still "feels good'', the man who encouraged the world to Get On Up (Like A Sex Machine) is concerned about today's suggestive lyrics.

At various periods throughout his career, James Brown has been referred to as "The King of Soul'', "Soul Brother Number One'' and, in later years, "The Godfather of Soul''. Each title is an indication of the reverence and esteem in which this soul legend, now 63, is held by fans the world over.

It's not hard to understand why. For during the Sixties, at the height of the black consciousness movement in America, no one epitomised the essential elements of black music, or soul, like James Brown. While Motown's galaxy of stars concentrated on making music that would appeal to white audiences, James Brown made music that largely appealed to a black constituency, by incorporating primal drum beats and syncopated rhythms that leaned heavily on its African roots.

Before there was the "psychedelic soul'' of Sly and The Family Stone, there was James Brown and his band, The Famous Flames (later known as the JBs), serving up heavy, unadulterated doses of "funky soul''; before there was funkmeister George Clinton and The Parliament Funkadelics, there was James Brown and the JBs "making it funky''. And before there was a Michael Jackson, a Prince, a Terrence Trent D'Arby or an M.C. Hammer, there was James Brown, "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business'' setting concert halls ablaze on the chitlin' circuit, with beads of sweat pouring down his darkened brow, performing acrobatic splits, sliding across the stage on one leg, spinning and dancing with reckless abandon! How did he acquire the moniker "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business''? "Because I never worried about the clock,'' he says proudly, "and I wasn't happy 'til the audience was smiling and enjoying the show, and if it took two hours, two and a half hours, or whatever, I was always willing to stay there to give it up.'' Megastar Michael Jackson credits James Brown as his earliest inspiration.

Gerri Hirshey, in her important book on soul music entitled Nowhere To Run, quotes Jackson as saying this about the soul legend: "The man gets OUT of himself.

James Brown is magic. He's got a kind of freedom. I CRAVE it. Everyday. I never dared speak to him, but I consider James Brown my greatest teacher.'' James Brown sure knew how to `get out of himself', and with his band blazing a hot trail of fiery horns and danceable rhythms, his music was the spark that set many a house party ablaze with unadulterated streams of funk pumping well into the night.

Yet, for all the"rump-shaking'' music that James Brown created, his music was devoid of the overt sexual content, lewdness and suggestiveness that permeates so much of today's sounds.

As Nelson George writes in his book, The Death of Rhythm and Blues: "For all the grit and earthiness of his music, Brown put on a clean show - no cursing, no overt sexuality - that brought in the entire family.'' Which is why it is not surprising to hear The Godfather express concern about the state of music today. While many of today's rap artists have been giving him his "props'' by continuing to sample his music, Brown pulls no punches when talking about the suggestive lyrics and content of the music.

"Well, I'm glad that it (his music) is everybody's sound, but my one thing is that they keep it clean because young kids are suffering from that,'' he explains. "They emulate what they hear, words like SOB, MF, and they take it back home and take it to the other kids. Then I worry about the young kids and their little brothers and sisters and it's bad that way.

"We need to be more conscious of what's happening, the aftermatch and how thenegative stuff is selling real fast.

If there is anyone eminently qualified to speak on the subject of how music negatively affects young people today, it's James Brown, who enjoyed a level of respect in the black community which was unparalled by any other black entertainer in the Sixties and early Seventies.

Nelson George writes: The most powerful individual on the scene (in the 1960s) had arrogance, black approval, and cultural integrity that was the envy of the young-blood political activists of the civil rights centre and the nationalist left. His name was James Brown.'' Such was the magnitude of Brown's influence and stature in the black community that, on the night of April 4, 1968, when civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated, a performance by Brown at Boston Garden, as opposed to being cancelled, was televised `live' throughout the city in order to keep angry and restless blacks at home and off the streets. Additionally, legend has it that James Brown is the only man known to have stopped a riot simply by making an appearance and urging people to return to their homes! Looking back over his career, how does he evaluate his contribution? "Well I evaluate it in a strange way,'' Brown explains. "I evaluate it knowing there's hope and that hope has been stamped and approved by millions and millions of people. It sends a message that there's hope for anyone, anywhere.

The contribution that I made is the contribution that we made. When your parents and your little brother, and your kid, accepts James Brown's music and its message, then it sends a message to the future because you know there's hope and we can continue that.

"But first,'' he states emphatically, "we have to remember that James Brown was lucky enough to make all his hits and never had to use four letter words.

So, why should we do it today?'' Concern for his people and for the state of humanity has always been important to James Brown. Something that the Godfather has felt deeply within, even when his endorsement of Richard Nixon for President had him labelled by radical blacks as an Uncle Tom.

Yet check out the racial pride and self-determination reflected in such powerful socially conscious songs as Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing, Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved, Talking Loud And Saying Nothing and Soul Power and you'll realise that James Brown has always cared about the plight of his people. His life reflected the belief that no one owed you anything. You had to fight to achieve your rewards.

"Rewards, you have to make `em. They're not given to you. It's unfortunate, but colour hasn't been broken down in some people's mind,'' he explains. "We all know we gotta right to the tree of life and that every men should have an equal chance. That's God's law, not man's law, but still you gotta fight every step of the way. I thank God that I had to fight as hard as I did. Had I been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and didn't have to march and didn't have to do things with Dr. King, Malcolm and the Honourable Elijah Muhammad, maybe I wouldn't have fought as hard as I did. But, I knew I had to fight because I had to be ten times as good as the next man just to be counted.'' James Brown's message of self-reliance, self-respect and self-determination is just as much needed today, as when he was singing about the subject back in the Sixties.

Talking about his latest album on Scotti Bros Records, Brown indicated that he's concerned about spreading positive messages of respect and empowerment.

"I got an album out now called Universal James and we've got a thing called How Long Can It Carry On. We're dealing with black on black crime, with young kids having babies before they get out of their teens and we're dealing with conscience,'' he explains. "That's what we're trying to make happen, realising that, as a human being, you have an obligation to do it for yourself. That's what we're doing. I've been told that there are at least six hits on the album, but I'm not worried about the hits. I'm worried about what we give people for their money. And if it does some good, then I've got my reward.'' Brown also had another message that he directed towards young people. "You can win'' he points out, "and you are as good as anyone. All you gotta do is project it. You don't need a handout. You need a way out and the way that you have is to open up and use what you have and preserve it for something good.'' His message for parents is equally powerful. "My message to parents and adults is (this): Hug your child and show them that you love them. Take a little time and show them that you care. We have an obligation,'' he admonishes. "It's a family affair.'' In spite of the obstacles, setbacks and disappointments he has experienced over the years - not having his music played on radio because of its powerful black messages and a few years ago being arrested and thrown into jail - The Godfather says that he's not bitter and has no regrets.

"I feel good,'' he says as he started to sing the opening refrain to one of his most popular hits. "I thank God for everything and I want you to know that it couldn't have been done without a good group of people who supported me throughout the years. But I want you to know that this team is about humanity. Thank God, go to church, and don't ever forget that God runs it all!''.

James Brown performs at the Washington, D.C. Hard Rock Cafe, earlier this year following his induciton into the Hard Rock Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

NOVEMBER 1993 RG MAGAZINE