Show Archive

WEFUNK digs into Ike Turner's rhythm & grit and serves up two choice cuts from Poland's little known funk era. Montreal's own Bank of Mount Real blesses us with an exclusive collabo track produced by the UK's Ghosttown, as well as a fresh 12" ("Monk Swing") from Andy William's new compilation "Variations in Time". Pete Rock & CL flip a classic Jackson 5 sample on "Appreciate".

Kool G Rap paints a grimy picture of New York street life over a soulful Fatback sample. Rotary Connection and Shuggie Otis weave dream-like soul with a funk touch. And hard beats meet hard rhymes with Public Enemy, Intelligent Hoodlum, Antoinette, Ice-T and more.

Raw chase scene adrenaline by the Bar-Kays and Quincy Jones, twangy down home soul from Aretha and Anthony Hamilton, more natural Sputnik goodness, a Jerry Butler/Method Man sample moment, and a sneak preview of Nicolay & Kay's upcoming project "TIME:LINE".

Lost for words: El Michels Affair, Booker T & The MG's and The Crusaders come through with powerful soul instrumentals. The D.O.C. gets funky over the break from Foster Sylvers' classic "Misdemeanor". And DJ Static brings you the usual 90s niceness from Nas, Beatnuts, LOTUG, Pharcyde and Fugees, plus new tracks from Statik Selektah, Supastition and DJ Muggs.

Frankie Cutlass dips into that George Duke Moog funk on "The Cypher Pt. 3", featuring Biz, Kane, Craig G and Roxanne Shanté. Rolando Matias & the Afro-Rican Ensemble fuse the spirit of Rahsaan Roland Kirk with hip hop, free jazz and turntablism on the epic "Involuntary Emancipation". Plus soundtrack gems from Roy Budd and The Four Tops, and blazing beats & breaks from Blackbusters, Brownout and Junie Morrison.

Guest DJ Rawsoul selects choice cuts from the new generation of soulful hip hop. Also in the mix: uptempo rap from 2nd II None, JVC Force and Nikki D, unreleased Illmatic-era Nas, and an epic funk journey all the way to Heaven & Hell.

James Brown stretches out the funk on his epic "Escape-ism", Brownout sparks some slow-burn grooves, Marco Polo proves his mettle with another bomb track featuring Large Pro, J-Live and Ghostface revisit classic breaks, and Static takes you back with vintage Jay-Z "Can't Get With That" and Camp Lo's 1st single, "Coolie High".

WEFUNK checks out joints from Montreal producer Sikh Knowledge's "Nu High" album, a blend of dancehall, Dilla-style soul and real-talk lyrics. Plus late funk jams from Parliament, One Way and Bernard Wright, and an uptempo set of soul-jazz, latin and brazilian grooves featuring Shirley Scott, Elvin Jones and João Donato.

Fat synths and raw breaks from Alan Tew and Manzel, drum heavy disco re-edits from John Davis & The Monster Orchestra and Sine, two sublime soul samples from Common, and a select sample of today's best indie hiphop, from Sputnik Brown (the future of boombap?) to Madlib & Karriem Riggins' Supreme Team to DJ Premier's latest project NYGz.

Y Society drops breakneck rhymes over a smoldering jazz breakbeat, King Britt and Mr. Lif bring new life to Quincy Jones' cinematic "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs", and The Voices of East Harlem, Ballin' Jack, BT Express and Donald Byrd deliver exquisite soul, funk & jazz grooves.

The Professor dives deep into heavy jazz breaks from Herbie Hancock, Olli Ahvenlahti and Norman Connors, unreleased 90's Rakim, chillout beats from Deda and La Melodia, plus rugged funk from S.O.U.L., Mandrill and The Nite-Liters.

DJ Static brings you that New York ish from classic Showbiz & AG to brand new Camp Lo and Wu-Tang. Professor Groove slings uptempo soul from Willie Hutch and Nina Simone, jazz beats from O'Donel Levy and Patrice Rushen, plus a Melvin van Peebles medley from blaxploitation's original epic, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

WEFUNK pays tribute to "I Know You Got Soul" legend Bobby Byrd, longtime sideman to James Brown. DJ Static plays some favorite new releases from Hezekiah, The U.N. and Planet Asia, plus a WEFUNK exclusive from Show & AG. And the horns get blowin' on some percolating, nasty funk by Houston Person, The Ohio Players and Roy Lee Johnson.

WEFUNK enlists ol' skool specialist Frank BLVD to lay down a set of rare 80's grooves, from Mammatapee's "Monster Fun" to Supreme DJ Nyborn's "Versatility".

Talib is back in top form on "Hostile Gospel" from his new LP, along with some recent collabo tracks. Uncle Louie, Discobolos and Orange Krush lay down heavy disco breaks, handclaps and funky basslines. Gwen McCrae and Sister Nancy get the sample moment treatment, blended with Boss' "Deeper" and the Main Source classic "Just Hangin' Out".

WEFUNK throws down new funk releases from Mr. President, Speedometer and East of Underground, plus fresh new hip hop from Mick Luter, Ozy, and Gemini featuring Lupe Fiasco. Masta Killa & ODB rep the Wu lovely over Quincy Jones' Sanford & Son theme, and DJ Rogers, Ray Charles and The Ohio Players get to grips with the grimy side of life.

Giants of soul: Raw tracks from The Impressions and Merry Clayton, a psychedelic soul trip from Cane and Able, and classic breaks by Sly, Joe Tex and The Detroit Emeralds. WEFUNK takes a transatlantic sonic excursion with new Speech Defect (Sweden) and DJ Brasco (France), Abdominal comes correct with signature flow & funkdafied production, and DJ Static dusts off two all-time favorites: Mos Def's "Love" and the Slum V remix of Daft Punk's "Aerodynamic".

Guru and Superproducer Solar speak to WEFUNK about the latest Jazzmatazz, their new label Seven Grand, the state of hiphop and much more. Plus... Bootsy unleashes his live funk monster "Psychoticbumpschool", Public Enemy is back to mark 20 years of fighting the power with "Harder Than You Think", and Gary Davis, Tom Browne and Nick Ingram cook up three flavors of off-kilter funk perfection.

DJ Fiend gets down & dirty with raw hip hop from Paula Perry, Non Phixion, Ghostface and lots more. From the funk side: new grooves from Orgone and Cookin' On 3 Burners, and uptempo fire from Crown Heights Affair and Leon Mitchison.

Scott C shines light on Montreal's new hip-hop generation: Think Twice, Karma & Lotus, Rugged Intellect, Amerhythmes, Blu Rum 13 and more. Professor Groove dives deep into the P-Funk vaults for certified jams from Funkadelic, Junie, The P-Funk Horns, Xavier and Parlet, plus a bonus set on a summertime chillout vibe.

Perfect combinations: Madlib cooks up "real music" for soulstress Erykah Badu with a little help from Blowfly alter-ego Clarence Reid, Chali 2na rides the raw funk laid down by The Second Amendment Band (via Z-Trip), Ray Charles & Aretha Franklin get movin' with the spirit, Speedometer teams up with Miami funk vet Robert Moore, and KRS-One drops heavy jewels with Shabba Ranks (including a special Static blend).

DJ Skeptik serves up indie gold from the likes of Rasco, Artifacts, Afu-Ra, Styles Infinite & Lone Catalysts. On the funk side, some uncut dope from The Wild Magnolias, Cross Bronx Expressway, Cane & Able, and brand new tracks from LA's Orgone and Montreal's Michelle Sweeney (featuring Bernard Purdie).

Gettin' down to the raw disco breaks of "Shack Up" and "Brother Green", bold new funk from Speedometer, more new generation funk from Alice Russel with Natural Self, Q-Tip's new track "Work It Out", and another high powered Jazzmatazz collabo between Guru, Common & Bob James.

Sputnik Brown gives us an exclusive jump on their unreleased album, Rob-O shines on a long lost track with Pete Rock, The Nite-Liters provide Brand Nubian's "Wake Up remix" original sample, and Yusef Lateef and O'Donel Levy weld breakbeats to jazz. Plus turntablist D-Styles (Invisbl Skratch Piklz/World Famous Beat Junkies) drops by to flex on the decks.

Scribble Jam champ Skratch Bastid blesses WEFUNK with a mega-set, mashing up everything from classic hiphop to electro to original funk samples: D-Train, Strafe, Show & AG, Public Enemy, Rufus Thomas, Eazy-E, Junkyard Band and much more....

Old to the new: Curtis' raw soul shines behind Kanye's "Touch the Sky" (plus check out Kanye's new single "Can't Tell Me Nothing"). WEFUNK connects the dots from Busta's "New York Shit" to Diamond D's "I Went for Mine" all the way back to the original "Faded Lady" by S.S.O. Plus Jamaican funk from The Equals and (the other) James Brown, and more funk jewels from Charles Whitehead, Rufus, Labi Siffre and Funkadelic.

Grady Tate salutes black pride, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince usher in summertime, Gil Scott-Heron and Prophet & His Disciples paint scenes of vice, and Meth & Red go "psycho killer Norman Bates" over the George & Gwen McCrae original.

Digable Planets' Butterfly is back on a new track with Lifesavas, plus fresh new joints from DJ Babu, Polyrhythm Addicts & Common, disco breaks from Pleasure and Crown Heights Affair, and some of that Louisiana swamp funk from Dr. John, Alvin Robinson & Count Rockin' Sidney.

Frank BLVD dives deep into hip-hop's '84-'92 golden era with choice cuts and remixes from UTFO, Lord Finesse, EPMD, Kool G Rap and more. Plus US Warren's proto-D&B, Leon's Creation's Sly prequel, and dancefloor fire from Zebra.

Frank N Dank forge transatlantic links with a Dutch double-up, Ed OG does some soul "Searchin'", Morris Day flaunts "Cool", and the funk gets poppin' (and lockin') with bonafide jams from Vaughan Mason, The Isley Brothers & Cameo.

East Coast Connection, Ice and Sir Joe Quarterman deliver the raw funk, Common gives us a taste of his upcoming album, and Brassmunk, Point Blank and Marco Polo rep Canada lovely.

Nothing but the best for the CKUT Funding Drive, part 2 — featuring special guests Preach and Fredy V live and direct from the Kalmunity Vibe Collective.

WEFUNK kicks off the 2007 CKUT Funding Drive with party funk, hip-hop classics and live freestyle/beatbox/trumpet sessions.

Erule and Hell Razah bring wild jazz flows, Psycho Les & Co. get live on "Stick Em Up", and Talib (feat. Jean Grae) and Consequence debut new tracks. Professor Groove breaks down a Positive K/Pointer Sisters sample moment and serves up soul sides that'll stick to your ribs — Sweet Potatoe Collard Greens, Corn Bread & Beans.

Pure funk bombs by Jaco Pastorius & Lyn Collins, underground disco gems from Brooklyn People, Donald Byrd and Family of Eve, plus old skool classics "The Message" and "Heartbeat" get reworked by Musiq, De La and Ice Cube.

Separated at birth: Large Pro's "Mad Scientist" and Pete Rock's new "The P.J.'s" featuring Raekwon and Masta Killa. The funk track from hell ("The X-Sorcist") meets Trevor Dandy's divine soul. Plus ruff beats from Kool G Rap, D.O.C. and Schoolly D, and 'nuff dancefloor funk in the mix.

The sisters got the soul: pure gold from The Voices of East Harlem, Sisters Love, Erma Franklin and Little Sister. Plus uptempo funk breaks and a full half-hour of new hip-hop from Evidence, O.C., Dilla and more.

WEFUNK takes a retrospective of Biggie's legacy 10 years after his passing. Plus: New heat from Philly's First Lady, Bahamadia, and steaming funk & soul selections from Martha Reeves, Eddie Kendricks and The Winstons (yes, that classic break!).

The Professor keeps the party grooves movin' with four to the floor funk from Roy Ayers, Unlimited Touch and N.C.C.U ("baaaa!"). DJ Static brings you the original flava from all twelve MCs featured on Nas's "Where Are They Now 90's Remix".

Rounding out Black History Month, WEFUNK talks to documentary filmmaker Ryan Rowe and Justus League emcee L.E.G.A.C.Y. about a new film on Princeville, North Carolina — first incorporated Black town in the US — and hip-hop's power to confront history and politics. Professor Groove selects soul gems from Johnny Thunder and Weldon Irvine, weird soul from Pattie Labelle, and an Eric B & Rakim sample moment c/o Young-Holt Unlimited.

Solid funk gems from High Voltage, Gene Harris, Jesse Anderson and Myra Barnes, plus an original Talib sample from Charlie Whitehead. Lauren Hill shines over a classic Mos Def instrumental, and Static lays down a half hour of straight goods from the golden age, with LONS, YZ and more.

DJ Static pays tribute to 80's hip-hop and electro, inspired by Nas' "Where Are They Now" 80's remix. Professor Groove fires off fierce funk from Magnificent Freedom and standout tracks by The Sisters Love, The Flames and Jimmy Smith. Fresh collabos from Amanda Diva featuring Q-Tip, Red 1 with Barrington Levy, and RZA with Big Daddy Kane from the Afro Samurai soundtrack.

X Clan is back on the scene with "Return From Mecca", their first release in over a decade. WEFUNK takes a ride on the Cosmic Ark in an interview with X Clan's own Brother J. Plus lots of raw funk from Lyn Collins, Perfect Circle, Black Heat, and The Unemployed.

Bridging the gap from Nas and Marley Marl to Lightnin' Rod, breaking down the sample behind Kool G Rap's "Letters", bringing breakbeats with a jazz touch from J.J. Johnson and Weldon Irvine, plus soulful funk from Moody Scott & Willie West and brand new heat from the master of the throwback, Percee P.

The Professor dives deep into the rough funky soul of early Bootsy, Funkadelic, Cyril Neville, Chuck Edwards and Sly & The Family Stone. Ghostface and Amy Winehouse bring back that Shaolin soul, and Montreal's prodigal son A-Trak teams up with Little Brother. Plus we check out brand new Brother Ali, and the All Natural camp strikes again with Iomos Marad's latest EP "Go Ahead".

Part 2 of WEFUNK's tribute to James Brown: celebrating Soul Brother #1's legacy of heavyweight tracks, his funk protégés and the foundation he laid that lives on in hip-hop.

Part 1 of WEFUNK's tribute to James Brown: two full hours of Funk's founding father at his best.

DJ Static and Son Of Soul close out 2006 with some rollerboogie glide in their stride, underground disco breaks on the side, and some choice Dilla cuts to round out the show.

DJ Static hooks up a Nas tribute marking the release of "Hip-Hop Is Dead", then smooths it out with a cool-out set featuring Aloe Blacc, Myka Nine (Freestyle Fellowship) and newcomer-to-watch Georgia Anne Muldrow. Professor Groove keeps the funk ruff enuff (but not too tough for Mr. Big Stuff). Listen close for some foundation loops 'n breaks including a "Kool-meets-Kool" sample moment.

Celebrating 10 years and 450 shows of WEFUNK... lots of party funk, underground hip-hop classics and live rhymes. DJ Static traces a classic break back from Jay-Z to P.E. all the way back to Johnny Pate, and Montreal MVP's Preach, Butta Beats and Blackbird get the live flavor flowing with freestyles, trumpet and beatbox.