Originally they were just the Funky Four -
Keith Keith , Sha Rock , KK Rockwell and Rahiem (later of Furious 5 fame). In ' 78 Sharock
left and Raheim joined the Furious 4 . Lil Rodney C and Jazzy Jeff ( not of Fresh Prince
fame ) joined after leaving the Magnificent 7. Sha Rock returned and made the plus one.The
crew was originally called the Brothers Disco . The Funky Four are actually another
crew that is full of firsts ; for instance the Funky Four plus one were the first mixed
gender crew , the first Emcees to perform on Saturday Night Live ( in 80 opening up for
Blondie), and first with two djs - Breakout and Baron . In ' 79 they dropped " Rappin
And Rockin The House " on Enjoy records.
They signed to Sugarhill records in 1980
and dropped " Thats The Joint " ... a classic by any standards . They lifted an
old break from Taste Of Honey and crafted one of the best rap joints ever. Next came
" Do you wanna rock ? " , then " Feel It " and after that
" King Heroin " . By ' 83 Lil Rodney C and KK Rockwell had left to form
Double Trouble.....and they had a few small parts in the movie Wild Style .
DOUBLE
TROUBLE
Sha Rock joined Lisa Lee from Cosmic
Force and formed Us Girls , and they had a small performance in Beat Street. Due to the
same politics and lack of industry knowledge that swallowed most first generation rap
artists the Funky Four had a shorter career than they should have. Jazzy Jeff sued Jive
records in the mid 80s for signing Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff while he was signed with
the same name . He won and built a studio with the loot , and is supposed to be bringing
out some old school artists. Jazzy Jeff was the first solo artist signed to Jive /Zomba .
Sha Rock is married and she has a daughter who Emcees. Funky 4 are indeed an
important brick in the foundation of Hip Hop .
. Jazzy Jeff sued Jive
records in the mid 80s for signing Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff while he was signed with
the same name . He won and built a studio with the loot , and is supposed to be bringing
out some old school artists. Jazzy Jeff was the first solo artist signed to Jive /Zomba .
Sha Rock is married and she has a daughter who Emcees. Funky 4 are indeed an
important brick in the foundation of Hip Hop .
