Had some friends over the other day. It was sunny and we were outside doing a bit of manual labor, clearing up the section. It seemed only second-nature to stick on “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business”, pull the speakers up to the open window and crank the volume. As usual, smiles crept across our faces and we found rhythmic coherence in carrying out even the most menial of tasks.

It was only later I realized this was the first time I had heard anything of the man since his passing, and I surprised myself that rather than feeling a sense of somber disquiet the emotion was rather the converse.

Such is the autonomic reflex his music provokes.

Mallory O’Donnell has already written an affectionately unsentimental eulogy on this site here, so I won’t add anything further. His unrepentant shit-talkin’ easily eclipses mine.

“Good Good Lovin’”
“Unity, Part I” (With Afrika Bambaataa)
“Brother Rapp/Ain’t It Funky (Live)”

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