“WE WANT THE FUNK!” traces funk music’s African and gospel roots, from James Brown to Parliament Funkadelic and beyond. Born in the heat of post-Civil Rights energy, Funk exploded on the scene out of the Midwest in the1960s and was an integral part of the revolution of the era. And then James Brown took the funk back to Africa, where it transformed anew and came right back in an ongoing cross-cultural exchange. “We Want the Funk explores how the rhythms and grooves of funk music can put us in a trance, taking us higher and reminding us that it’s a joy to be in the world.
“WE WANT THE FUNK!” delves into Funk music’s influence on contemporary music, fashion, and freedom of expression as well as its role in the rise of Hip-Hop. The heart of the film consists of the stories, recollections, and experiences of the people who created and lived Funk: George Clinton of Parliament -Funkadelic; Fred Wesley of The J.B.’s; Robert ‘Kool’ Bell from Kool & The Gang; Marcus Miller; Nona Hendryx of Labelle; Kirk Franklin; David Byrne of the Talking Heads; Prince Paul, DJ and Producer for De La Soul.
“WE WANT THE FUNK!” outlines the impact of Funk music getting people off of their feet and dancing into a frenzy of freedom. As George Clinton says, “free your mind and your ass will follow.”
Directed by: Stanley Nelson
RT: 120 min