George Clinton Speaks on the History, the Musicians, and the Meaning Behind Funk in RBMA Lecture at BAM on May 12, 2015 [YouTube Full Official Video]

When you think of funk, the name George Clinton should come to mind immediately. He was the mastermind behind such historic acts as Parliament, Funkadelic, and the P-Funk All Stars that pushed the boundaries of what funk music was for decades. He nurtured the talents of countless musicians that moved through his ensembles, the likes of which include Bootsy Collins, Junie Morrison, Eddie Hazel, and many more. Basically, if you want to talk about funk, there's no better person to go to than Dr. Funkenstein.

It is for these reasons that his Red Bull Music Academy lecture -- on May 12, 2015 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music -- is so insightful. Clinton spends more than an hour musing on various topics, from the meaning of the word funk, to the new generation of artists that sample his music. And while he veers into the vague and philosophical, "Funk is anything it need to be to save your life at that time," the facts, dates, and names Clinton drops portray a clear picture of the music he has made and the environment it was made in.

Despite the fact that he can't remember every detail -- by Clinton's own omission he was too "fucked up" on various substances at the time -- he has the breadth of experience and personal wisdom to truly explain the music he made and its impact.

Pick up George Clinton's 2014 autobiography Brothers be like, "George, Ain't That Funkin' Kind of Hard on You?" at Amazon.com.

For more on George Clinton's music, news, and tour dates, check out his Zumic artist page.

Source: Red Bull Music Academy Official YouTube Channel