Mic Drop: Gotta Have That Funk (and R&B, Hip Hop and Soul)

Lots of funk and soul happening this week. Cimafunk taps George Clinton to feature on a new track, Lucky Daye is on a reimagined EWF song and more.

Dr. Funkenstein is in, y’all, and he’s pulled out his prescription pad to write us a ‘script for a daily dose of “Funk Aspirin.”

Yes, George Clinton joined Afro-Cuban artist Cimafunk on a musical journey through the intersection of Latin and funk genres. “Funk Aspirin,” which is in Spanish, is an absolute banger and the video gives off all the house party—both the actual thing and the movie—vibes that one could need on this hurricane-ass day.

There’s also some sisterhood in the house today with Shaybo and Jorja Smith’s “My Sister,” with visuals set in a beautiful church, showing the progression of two young girls’ lives from childhood through young adulthood as Shaybo and Smith act as mentors to the two. (I wish I had them as mentors…)

Dvsn and Ty Dolla $ign collaborated on an album which I think should be illegal because who gave those two the right to sing and dance about the things they sing and dance about? (Me, it’s me. I gave them the right.)

Swae Lee and Jhené Aiko give us a glimpse into what it means to be unconditionally loved in their new track “In The Dark” which is featured in Marvel’s new film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Oh. And Lucky Daye is singing alongside Earth, Wind & Fire. That’s all.

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2 / 10

Cimafunk, George Clinton – “Funk Aspirin”

Are you or a loved one suffering from a lack of funk? Well, have no fear, because Dr. Funkenstien and Cimafunk have prescribed you some “Funk Aspirin,” guaranteed to get you back into a funky mood! The Mothership has arrived and there isn’t anything you can’t accomplish once you play this track and put your mind to it. Cuban singer Cimafunk has given us a Spanish funk song—and when I say I blasted this shit, I mean it. When I first heard it I thought, “oh damn, those lyrics sound like they’re in Spanish, that’s awesome.”

And then I realized they were and my excitement increased tenfold.

Cimafunk has been “mining ancestral connections between Afro-Cuban music and grooves from the Black funk tradition,” according to NPR.

August 20, 2021, Terapia Productions (Funk)

3 / 10

Dvsn – “Memories” (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)

These two decided to collaborate and create what can only be called a “bedroom jam.” That’s really all I can say about it. The video explains it all.

They have also released an album together which can also only be called a “bedroom jam” titled Cheers to The Best which you can listen to here.

August 20, 2021, OVO Sound/Warner Records

4 / 10

Earth, Wind & Fire – “You Want My Love - Reimagined” (feat. Lucky Daye)

Just when we thought Lucky Daye couldn’t get more irresistible, he goes ahead and collaborates with Earth, With & Fire (EWF) on a reimagined track of the iconic “Can’t Hide Love.” Oooh, those vocals! It doesn’t get any better than this. The legendary soul group was recently featured in a video on The Root and in a Verzuz battle with the Isley Brothers. But okay, back to the fact that Lucky Daye’s smooth R&B vocals have just clashed in a beautiful way with EWF’s smokey, bluesy and jazzy ones. This collaboration comes right at the height of Lucky Daye’s R&B popularity. He’s had a great year and the fact that it’s only August and has culminated in a reimagined track is just, *chef’s kiss.*

It’s so beautiful it makes a grown man—or sort of grown woman—want to cry.

August 20, 2021, UME Direct (R&B/Soul)

5 / 10

Kendra Jae – “Seesaw” (feat Saweetie)

It’s giving inches. It’s giving girl on fire. It’s giving Saweetie’s Pretty Summer Playlist Season One. The newly released video for Kendra Jae’s “Seesaw” featuring Saweetie is just as sexy as the lyrics suggest the song is. I’ll be adding a new word to the Mic Drop vocabulary. We have st-ancing (stand-dancing) and s-rapping (sing-rapping) but now, we have c-ancing—car dancing. It seems that a lot of rappers and artists are c-ancing all over the place in every video imaginable. And I’m here for it, it just needs its own word. The choreography is a combination of sultry and playful, combining the different instrumental aspects of the song with the lighter and more upbeat aesthetics of the track.

August 19, 2021, Def Jam Recordings (Hip Hop/Rap)

6 / 10

Shad – “Body (No Reason)”

Toronto rapper Shad’s lyrical and visual energy is like a combination of Danny Brown’s hype and Brockhampton’s broodiness. His new track “Body (No Reason)” is an angry ode to everyone who pushes artists and their craft aside. In a press release provided to The Root, Shad expresses: “Every song on the album highlights a different aspect (or aspects) of human life. And this one is the simplest: Body. No reason. Just movement, feeling. Got this monster track from Dom Dias, one of the most creative producers around, and just went off!” The video shows Shad in front of a batter’s box and shot via the lens of a shaky camera. There is a sportsmanship theme to all of the shots which seems to contradict the angry lyrics Shad delivers.

August 19, 2021, Secret City Records (Rap)

7 / 10

Shaybo – “My Sister” (feat Jorja Smith)

Jorja’s intro makes you think we’re getting a slow and heavy track, but when Shaybo jumps in on the verse, you know it’s different. The song—which does give off some solemn energy—is all about empowering other women and empowering yourself. It also does have a “men ain’t shit” vibe to it which is a true 2021 mood. Jorja and Shaybo collaborated on a project a few months back that had a total opposite vibe to it.

The video is set in a gorgeous church and shows the progression of two young girls growing up and facing the realities of womanhood. The sisterhood that is shown in this video is heart-wrenching—but in a good way—and it definitely doesn’t feel like it should be a happy song, but it is. “My Sister” is one of the songs off of Shaybo’s debut album Queen of the South, featuring Wale, Haile and DreamDoll.

August 19, 2021, Black Butter (Hip Hop/R&B)

8 / 10

Shenseea – “Be Good”

I want to be chopping wood in the jungle in a pair of booty shorts, are you kidding me? I could do without the penis-shaped hairdo and oversized phallic vegetables, but I’ll take the hard hat. Shenseea’s new track “Be Good” is an explosion of femininity—and remember when lumbersexuals were a thing? Well, Shenseea brings a whole new and improved dimension to the idea.

I mean, there’s a chainsaw, so what else can this be described as?

August 20, 2021, Rich Immigrants/Interscope Records (Dancehall)

9 / 10

Swae Lee – “In The Dark” (feat. Jhené Aiko)

This song is giving me “All The Stars” vibes. It has influences of hip hop and R&B with ethereal vocal tracks and the effortless transition between Swae Lee and Jhené Aiko’s singing. “In The Dark” is featured in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and so far, all we have in terms of a video for this song is the Shang-Chi graphic and mesmerizing, swirling rings.

“Don’t leave me in the dark / I deserve more / I’m somebody’s reward”

Swae Lee’s chorus resonates deeply because he’s really like, “don’t play me...I’m not one to be played.”

August 19, 2021, MARVEL/Hollywood Records, Inc./Interscope Records (R&B)

10 / 10