A surprising and controversial ode to women, “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” from 1966 showcases Brown’s softer side. A major hit and an iconic ballad in his discography, this song doesn’t boast the ...

James Brown was the hardest working man in show business. Born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown passed away on Christmas Day 2006 in Atlanta. In between, he changed music. Many of ...

Uncover the journey of funk music, showcasing its rhythmic roots and the top funk songs that illustrate its lasting cultural ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) When I first wrote about James Brown, I thought I’d covered enough ground with the big hits—the songs everyone knows and loves. But not long after that article went live, I started ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.

(ThyBlackMan.com) When we talk about the DNA of hip-hop, three words always come up: James Brown. Breakbeats. From the moment DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash first looped those funk grooves ...

Though he was primarily a singer and entertainer onstage (one of the best in popular music history, mind), James Brown was a well-rounded musician, with a crystal-clear vision of how his endlessly ...

James Brown's live shows, with his exhilarating stage presence and vocal prowess, were the sort you had to see to believe, or at the very least, hear to believe. Which is why Brown's choice to record ...

When one thinks of James Brown, one probably doesn’t think Christmas. But the Godfather of Soul released three—yes THREE!—Christmas albums. Sure, some of that was likely cashing in on a craze, but ...