Funkin' for Jamaica
The article highlights the origins and impact of Tom Browne's 1980 hit 'Funkin' for Jamaica,' a classic that emerged from a group of young musicians in Jamaica, Queens, dubbed the Jamaica Kats. It discusses the collaboration among prominent musicians like Bernard Wright, Marcus Miller, and Omar Hakim and the mentorship of Weldon Irvine and Lenny White. The piece sheds light on the unique fusion of jazz and funk that characterized the Jamaica scene, the cultural and social background of the musicians, and how they collectively contributed to a moment in music history before transitioning into different styles as the industry evolved into hip-hop. It also examines the disillusionment with mainstream music marketing and the challenges faced by these artists in their careers following their initial success.
Published on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 12:00 AM
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Wax Poetics
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