Funky DJ

Funky DJ was originally released in 1976 under the name Fried Chicken, a recording alias associated with Houston drummer Bubbha Thomas and his group the Lightmen. Issued as a seven-inch single backed with Juke Box, the recording reworked Earnest Jackson's 1974 song Funky Black Man with revised lyrics. Released on Stone Records in 1976 as catalogue number Stone 207, Funky DJ belonged to the independent American funk singles market. Its rhythmic backing and DJ-focused vocals connected it with the dance-floor culture of the mid-1970s, while its close relationship to Funky Black Man reflected the reuse of musical arrangements within small independent labels. Funky DJ gained renewed recognition through its inclusion in DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's influential 1999 mix Brainfreeze, which showcased rare seven-inch records and increased collectors' interest in obscure funk singles. Its subsequent reissues and digital availability, including the 2023 Funky DJ single, have preserved the recording for later generations of DJs and listeners.