Yesterday (Feb. 18) was a dark day for hip-hop culture. It was the day that iconic drummer Clyde Stubblefield was pronounced dead of kidney failure at age 73. A former drummer of James Brown, Stubblefield played classic cuts “Cold Sweat,” “I Got the Feelin'” and “Ain’t It Funky Now.”
But it was his 20-second drum solo on Brown’s 1970 single “Funky Drummer” that made him one of the most sampled artists in rap and R&B. The break beats became the foundation of tracks, ranging from Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” “Bring the Noise” and “Rebel Without a Pause” to N.W.A’s “Fuck tha Police” and Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride” to Nicki Minaj’s “Save Me,” Lupe Fiasco’s “The Cool,” “The Next Movement” by The Roots and Big K.R.I.T.’s “Country Rap Tunes.”
“The Funky Funkiest Drummer Of All Time,” Questlove wrote in an Instagram post. “Clyde Stubblefield thank you for everything you’ve taught me. The spirit of the greatest grace note left hand snare drummer will live on thru all of us. #RIP.”
Questlove along with others like Just Blaze, DJ Premier and Bootsy Collins paid their respects via social media.
Every groove this man laid down, you felt and loved. Rest in power to a true pioneer of soul. 🙏🏿 #clydestubblefield pic.twitter.com/lX8L1rQ6Py
— just call me Andy (@AndersonPaak) February 18, 2017
R.I.P. to the 'funky drummer' – Clyde Stubblefield – from the entire PE family. pic.twitter.com/5eTF8DvM0v
— PUBLIC ENEMY (@PublicEnemyFTP) February 19, 2017
RIP the OG Funky Drummer Clyde Stubblefield. 😔
This one hurts.
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) February 18, 2017
RIP Clyde Stubblefield, who created the hip-hop breakbeat, defined funky drumming, cold sweating, obscene soul, and everything else. pic.twitter.com/yfRr4uWUph
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) February 18, 2017
A huge chunk of funk history has passed on to the ages. RIP to the GREAT Clyde Stubblefield. #FunkyDrummer pic.twitter.com/sghypFyVXh
— Christian McBride (@mcbridesworld) February 19, 2017
R.I.P. Clyde Stubblefield one of the baddest drummers in Funk,Soul, and R&B
— DJ Maseo; DE LA SOUL (@DeLaSoulsDugout) February 18, 2017
