DJ Funktual Interviews Electro-Funk Pioneers Newcleus

Last year I went thumbing through one of Joel Whitburn's definitive Billboard textbooks and read that Newcleus consisted of brother and sister Cozmo D and Lady E as well as the brother/sister combo of Chilly B and Nique D. This is, of course, completely wrong! They are actually two married couples. This blatant disregard for fact-checking by an industry standard left me hungry for knowledge about the band. I knew that Chilly B has passed away recently and found it my mission to get the story behind this influential electro-funk band. I say 'band' because this was the very first hip-hop group to actually perform all their own instruments in their live shows. Yes, before anyone ever called it electro or even hip-hop, there was Newcleus doing their own thing.

Flashback to June 2 of 1984: Newcleus' biggest hit "JAM ON IT" debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart along with songs like "When Doves Cry" by Prince and "Breakin...There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry. However, where the latter two singles were driven by major motion pictures like Purple Rain and Breakin', Newcleus did it all on street buzz. The song was instantly recognized as the most original dance record of the decade. Breakdancers (or b-boys as they are now known) went berzerk for this infectious dancefloor jam. The theme to Breakin' may have gone higher on the charts but 'real recognize real' as they say and Jam On It was a bona fide b-boy classic the world over.

Need proof? Ask a b-boy who Ollie & Jerry were. lol

Big thanks to Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac and his wife Yvette "Lady E" for inviting us into their home. We drove 240 miles to bring you this insight into the great Newcleus so please feel free to support this channel with a small donation to the paypal account of funktual@live(dot)com.