1. Began as doo-wop group The Parliaments Led by George Clinton along with sister group Funkadelic Their work in the 1970s has influenced everything from hip hop to techno Parliament and Funkadelic virtually defined the melting pot known as funk

2. Sound Characteristics of Funk Originated in the late ‘60s Blends the sounds of rhythm & blues, jazz, gospel and psychedelic rock Parliament was essentially a horn- based soul group

3. Afro-Futurism Subculture built around music, science fiction, and diaspora Parliament incorporated science fiction in their music by creating larger-than-life characters Performances included theatrical elements like the “Mothership,” a prop flying saucer the band would “summon” Along with black science fiction authors, musicians like Sun Ra and Janelle Monáe have Afro-futuristic aesthetics Sun Ra George Clinton The Mothership Janelle Monáe

4. Afro-Futurism: P-Funk Characters Sun Ra George Clinton The Mothership Janelle Monáe Dr. Funkenstein – the ruler of outerspace who can solve all mankind’s problems Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk – the enemy of funk because he can’t dance Starchild – alien sent from outerspace to give mankind the holy Funk

5. Sampling and Hip-Hop’s Funk Roots “Swing Down, Chariot” The Golden Gate Quartet (1946) “Mothership Connection (Starchild)” Parliament (1976) lyrics “Let Me Ride” Dr. Dre (1993) “Ladies’ Night” Kool and the Gang (1979) “The Funeral” 50 Cent (2014) lyrics riff multiple elements sampling: taking a portion of a recording and reusing it in a new way in a new song “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” has been sampled over 50 times, mostly by rappers Parliament helped establish the tradition of sampling which played an instrumental role in the birth of hip hop

6. Sampling and Hip-Hop’s Funk Roots Songs That Sample P-Funk: ”Bring the Noise” (1987) – Public Enemy “Straight Outta Compton” (1988) – N.W.A. “Kinda I Want To” (1989) - Nine Inch Nails “Free Your Mind” (1992) – En Vogue “Can’t C Me” (1996) – 2Pac “Funk is the DNA of Hip-Hop, that’s the way we’re able to stay around…” -George Clinton, in a 2006 interview with the BBC’s Yve Ngoo