8 Tracks: Of B-Boy Classics With Afriqua

Eddie Kendricks, one of the original Temptations, at his most dancefloor friendly. Beautiful lyrics, singing, playing, and production. I’ve always appreciated drumming that sits so perfectly in the pocket as to be quite loud in the mix without ever dominating. It gives it a very open, but driving feel.

I always thought that these were THE Jackson sisters, but it turns out that 15-year-long assumption was incorrect, based on today’s research. Nonetheless, on this tune these sisters bring it as much as any Jacksons out there could. The positivity comes through so much more profoundly because of the contrast with the slight dissonances and greasy rhythm section on which it’s built.

K.C. having a bit of a Robert Plant moment here. If you’re more familiar with their disco hits, it’s nice to hear the Sunshine Band get a bit freakier. It sounds like a very spontaneous and sexy moment in the studio. It was originally done by George McCrae the previous year (1974), but I prefer the vibe of this cover.

This was sampled and brought to a wider audience by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five with ‘White Lines’ (Also check my tune ‘SLAP’ for some more recent unabashed biting), but I’ve always appreciated the energy of this original recording. I’m fascinated with this melting pot moment of the late 70s and early 80s, where punk bands like Liquid Liquid and A Certain Ratio were beginning to take inspiration from Disco, all of which was feeding into the nascent Hip-Hop scene. Things seem very segmented in the present decade by comparison.

Couldn’t mention A Certain Ratio without including this. A totally explosive record. I’ve always appreciated the diversity of the music I had the privilege of being introduced to through these events, as evidenced by these last two selections. There’s something about the somewhat simple and functional demands of music for breakdancing (tempo, rhythm, breaks) that rather than being a limitation, allows for an exceptional range of styles to be included from night to night, providing they maintain the energy. The first times I ever heard house records, and even brand new (at the time) bands like LCD Soundsystem were situations listening to more experienced and curious DJs play for our local community.

My dance around the living room in PJs tune, with a wicked break and enough attitude to support a small family of four. There’s also just something deeply satisfying about self-referential songs.

A tune that I hope everyone has the experience of seeing a thousand-deep dance circle respond to at some point. It’s one of the true ur-breaks and will never fall out of favour.

I’ve really saved the best for last in this case. This is probably the song I’ve listened to the most so far in my lifetime. As is often the case with songs I obsess over, there isn’t a single other part of the artist’s catalogue that moves me to repeat listens. This one, though, has always held a special place in my heart. If dropped at the right time, the guitar intro to this tune alone brings the energy up to an entirely different level in a crowd of people in the know, and those who aren’t will follow very quickly thereafter when the drums fade in! That’s not to mention the exceptional vocal performance, groove, arrangement and overall energy. Still my hype-myself-up track after all these years. Thanks Babe.