Funky 4 + 1
The Bronx, New York, served as the birthplace for Funky 4 + 1 in 1977. K.K Rockwell and Keith Caesar formed the initial core of the group alongside Rahiem and Sha Rock. Sharon Green, known professionally as Sha-Rock, joined the lineup during these early days. The roster expanded over time to include D.J. Breakout and Guy Williams. Keith Keith remained with the band from 1977 through 1983. Jazzy Jeff, whose real name is Jeff Miree, entered the fold in 1979. Rodney Cee, also called Rodney Stone or Lil' Rodney C!, performed with them between 1979 and 1981. Two members later appeared together as a duo named Double Trouble in the film Wild Style.
Funky 4 + 1 secured the first record deal ever granted to a hip hop group. They became the first act to sell records commercially on their own terms. This achievement distinguished them from peers who relied solely on live performances. The group achieved another milestone by featuring a female MC within its ranks. Sha-Rock held this distinction as the first woman to rap inside a hip hop group. Their status as pioneers allowed them to perform live on national television before any other collective. These achievements occurred while the music industry largely ignored the genre outside of New York City clubs.
The instrumental track for That's the Joint carried the bassline from Sugarhill bassist Doug Wimbish. Music critic Robert Christgau of The Village Voice named it the best song of the 1980s. He gave the single an A rating during his 1981 review. Christgau noted that the rapping was rhythmically superior to verbal cleverness. He described the quick tradeoffs and clamorous breaks that varied the steady-flow rhyming of individual members. When Sha-Rock spoke, he argued she needed no variation at all. The song interpolated Rescue Me from A Taste of Honey. In 2008, VH1 ranked That's The Joint number 41 on its list of 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The group released Rappin' and Rocking the House in 1979 as a promotional single. They followed this with That's the Joint in 1980 under the label Vogue/Sugar Hill. Feel It (The Mexican) arrived in 1983 through P-Vine. Crash Crew Meets Funky Four appeared as an album in 1983 via Vogue/Sugar Hill. Back to the Old School 2: That's the Joint came out in 2000 on Sequel. These releases spanned labels including Vogue, Sugar Hill, P-Vine, and Sequel between 1979 and 2000. Formats ranged from LPs to CDs
and digital downloads over these decades.
Common questions
Who formed the initial core of Funky 4 + 1 in 1977?
K.K Rockwell and Keith Caesar formed the initial core of Funky 4 + 1 alongside Rahiem and Sha Rock. Sharon Green, known professionally as Sha-Rock, joined the lineup during these early days.
When did Jazzy Jeff join the group Funky 4 + 1?
Jazzy Jeff entered the fold in 1979. His real name is Jeff Miree and he performed with the collective until at least 1983 when Keith Keith remained with the band from 1977 through 1983.
What milestone did Funky 4 + 1 achieve regarding female MCs?
Sha-Rock held the distinction as the first woman to rap inside a hip hop group. This achievement distinguished them from peers who relied solely on live performances while the music industry largely ignored the genre outside of New York City clubs.
Which song by Funky 4 + 1 received an A rating from Robert Christgau in 1981?
Music critic Robert Christgau named That's the Joint the best song of the 1980s. He gave the single an A rating during his 1981 review and noted that the rapping was rhythmically superior to verbal cleverness.
On what date did Funky 4 + 1 release Rappin' and Rocking the House?
The group released Rappin' and Rocking the House in 1979 as a promotional single. They followed this with That's the Joint in 1980 under the label Vogue/Sugar Hill.
All sources
12 references cited across the entry
- 1webThe Joint: The Story of the Funky Four Plus OneJay Quan
- 3newsDecade Personal Best: '80sRobert Christgau — January 2, 1990
- 4newsConsumer GuideRobert Christgau — March 30, 1981
- 5bookHip Hop Family TreeEd Piskor — Fantagraphics — 2013
- 6webVH1′s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop SongsStereogum — 2008-09-29
- 7av media notesCrash Crew Meets Funky FourP-Vine Records — 1983
- 8av media notesThat's the JointP-Vine Records — 1989
- 9av media notesThat's the JointSequel Records — 2000
- 10av media notesRappin And Rocking The HouseEnjoy Records — 1979
- 11av media notesDo You Want to Rock (Before I Let Go)Sugar Hill Records — 1982
- 12av media notesFeel It (The Mexican)Sugar Hill Records — 1983