More than enough ink has been spilled over the course Parliament Funkadelic’s incredibly lengthy and influential 50+ year run together so delving into their backstory is both largely unnecessary and beyond the scope of this particular post; however, what I will say is that George Clinton and company are one of the most influential and important acts of the past 50 years. After all, can anyone imagine what hip-hop would have sounded without Parliament Funkadelic? Probably not.
“Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You” off Funkadelic’s 2014 release, First You Gotta Shake The Gate was recently remixed and features guest spots from Ice Cube and Kendrick Lamar. Now while the remix maintains the original’s slow-burning strutting funk and subtly turns into it the sort of song that you’d equally expect to hear at a summer barbecue or while driving around in a pimped out Cadillac with the windows rolled down, while being sexy as hell. Three wheel motion anyone? Interestingly, both the original and the remix remind listeners that Clinton and company are still relevant and absolutely necessary — if anything to remind younger listeners that you can get older and still be badass and have fun, but to also proselytize newcomers to all things funk.
Directed by Video God, the recently released video for “Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You” Remix, featuring Ice Cube and Kendrick Lamar follows George Clinton, the members of Funkadelic and other proselytizers of funk on an interplanetary party and journey, picking up other folks to party with them. I kind of wish I could join them on the mothership, you know?
