Download: Dam-Funk “Hood Pass Intact”

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(off Toeachizown Vol. 4: Hood out now on Stones Throw)

Dam-Funk (as anyone lucky enough to cross paths with him knows) is one of the realest people operating in the city of Los Angeles, and his 5XLP/2XCD monsterpiece Toeachizown (out now on Stones Throw, though the vinyl has been rescheduled to release in December) is like Prince and Parliament Funkadelic supercharged with the visionary energy of a Joe Meek or Rogerio Duprat. Like he told us two issues back:

Is Toeachizown your life’s work?
Dam-Funk: I feel funk has never been given an opportunity to be released like this. That’s why I give it up to Stones Throw—funk was always on a major or a real small label, and this time it’s on a small label but in a new era where a small label can do something like this. The verdict is out, but I hope when the judge’s hammer slams down, people will look back and say, ‘This dude stuck to his guns and he did a funk record from beginning to end. And it wasn’t just funk—he even did new wave rock! The funk had all the influences!’ Prince—‘Let’s Pretend We’re Married’—that’s new wave! Funkadelic did rock songs—‘Cosmic Slop!’ That was killing a lot of early metal! I’m being positive but it’s definitely not gonna be a Mayer Hawthorne out-of-the-box hit. But I’d rather have the slow burn. Ten years from now—‘Man, that dude did what he believed in!’

And so L.A. RECORD is honored to be able to help present his release party—featuring his full band Master Blazter plus fellow L.A. RECORD cover alum Peanut Butter Wolf doing a VJ set and tons more—next Thursday at the Echo. Tickets here and see you there!