Funky Four Plus One

Infobox musical artist
Name = Funky Four Plus One


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Funky 4 + 1
Funky Four Plus One More
Origin = Bronx, New York City
Instrument =
Genre = Hip hop, Rap, funk
Years_active = 1977-1983
Label = Enjoy Records
Sugar Hill Records
Associated_acts = Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
URL =
Current_members = K.K. Rockwell
Keith Keith
Sha Rock
Rahiem
Lil' Rodney C!
Jazzy Jeff

Funky Four Plus One (also known as Funky 4 + 1) was the 'first' Hip-Hop/Rap group from The Bronx, New York, United States to receive a recording deal. They were notable for having a female MC, and were the first Hip-Hop/Rap group to perform "live" on a national television broadcast. Jazzy Jeff from Funky Four Plus One is not the same artist as DJ Jazzy Jeff from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. When Jazzy Jeff was setting up a solo career after the (3rd) Funky 4 split up around 1983 he sued Jive Records (who had subsequently signed DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince) and he won a lawsuit over the rights to the name "Jazzy Jeff".

History

Early formation

Formed in 1977, the group was the first hip hop group to have a female MC, Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the Beastie Boys on the song "Shake Your Rump." "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "The Apprentice" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.

They were the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show, Saturday Night Live, in a 1981 episode hosted by Deborah Harry (some have mistakenly reported that Run-DMC was the show's first rap appearance- in fact they were first to perform on MTV some years later).

The original members were The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar), Sha Rock (Sharon Green), Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams). Rahiem later left the group to join Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Sha Rock temporarily left as well, and they were replaced by Lil' Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, who became the 'New' Funky Four and with the return of Sha Rock who became the Plus One More.

Career

With the addition of Lil` Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, the group became the "New" Funky Four, with D.J. Breakout and Baron. None of the Emcees were older than 17 when they signed with the Enjoy label, with "Rappin' And Rockin' The House".This utilized elements of Cheryl Lynn's,"Got To Be Real", over which a 16-minute rap commentary was placed. The tracks were recorded by a live band led by drummer Pumpkin, arguably rap's first production hero, and it was an impressive overall introduction.

Shortly afterwards they switched to Sugarhill Records, losing the "Plus One More" and adding 4 + 1 suffix. Prior to this cast D.J. Mark The 45 King would act as Breakout's record boy after Pookie D, locating and passing records up to the decks as Breakout requested them. They made their debut for Sugarhill in 1980 with "That's The Joint", a song arranged by jazz-funk organist Clifton Jiggs Chase. Their performances at Bronx Club parties included full blown dance routines.

After a discrepancy with Sugarhill, Lil` Rodney C! and KK Rockwell left the group and started "The Original Double Trouble". At which time Rodney C! would marry Angela (Angie B) Brown of The Sequence fame aka (Grammy Nominated) Angie Stone. Jazzy Jeff went on to have a solo career.

Discography

* "Rappin & Rockin The House" - Funky Four Plus One More
* "That's The Joint" - Funky 4+1 (1981)
* "Feel It" (The Mexican) - Funky 4
* "Do You Want To Rock" - Funky 4
* "Square Biz" - Funky 4
* "Superstars" - Funky 4
* "King Heroin" - Jazzy Jeff

Members

* The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith)
* Keith Keith (Keith Caesar)
* Sha Rock (Sharon Green)
* Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams)
* Lil' Rodney C!
* Jazzy Jeff
* D.J. Breakout
* Baron

References

* http://www.jayquan.com/funk4.htm
* http://www.jayquan.com/funk4int.htm
* http://www.myspace.com/funkyfour
* [http://thecareercookbook.com/article.php?article_id=126 The Career Cookbook Rahiem Profile]