We’re taking a trip on a spaceship to an interstellar funk. Ride through the milky way and pass the deep cosmos of sound.  Let’s talk about Parliament’s album, Mothership Connection. Lace up your space boots and put on your star-glasses for a journey of music.

The theme of  Mothership Connection came into play after the release of Chocolate City.

Parliament members dedicated the project to the growing Black population in Washington DC. They wanted to continue the theme of black people occupying spaces we didn’t have access to before.

They continued to explore the concept and landed in Space. 

This was the start of the P-Funk Universe, where Afrofuturism came to life. George Clinton created a musical landscape with Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Glen Goins and more, that aided a new sound of funk. 

The opening track greets listeners aboard the mothership with a gospel organ, jazz snare, quartet horns, and a funky bass that continues to play through the album. 

‘Give up the Funk’ was Parliament’s top charting single from the Mothership Connection. It as number 5 on Billboard Hot Soul singles and later become the groups first certified million dollar seller. With the exception of James Brown, Georgie Clinton and Parliament are the most sampled artists in history. If you listen closely to west coast hip hop, you can hear the influence.

Watch the full episode below