Go go - Definition and Overview

Alternate meanings: See Go go (disambiguation)

Go Go is a form of funk music which arose in the 1980s in Washington D.C.. In the late 1970s, funk had gone electronic, influenced by then popular disco acts, and began using drum machines, synthesizers and other instruments that many purists derided. Go Go arose as an alternative that stuck to the James Brown-inspired roots of funk, with the psychedelic rock influences of George Clinton intact.

The first go go LP is said to be Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers (1979, 1979 in music). The title track reached #34 on the charts. Soon artists, like EU (Experience Unlimited), Rare Essence and Trouble Funk gained fame in the D.C. area, though perhaps only EU matched the national success of Brown. EU had a #35 hit in 1988 with "Da Butt" from the movie School Daze. Artists like D.C. Scorpio began mixing the sound with hip hop, followed by hip hop/go go hybrids by Salt-N-Pepa and Body and Soul.

This original scene in the 1980s was accompanied by an epidemic of PCP abuse, which remains extraordinarily high in Prince George's County and other areas around Washington D.C.

Go Go recordings

Albums

• Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1979, Source Records/MCA
• Any Other Way to Go? by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1987 Rhythm Attack Records, Germany
• EU Live: 2 Places at the Same Time by EU, 1986 TTED/Island Records
• Trouble Over Here, Trouble Over There by Trouble Funk, 1987 TTED/Island Records
• Go Go Crankin': Paint the White House Black by various artists, 1985 4th & Broadway Records/TTED/Island Records
• The Go Go Posse by various artists, 1988 I Hear Ya! Records
• Go Go Live at the Capital Centre by various artists, 1988 I Hear Ya! Records
• Good to Go: Jump to the Beat original motion picture soundtrack, various artists, 1986 TTED/Island Records.

Singles

• "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Body and Soul with Trouble Funk, 1989 Delicious Vinyl/Island Records
• "That'll Work 2001" by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1988, I Hear Ya! Records
• "We Need Some Money" by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1984, TTED Records
• "Da Butt" by EU, 1988, Virgin Records
• "Buck Wild" by EU, 1989, Virgin Records
• "Happy Feet" by Mass Extension, 1985, 4th & Broadway/TTED/Island Records
• "Shake Your Thang" by Salt-N-Pepa with EU, 1988, Next Plateau Records
• "Say What?" by Trouble Funk, DETT Records
• "Good to Go" by Trouble Funk, 1986, TTED/Island Records
• "Still Smokin'" by Trouble Funk, 1985, Island Records
• "Straight Up Funk Go Go Style" 2 disc single, 1981 blank label

Recordings influenced by Go Go music

• "The Light" by Afrika Bambaataa and Family, 1988 Capitol Records
• various recordings by Me'shell Ndegeocello
• "It's Love" by Jill Scott, Hidden Beach Recordings
• "Trouble Funk Express" single by Trouble Funk, borrowing heavily from Kraftwerk, DETT Records

External links

• Timeline of soul and go go from DC (http://www.tted.net)
• Take Me Out to the Go-go -- Premiere site on the DC scene (http://www.tmottgogo.com/)
• All Music Guide -- Explore by Genre: Go go (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:2781)

Go Go acts

• Chuck Brown
• Trouble Funk
• EU
• Rare Essence
• Backyard Band
• Junkyard Band
• Northeast Groovers
• Northwest Youngins
• OP Tribe
• Raw Image
• S.O.U.L.O
• Little Benny and the Masters
• TCB
• CCB
• UCB