“You have to experience Funk and Hip-Hop and you have to come up in it. If you don’t come up in it, I don’t care how much you do it, you aren’t the real deal!”
It’s hard to match Bootsy Collins longevity and creativity in the music industry, and with release of his latest album “Tha Funk Capitol Of The World,” the Funk Legend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
In an exclusive interview with Hip-Hop Wired, the man known for his bass slapping with James Brown and George Clinton, speaks on a variety of topics such as his new album, working with rappers, why he believes Hip-Hop IS Funk, and a message he wants to deliver to the youth.
Speaking on connecting with Hip-Hop veterans Ice Cube, Chuck D, and Snoop Dogg, Bootsy says that there is a voice in Hip-Hop that they created that’s missing now.
“They mastered the generations that they were all in, and they created a voice and personality. To me, it’s missing now, that personality that touches and affects people. I wanted the cats that not just affected me musically but the cats who also made me say WOW when they spoke. It’s not about who’s happening today, it’s about whose voice is still saying something now.”
Bootzilla also spoke on the history of his music being sampled in Hip-Hop and why he feels that it brought him closer to the music than other artists.
“I thought it was a great thing! We were burnt being out there for years from doing music and everything else! (Laughs) So thank God we lasted as long as we did. For young cats to come in and say that our music was the stuff right here, it’s a blessing! It’s probably why I’m relative today and talking to you now!”
Peep the interview above to see Bootsy speak on his new album, the connection of Funk and Hip-Hop, and why he believes the youth needs a musical figure to look up to more than ever.
