We The People - The Soul Searchers

If you grew up in the Washington D.C. area like I did you know about Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers. They have played tons of live shows in the area and are widely credited with starting/founding/inventing go-go music. If you don't know what go-go music is here is an npr piece on Chuck Brown and Go-Go music.



This 45, We The People, is on the Sussex label from 1972. The music is funky and soulful. The message is powerful. Despite the powerful message in the lyrics, I prefer the instrumental version over the vocal because you can really hear how good the music is.
We The People
Side A - Vocal Version
The Soul Searchers
(mp3 format, 3:13 mins, 2.6 mb)

We The People
Side B - Instrumental Version
The Soul Searchers
(mp3 format, 2:19 mins, 1.9 mb)

Ashley's Roachclip

B-boys, b-girls, dj's and most other hip hop heads know of the Soul Searchers because of their song Ashley's Roachclip. A.R. is an upbeat funk song with a killer drum break solo that has led many breakdancers to the floor not to mention being the sample source for Eric B and Rakim's seminal Paid In Full as well as many other hip hop songs. Nas reused the loop (well he sorta just jacked the paid in full loop) more recently for Stillmatic.

Ashley's Roachclip
The Soul Searchers
(mp3 format, 5:38 mins, 4.6 mb)

Stillmatic
White Label
Nas
(mp3 format, 2:34 mins, 2.4 mb)