Pusherman

Recorded in 1972 during the Super Fly soundtrack sessions, with most of the album cut at RCA Recording Studios in Chicago; “Pusherman” was the exception and was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. Curtis Mayfield wrote, produced, and performed the track, with the soundtrack associated with Johnny Pate’s arranging work on the album. “Pusherman” was one of the most striking songs on Super Fly, presenting a sharp anti-drug street narrative at the center of a landmark blaxploitation soundtrack. The album was widely praised for its political bite and commercial success, and the song became one of its defining statements. The track endures as one of Curtis Mayfield’s signature recordings and a foundational reference point for later hip-hop and soul sampling. Its language, bassline, and overall groove have kept it in circulation through covers, samples, and broader cultural reuse.