A new documentary, Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, will explore the lows, highs, and very highs of the funk icon’s life story. A clip from the film, which premiered during the Tribeca Film Fest and will get a wide release on an unspecified date via Showtime, focuses on how James gave funk music a pop edge and cleaved his way to commercial success, much to the chagrin of rival groups like Parliament. “All is fair in funk and war,” comments former P-Funk bassist Bootsy Collins in the clip.
The picture features footage from the “Superfreak” hitmaker’s concerts, never-before-released home video, new interviews with the artist’s peers, bandmates and friends, and archival interviews with James. In between the rise and fall, the doc’s producers say it focuses on the “punk-funk” music that was his calling card.
“The ‘wild’ side of Rick James often eclipses his musical genius, but the mathematical equation that is his life depends on all of the numbers to make a whole,” the film’s director, Sacha Jenkins, said in a statement. “Our aim was to create a balanced portrait of a brilliant artist who both chased his dreams and stalked more than a few demons. Still, his influence on funk and popular music and culture is unparalleled, and his eventual rise to the top is easily more compelling than any freebase rush.”
Jenkins’ assessment falls in line with how James, who died in 2004, wanted to be remembered. According to Rolling Stone’s obituary, when asked what his legacy would be in 2002, the artist said he wanted to be thought of “as someone who beat the odds, and as a musician who gave up the truth. My music ain’t no contrived bullshit. It ain’t no sci-fi shit. It’s the real fuckin’ deal.”
VIDEOS
Two of California's longest tenured rappers, E-40 and JasonMartin, are providing wise advice for others. They are doing so on their latest collaboration "Too Much," which is out as of this weekend.
The track belongs to E-40 and it's one of many joint efforts. But this one won't get lost in the shuffle thanks to aforementioned message and theme. "It's too much real sh*t going on / Quit worrying about the fake, n****, yeah, yeah," JasonMartin raps on the sticky chorus.
E-40's unmistakable flow is on full display here as well as he drops truth after truth. "Don't worry about the fake 'cause the hate gon' come with the platе / The peons, they hеlla late, they late like holiday freight / And b*tch, I'm one of the greats and that ain't up for debate (Yep)."
Taking this track up a notch is the addicting instrumental. It's laced with West Coast bounce and a sticky piano melody. Overall, E-40 and JasonMartin's "Too Much" is a standout and deserves a spin ASAP.
For the Bay Area native, this single arrives following a multi-decade spanning NPR Tiny Desk performance. He was brought on to kick off this year's Black Music Month and he delivered for them in every way.
Quotable Lyrics:
As long as you don't try to line me up and stab me in the back (Uh)
As long as you don't try to get me chipped and get a player capped (Yep)
Misery love company, but company don't like misery
Now are we getting along? We better be, we family
I finally figured it out, I think I finally figured it out
Stop making excuses for ninjas and giving 'em the benefit of the doubt
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