Mothership Connection- Parliament

What is the Mothership Connection? Throw some humor, flyness and a whole lot of cool mixed in with afro-futuristic thematics and a slice of outrageousness into a blender, pour it into cup and you have the answer. Parliament captures space for the ghetto. It delivers lively loops and unorthodox hooks before rap landed on earth. The Mothership Connection lays down your problems and thematically sends you into the cool, spaced-out side of your mind.

In case you haven't heard, Parliament-Funkadelic was the best thing grooving in there day. Originally starting as a doo-woop group in the 50's, there name rose to fame in the 70's cultivating a culture of zany and outlandish members. George Clinton, star child and head funk brother of Parliament orchestrated this album (and many others) along with his colorful band of musicians, singers and swingers. Clinton along with Parliament-Funkadelic before the Mothership Connection landed, utilizes a spectrum of genres synthesizing them into there own P-funk lifestyle. An unexpected blend of funk, psychedelic soul, psychedelic rock, funk rock, and disco come together to produce albums like: Chocolate City, The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, and the  Motor Booty Affair. 

Clinton is no newbie at presenting socially concious lyrics through a playful space tone, as to not be too overly serious and sensitive on some civil justice issues. A cool and frisky yet conciously aware attitude plays as the undertone to the album. Instantly Clinton, sets an eccentric smooth atmosphere utilizing a groovy radio DJ to introduce the Mothership Connection. The album opens up with "Make My Funk the P-Funk" composed of glossy piano chords over a low moving kick drum pattern. The pure uncut funk is delivered in motion, switching from a hard funk groove to easy tempo melodies with the Radio Dj's vibrant and jazzy voiceover adding to the realism of the Mothership Connection having its own world and style to it taking from realism and thought combing it into one.

As the album progresses into Star Child, we see more of the outer space boogie that the album gives off. The ending to the track leads into a "Swing Down Chariot" hymn in the style of slow funk giving off that spacial vibe of the album. The album moves on with more serious yet hell of a lot of comedic lyricism in tracks like "Unfunky UFO", "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication", and "Handcuffs". "Give Up the Funk" is more of raw groovy type of funk. Its sound is almost distinctive from the rest of the tracks conceptually, but the sonic makeup of the song is a strong boost to the like-ability and uniqueness of the album. 

Rate: 9

Macklemore again tackles breaking racial boundaries of hip-hop in his prequel to “White Privilege.” The song features multiple verses over various beat transitions akin to gospel and almost classic african-american associated sounds. His message is clear, instantly giving off this idea of white americans understanding their social privilege and not acting upon it. He brushes up some of the ideas presented in the first “White Privilege” track, however adds valuable opinions that reflects the social justice issues of contemporary america.

His intended multi-racial audience may have critical views of his message, claiming that he might be exploiting black culture issues for his own grammy benefits. Ironically, his production of the song vividly condescends white people for being instigators of oppression in America. This message can be a little too demeaning to whites rather than expressing views for equality of all races. Nevertheless Macklemore provides a vivid story painted by background vocals and skits to expressing his truth in America's social justice issues.