Now is the time America. A forward-thinking presidential candidate is ready to steer this country into a brighter, more focused future. From pledges to end our reliance on Middle East oil in the next 10 years to guarantees of investments in education and promises of healthcare reform, Barack Obama stated his case for a new America on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention. While accepting his party’s nomination, Obama delivered a stirring speech that outlined the need for individual responsibility, a break from outmoded political ideals and a transformation of this nation’s broken foreign policy agendas.

Articulate, Brilliant and Inspiring — America, Meet Your Brand New Funky President

Simply stated, Obama has the ability to change America’s imprint on the 21st Century. Here him out:

“The times are too serious. The stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America. They have served the United States of America.”

Friggin’ brilliant. This isn’t lip-service folks. This guy speaks with the conviction of a true believer. Obama believes in the fundamental promise of this country. He believes that the practices of the past don’t apply to the present, and that if we want to prepare for the future, we need a create a new understanding today. This understanding must be forged from a sense of commonality — a shared belief that we Americans are more similar than we are different.

The identities that divide us into fringe groups — from gays, to immigrants to anti-war activists — these divisive identities do not serve our collective interests. We can achieve more together than we can apart. And the time is right for someone to bring to the table “the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.”

The logic just kept on pouring out. This brand new funky president is as articulate as he is passionate. Listen to this stuff:

“Now I know there are those that dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that’s to be expected. Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone who people should run from.”

“You make a big election about small things.”

“And you know what? It’s worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping and settle for what you already know.”

“I get it. I realize that I’m not the most likeliest of candidates for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.”

“But I stand before you tonight because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s about you. It’s about you.”

“For 18 long months, you have stood up one by one and said enough with the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics, with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us. That in defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn’t come from Washington. The change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it. Because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership — a new politics for a new time.”

“America, this is one of those moments.”

Wow. Simply unbelievable. Never in my life have I felt such a genuine emotional connection to someone running for political office. I can’t believe it. I really can’t. This guy was bringing me to tears man. The inspirational force behind his words rests in the fact that you can believe — I mean really believe — that this man can back his words up with actions.

I thought it was a brilliant speech. Pat Buchanan and Bill Kristol did too. I’m proud to be an American tonight, and I’ll be even prouder when Barack Obama becomes the next President of the United States. With his speech on Thursday, Obama ensured that this big election will not be about small things. The stage is now set for this election to be one of the most historic turning points in the history of this country.

I can’t wait.

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 1 Video

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 2 Video

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 3 Video

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 4 Video

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 5 Video

Here’s a link to the full transcript of Obama’s address at the Democratic National Convention

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Cameo - Word Up!

The other weekend I was at the Brass Monkey in LA and I heard someone jam out to Word Up by Cameo. I hadn’t heard the song in awhile, and I forgot how sick it was. It certainly isn’t my favorite Cameo jam, but this poppy tune from 1986 has a timeless quality to it. It appeals to lovers of 80s hits, funky music connoisseurs and people who just wanna get down while being crammed up in a popular karaoke bar. And the video… wow, it doesn’t get much better than this. Enjoy!

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I’m going to keep the funky music videos coming with this cosmic vid from funky soul man Marvin Gaye. In this clip from 1978, Marvin Gaye takes us on “A Funky Space Reincarnation.” Marvin gets his freak on with glittery dancers as a billowing smoke machine and cheesy camera action capture it all for posterity.

Marvin Gaye’s Timeless Funky Style

Marvin was truly a great talent who’s musical range covered everything from soulful reflections on hot-button political topics to super-fun get-down music that just makes you wanna move. He’s a timeless artist with an enduring style, and this video captures him at his most funkiest.

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I recently re-discovered this track and I forgot how much I liked it. Father MC’s delivery is catchy and on point. I could do without the whiny RnB boy band bits, but a thumping dose of Chic’s oft-sampled “Good Times” baseline and Father MC will set me right any day.

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Yarbrough & Peoples (Calvin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples) were a synthed-out funky duo from Dallas,Texas. They were initially discovered by Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band. In 1980, Yarbrough & Peoples released the classic floor-filler “Don’t Stop The Music.” This track never gets old. Below are the lyrics, so you can sing along.

Don’t Stop The Music Lyrics

Don’t you stop it
Don’t you stop
Don’t stop the music

Don’t you know
You’ve got me mesmerized
With the beat
I always fantasize

Don’t stop the music
‘Cause it tends to soothe
I can tell you want to groove

Don’t you stop it
Don’t you stop
Don’t stop the music

Don’t you stop it
(The beat keeps going round and round)
Don’t you stop
(Turns me upside down)
Don’t stop the music

I just wanna rock you (oh, baby)
All night long (to my love song)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

I just wanna rock
(I just wanna rock you)
All night long (yeah)
I’ve got a love song
(Whoa, whoa, whoa…)

Everything we do
Is right on time
The beat’s so smooth
It blows my mind

Don’t stop the music
It’s so satisfying
It feels so good to me
There is no denying

Just because it’s two o’clock
Don’t stop the music
Don’t you feel like
Dancing and prancing
Don’t stop the music

Don’t you stop it
Don’t you stop
Don’t stop the music

You don’t really wanna stop, no
You don’t really wanna stop, uh uh
You don’t really wanna stop, no
You don’t really wanna stop

You’ve got me moving
You’ve got me grooving
Don’t stop the music

Don’t you stop it
Don’t you stop
Don’t stop the music

(I just wanna rock you)
I just wanna rock you
(All night long)
All night long

(I just wanna rock you)
I just wanna rock you
(All night long)
All night long
(Love song, love song)
(Love song, love song)

I can tell you wanna boogie
I can tell you wanna boogie
(Boogie)

Don’t you stop it
(You don’t really wanna stop, no)
Don’t you stop
Don’t stop the music
(You don’t really wanna stop, uh huh)

Just because it’s two o’clock
Don’t mean that we have to stop
(Don’t stop)

Just because it’s two o’clock
Don’t mean that we have to stop
(Don’t stop)

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Doug Turner was in desperate need of a tribute track, so I had to cook one up for him. I took samples from MTV’s The State (Michael Showalter’s timeless Doug sketch), classic breaks (”Ashley’s Roachclip,” “Fools Gold” and “Breakthrough”) and added ‘em all the together with a little bit of “Let’s Get it Together” by El Coco. The resulting collision is two-minutes of non-stop Doug.

Click here to download the track “I’m Doug.”

Enjoy Mr. Turner.

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This next music download isn’t outright funky, but it is hard to find mix that features some sweet, get-down snynth-pop. Yes (the progressive rock band that initially formed way back in 1968) has produced some eclectic sounding tunes over the years. Yes put out 10 diverse-sounding albums from 1969 to 1980. This output was followed by a brief, three-year break-up of the band.

90125 - The Most Successful Yes Album of All Time

In 1983, Yes was back in the mix with a new album, 90125. It was the first album that featured Trevor Rabin. The album marked a shift in the band’s musical approach — the symphonic progressive rock that made Yes famous had now morphed into a more synth-happy early 80s sound. 90125 produced the hits “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “It Can Happen,” and “Leave It.”

Leave It (Hello, Goodbye Remix)

There were a few remixes made for the song “Leave It,” and the Hello, Goodbye mix seems to be the hardest to find. It was released on the “Leave It” 45-inch Maxi Single, and my Uncle Todd has been trying to get his hands on an mp3 version of the track for some time now.

Click here to download the mp3 — Yes - Leave It (Hello, Goodbye Mix).

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I’ve been on a serious Fatback binge for like 3 weeks. These guys are great. They always bring it. Just quality, happy, uplifting funky music. Makes you wanna party. Always good stuff.

My First Taste of the Fatback Band — The Tasty Jam Album

Tasty Jam off Spring Records was the first Fatback record I ever owned. It’s loaded with dirty, get-down music that features the sweet electric funkiness that can only be found after the start of the 80s. A lot of people prefer raw 70s funk, but when the funk got electrified, that’s the stuff that really makes my mouth water.

Click here to download Fatback - High Steppin Lady

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Attention all download-lovin’ funkateers. If you love collecting free funky MP3s, then you need to check out the Monsieurwilly World blog. Put together by a French DJ named Willy, this site features over 12 GBs of amazing vinyl rips. Taken from Willy’s personal vinyl collection (a collection that’s over 10,000 records strong), Monsieurwilly’s World is like an archaeological treasure just waiting to be discovered.

A Wide Variety of Rare and Classic Funk and Disco Records and So Much More

The site has so much to offer. We’re talking rare funky disco records. Hard-to-find old school hip hop selections. Quality funk selections that will blow your mind. Whether you like electro/freestyle, funky reggae, instrumental cuts of rare tracks loaded with funky breaks, a few chill house music downloads, some original Willy edits — it just goes on and on.

Vinyl Rip Downloads Done Right

The tracks are all clean, high-quality vinyl rips. Willy packages each one of his vinyl rips as a .rar file. When you extract each one of these downloads, you’ll get a folder with your mp3 of choice, and a nice image of the record sleeve so that you now exactly what to look for when you go diggin’ for funky disco rarities. When you visit the site and check out each vinyl rip, there’s an entertaining busted-English description of each track provided by the Frenchman with amazing music taste, Monsieur Willy himself.

Thank You Monsieurwilly World

Sadly, there hasn’t been a new post on the Monsieurwilly World blog in awhile, but the guy must have spent an unbelievable amount of time putting up more than 12 gigs of the kind of music you can’t find anywhere. When visit the site and realize the scope of the collection that Willy has made available, you’ll be extremely thankful that WIlly took the time to put it all together.

So when you’re all done stocking up on seriously funky 12-inch singles, the best disco rips you’ll ever find, Jamaican soul selections, quality mixes of disco goodness, afro funk and funky rap records, make sure to drop WIlly an email saying thank you. While you’re at it, tell that you want him to get back to doing what he does best — providing amazing, hard-to-find music to a global audience that loves upbeat funk.

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Last night the LA Lakers put the Spurs out of their misery and advanced to the NBA Finals. To celebrate the occasion, Funk Deli’s breakin’ out an old school electro jam that celebrates the exploits of the 1982 Showtime LA Lakers.

The 1981-82 Showtime Lakers

The 1981-82 Lakers won the Pacific Division with a 57-25 record. With the help of newcomer Bob McAdoo, new coach Pat Riley and a squad that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis, Michael Cooper and current GM Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers swept the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and went on to the NBA Finals, defeating the 76ers in six games. Before the age of 23, Magic Johnson secured his second NBA title and his second NBA Finals MVP Award. The Lakers continued to dominate throughout the 80s.

Mighty Fire

With the Lakers rising up once again, I thought it was only fitting to share this gem of a track that Mighty Fire put out on Elektra Records in 1982. Mighty Fire was a funky/electro/disco act out of LA that put out two albums: No Time For Masquerading in 1981 and the self-titled Mighty Fire in 1982. The band split up after the release of their second album.

Click here to download Mighty Fire - Take It To The Hoop - LA Lakers

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