks to the director of a documentary about Sly and the Family Stone who co-wrote a story for the New York Post.

I remember meeting George Clinton at his hotel room when we spoke for this interview. It was 1999, awhile after he had dropped his albums “Dope Dogs” and “T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Mothership),” which were released in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He spoke about some of his favorite projects that he released over the years, as well as the success of his visual art.

So I’m chillin’ at the crib, corresponding via e-mail, the TV’s on in the background, and I hear “Hot fun in the summertime,” but it’s not Sly & the Family Stone. I look up just in time to catch the end of the commercial… it’s an ad for the state of Maine.

Funk is the last genre of original live music. As hip-hop is now the essence of pop-culture, it is unquestionably a child of funk. Quincy Jones spoke of hip-hop being derived from be-bop when he released his album Back on the Block. It’s amazing how many titles and categories have been used to describe Black Music. Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime, Soul – The late Jerry Wexler summed it all up as R&B, Rhythm and Blues, it’s all Black Music. Post Be-Bop and Pre Hip-Hop is Funk.