Drop The Bomb

Masters of Washington, D.C.'s '80s go-go craze, Trouble Funk brought early hip-hop (the group was part of Sugarhill Records) to the dancefloor with deep bass, propulsive rhythms, and party lyrics. Being even more inspired by '70s funk bands like Chic, Cameo, and the Gap Band than either the Sugarhill Gang or Grandmaster Flash, Trouble Funk and other go-go acts like E.U. and Chuck Brown used the MC to conduct party-time call-and-response sessions and not generally for street poetry raps a la Melle Mel and Kurtis Blow. A celebratory atmosphere certainly prevails on Drop the Bomb, with many of the band's prime dance hits like the title track, "Get on Up," and "Let's Get Hot" being featured in their extended versions. The band's nasty synth licks, upfront percussion, and sinewy funk guitar lines keep the music pumping throughout, while both the go-go/rap hybrid "Pump Me Up" and Barry White-inspired soul ballad "Don't Try to Use Me" show off the group's musical flexibility. The set is rounded out with the ten-minute, bring-the-house-down jam "Supergrit," which nicely incorporates the funk of Kool & the Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire into the go-go mix. This is a great introduction to both Trouble Funk's music and the go-go sound. ~ Stephen Cook|