About the artist
James Brown, known as the Godfather of Soul, was one of the most influential figures in American music, a singer, bandleader and dancer whose innovations shaped soul, funk, and later hip-hop. Born in South Carolina and raised in Augusta, Georgia, he rose from poverty to become one of the most electrifying live performers of the 20th century, backed for decades by the Famous Flames and the J.B.'s.
Brown broke through with «Please, Please, Please» in the 1950s, but his most radical innovation came in the mid-1960s when he stripped songs down to rhythmic grooves, turning every instrument into a percussive voice — a template that essentially invented funk on tracks like «Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine» and «The Payback». His fierce showmanship, screams, and dance moves influenced generations of performers.
Beyond music, songs like «Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud» made him a cultural voice during the civil rights era. His rhythmic breaks became foundational building blocks for hip-hop production, making him one of the most sampled artists in history, and his legacy runs through virtually every strand of Black American popular music since.
Popular tracks
- 1
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World
en - 2
Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud
en - 3
The Payback
Een - 4
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine (Pts. 1 & 2)
Een - 5
People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul
en - 6
Living In America
en - 7
Get Up Offa That Thing
en - 8
The Boss
en - 9
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Part 1)
en - 10
Don’t Tell a Lie About Me and I Won’t Tell the Truth on You
en - 11
Please, Please, Please
en - 12
Out Of Sight
en - 13
Funky President (People It’s Bad)
en - 14
Get Up Offa That Thing/Release The Pressure
en - 15
Super Bad
en - 16
Cold Sweat
en - 17
Funky Drummer
en - 18
Caldonia
en - 19
King Heroin
Een - 20
Get On the Good Foot
en - 21
Feel Good
en
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Discography
You’ve Got The Power (The Complete 1956-1962 Federal & King Singles)
2018
I’m Real (2 CD Deluxe Edition)
2015
Get On Up: The James Brown Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2014
I Feel Good (The Very Best of James Brown)
2013
The Singles, Vol. 11: 1979-1981
2011
The Singles, Vol. 10: 1975-1979
2011
The Singles, Vol. 9: 1973-1975
2010
The Singles, Vol. 8: 1972-1973
2009
The Singles, Vol. 7: 1970-1972
2009
The Singles, Vol. 6: 1969-1970
2008
The Singles, Vol. 5: 1967-1969
2008
The Singles, Vol. 4: 1966-1967
2007
The Singles, Vol. 3: 1964-1965
2007
Number 1's
2007
The Singles, Volume 2: 1960-1963
2007
Jazz
2007
The Singles, Vol. 1: The Federal Years: 1956-1960
2006
The Next Step
2002
Seventh Wonder
2000
The Merry Christmas Album
1999
I’m Back
1998
Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68
1998
Funk On Ah Roll – Single
1998
Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang
1996
Foundations of Funk - A Brand New Bag: 1964-1969
1996
40th Anniversary Collection
1996
Make It Funky - The Big Payback: 1971-1975
1996
Live At The Apollo 1995
1995
Soul Pride (The Instrumentals 1960-1969)
1993
Universal James
1993
Love Power Peace (Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971)
1992
The Sex Machine Live
1992
20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
1991
Love Over-Due
1991
Star Time
1991
Soul Sessions Live
1989
Motherlode
1988
I’m Real
1988
Gravity
1986
In the Jungle Groove
1986
Unity
1984
Roots of a Revolution
1984
Bring It On!
1983
Nonstop!
1981
Soul Syndrome
1980
Hot On the One (Live)
1980
People
1980
The Original Disco Man
1979
Take a Look At Those Cakes
1978
Jam 1980's
1978
Solid Gold: 30 Golden Hits
1977
Mutha’s Nature
1977
Bodyheat
1976
Get Up Offa That Thing
1976
Hot
1976
Everybody’s Doin’ the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump
1975
Sex Machine Today
1975
Hell
1974
Reality
1974
The Payback
1973
Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off
1973
Black Caesar
1973
Get on the Good Foot
1972
There It Is
1972
Soul Classics
1972
Revolution of the Mind: Live at the Apollo, Volume III
1971
Hot Pants
1971
Sho Is Funky Down Here
1971
Super Bad
1971
Hey America
1970
Sex Machine
1970
It’s a New Day – Let a Man Come In
1970
Soul On Top
1970
Ain’t It Funky
1970
The Best of James Brown 20th Century the Millennium Collection, Vol. 3
The 50th Anniversary Collection
It’s a Mother
1969
The Popcorn
1969
Gettin’ Down to It
1969
Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud
1969
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things
1968
A Soulful Christmas
1968
Live At the Apollo, Vol. II
1968
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul
1968
I Got the Feelin’
1968
I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me
1968
Cold Sweat
1967
James Brown Plays the Real Thing
1967
Live At the Garden
1967
James Brown Sings Raw Soul
1967
Christmas Songs
1966
Handful of Soul
1966
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World
1966
I Got You (I Feel Good)
1966
James Brown Plays the New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo)
1966
Mighty Instrumentals
1966
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday
1965
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
1965
Out Of Sight
1964
Showtime
1964
Grits And Soul
1964
Pure Dynamite! (Live At The Royal Theatre 1964)
1964
Prisoner of Love
1963
Live At The Apollo
1963
James Browns Presents His Band & Five Other Great Artists
1961