R&B/FUNK
1969
115 BPM
G major
Do the Funky Chicken
One of the earliest funk breaks to be extensively sampled, bridging R&B and hip-hop
Rufus Thomas
"Do the Funky Chicken"
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Original Track
Rufus Thomas - "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969)
The original track containing the legendary 4.1-second drum break
Break occurs at 1:00 - 1:4.099999999999994
The History
One of the earliest funk breaks to be extensively sampled, bridging R&B and hip-hop. Rufus Thomas was a Memphis radio DJ who became a recording artist.
Rufus Thomas was a Memphis radio DJ turned recording artist
Represented the connection between radio culture and hip-hop DJs
One of the first R&B tracks to be extensively sampled
The 'Funky Chicken' dance became a cultural phenomenon
Thomas was part of the legendary Stax Records family and a key figure in Memphis soul
The track bridged the gap between early funk and the dance crazes that would later influence hip-hop culture
Sampled by artists spanning from Public Enemy's conscious rap to Missy Elliott's innovative production
Represents the crucial link between radio DJ culture and the emergence of hip-hop DJing techniques
Who Sampled It
Public Enemy
"Night of the Living Baseheads"
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
1988
Eazy-E
"Still Talkin'"
It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa
1993
Missy Elliott
"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"
Supa Dupa Fly
1997
💡 This breakbeat has been sampled 3 times in our database
Tags
rb
funk
rufus-thomas
memphis
early-sampling