The Bloggomist: Why I Love DC
Music Opinion

The foundation of go-go music emerged in Washington, DC’s dance clubs during the 1970’s when live bands were going head to head with disco music. It was Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers who first brought the funky beats to the nation’s capital. If you asked DC natives about go-go, many would attribute the subgenre of funk to Chuck Brown.

Source: USA Original

With the influence of African percussions, jazz and Latin tunes, Chuck Brown produced tracks to blend funk, soul and blues into live music for the crowd.  It’s the type of music that is meant to be played for hours and last longer than the standard disco song spun by the DJ. Brown and The Soul Searchers had the crowd shakin’ and groovin’ to the beat when they first introduced the nation’s capital to go-go in 1966. Since then, the city has embraced the conga-heavy sound by go-go bands – Rare Essence, E.U. (Experience Unlimited), Trouble Funk, the Backyard Band and Redds & the Boys, to name a few. The first time I heard go-go was in 6th grade.

Go-go has become a trademark of the city’s African-American community and has been embraced by locals and established musicians outside of the city’s jurisdiction. Before Beyoncé sampled The Chi-Lites’ “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So),” for the single “Crazy in Love”, artists have been sampling music for many years. Its influence in the music industry goes back to Salt-n-Pepa’s “Shake Your Thing” by E.U., who were also sampled by Grace Jones’ single “Slave to the Rhythm,” which included E.U.’s Ju Ju House on drums.

Source: Dalesun

A few years ago, DC native Rich Harrison produced a single for mega-star Beyoncé Knowles by sampling the hook from The Chi-Lites’ “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So).” One of the first samples of go-go was by Kurtis Blow from E.U.’s “Party Time” in 1983. It has continued to be a presence and influence to mainstream music to the present day. Long before DC hip-hop artist Wale appeared on tracks produced by Mark Ronson and MTV played the Backyard Band’s “Skillet” during a performance by local dance crew Beat Ya Feet Kings on the show America’s Best Dance Crew,  go-go inspired us all in the heart of DC.

Trouble Funk – Drop The Bomb (1982)

Beastie Boys – The New Style (…mmm drop!) // Sample of Trouble Funk – Drop the Bomb

Wale recently collaborated with The Roots and Chrisette Michele for the single, “Rising Up”. Wale’s presence in the music industry will provide a place on the map for DC . If you come out to Washington, I highly recommend a visit to one of Rare Essence’s live performances. They have been jamming out during live performances since 1976.

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To see more from Allicia Tek, visit: http://evilmonito.com/author/atek/

Published on 18 November 2009 | |