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Funkdoobiest take it back with some ol Hip Hop Music · by Rafi Kam
Funkdoobiest: Son Doobie, DJ Ralph M and former member Tomahawk Funk
After a long hiatus, Los Angeles based Funkdoobiest are back with a new album coming out in 2008. DJ Ralph M of the group recently sent us their new single titled “Hip Hop Music”.
Click for Funkdoobiest’s “Hip Hop Music”
The single is a funky, bongo-driven party joint with Son Doobie showing he can still ride a beat. I do like the vibe on it; it kind of reminds me of this year’s Top Shelf 8/8/88 release with a veteran act re-visiting the sound of an earlier era. This is a much smarter approach than the old industry practice that used to have veteran rappers changing their whole style to compete with whatever was on the radio at the time. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of the album.
A related thought:
The next time you see some online discussion about the most underrated hip-hop albums watch what happens when certain records like Blowout Comb or Dah Shinin’ come up. Most likely, a chorus of voices will shout out “good call!”
Here is a little secret about the word “underrated”: If 4 out of 5 backpackers claim that an excellent album is slept on. If people are clamoring to agree with their underrated-ness – well, they’re no longer underrated.
The only audience for old rap albums are the people having these conversations, so who exactly is underrating those albums?
Meanwhile, look to the albums on the periphery of these conversations that get mentioned but are still not universally known.
Another 1995 release qualifies as just such a lost classic – Funkdoobiest’s excellent Brothas Doobie. From the Roy Ayers “Sunshine” flip in “Dedicated” to the tease of blues guitar in “XXX Funk”, Soul Assassins super-producer Muggs provided a weed-tinged daily soundtrack for heads that was at once mellow and captivating. In both subject matter and style, Son Doobie demonstrated a maturation from the group’s fun but frivolous debut Which Doobie U Be?
Don’t let its discount bin status fool you (wait you’re going to download the shit anyway – do you even know what a discount bin is?), Brothas Doobie is damn near essential and should be part of your collection.
YouTube has the album’s best known singles:
Dedicated
SONY BMG itself has the video for “Rock On” posted on YouTube but in their infinite wisdom has disabled embedding the video.
Click to view Funkdoobiest’s “Rock On”
Comments for "Funkdoobiest take it back with some ol Hip Hop Music"
does he still make pornos?
— fdsajkdsajkdas Nov 6, 08:55 AM
No idea, but your interest in seeing him naked is duly noted.
— Rafi Nov 6, 10:00 AM
Underrated
— Evolve Nov 6, 12:47 PM
Rafi,
Bang on with the underrated label deconstruction: it’s just a shame that, as you point out, the audience for these works is now limited to those already engaged in the genre in this phase of its development.
There you go… our shit is old man!
Hope you’re well,
Dan
— Dan Love Nov 6, 04:41 PM
“Rock on” Buckwild remix is a b boy anthem as far as I am concerned
— keatso Nov 6, 05:28 PM
son doob rips it consistently
— G Nov 7, 12:19 PM
The “Rock On” remix is beautiful, and the video is real dope and creative.
— R.H.S. Nov 7, 05:13 PM
Y’all ain’t ready for what they got coming on this new album! Shit is fire! -2008
— G$ Nov 8, 12:40 PM
S’funny, I pulled out and played their debut ‘Which Dobbie U B?’ album a couple weekends ago for the first time in well over 10 years and it still sounded pretty good. They’ve always been an underrated crew….
— ian Nov 9, 05:41 PM
Doobie 12“s were dope; clear light blue vinyl. I almost wore a hole through the “Rock On” joint.
Tomahawk Funk > Sen Dog
— Dante Severe Nov 11, 04:11 PM
without Muggs the earlier Funkdoobiest would’ve ben crap. Ralph M couldn’t handle beats on his own
— Nuke Butcher Dec 26, 05:06 PM
I loved their albums, great stuff with comical lyrics and sticky production values. I have since become a producer and am currently remixing Jay-Z.
— Smokingroove Jun 17, 07:24 PM
End of july album expected!! Son had a couple solo albums through battle axe too
— safan Jun 22, 12:21 AM
Dante Severe , you dont know shit, those are my beats on the first & second album… u just brain farting , I’ll punch you in your fuckin nose.. maybe that will get the wack back on track !!! you dumb motherfucker !!! (lol)
— RALPH M. Feb 10, 09:08 PM
whoever used my name and wrote on this – fuck off! i did not write that shit. I have all of funkdoobiest’s records and consider myself a fan. p.s Ralph M is killer
— Nuke Butcher Aug 20, 11:23 PM
Yo!! THIS is what I’m talkin about when I say HIP-HOP! Original beats and rhymes. Son’s flow actually sounds better with time and Ralph M’s track is crazy ill. If anyone uses the word “dated” to describe this joint’s vibe, then they are a suburban,tight-pants wearing,lil wayne loving hermaphrodite who shouldn’t even utter the words Hip Hop. Peace.
— Rod One Aug 23, 05:08 PM