In the city of Detroit, where gifted musicians are never in short supply, the Gorilla Funk Mob are an anomaly all to themselves. Over the last seven years they have been likened to being a modern day incarnation of ‘The Funk Brothers’, and have often been referred to as the ‘Official Live Hip Hop Band of Detroit’.
The Gorilla Funk Mob is composed of 6 core members. The band was co-founded by bassist, G-Rock, and drummer Shamus O’ Flannagan. Rock’s steady hand drives the funk/fusion element of the bands sound, while O’ Flannagan blends a pocket groove and a steady attack to balance out the core of the rhythm section. The Gorilla Funk Mob’s core group features three keyboardists in a non-traditional setup. ZO!, Tony Ozier, and Mikus Nelson all bring a balance, and a different skill set to the table to create an intricate vibe that paints over top of the rhythm section. Behind every beat is the one of a kind hand drum rhythms of Chaka Bloodsaw. Primarily a djembe player, Bloodsaw uses a non-conventional approach that adds an indigenous element to the Funk Mob’s rhythm section.
Created in the summer of 2003, the band has built an impressive resume in the time since. Collectively the Gorilla Funk Mob has backed countless hip hop, soul, & R&B artists out of Detroit and the surrounding areas. The Funk Mob served as the house band for the now legendary ‘Shoe’s House’, founded by DJ House Shoes, and built a solid reputation on the back of the numerous live band ciphers. In 2005, the Funk Mob backed ZO! at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, and have repeatedly been called upon on to open for some of the influential funk & fusion artists in the country. Recently the band has added former Blackbyrds saxman Allan Barnes, and local keyboardist Phil Bates to the fold. In 2010 the band has been tapped to be the backing band for several local emcees, making the rounds with the likes of RO SPIT, PARADIME, S.U.N, SUPA EMCEE, & QUEST M.C.O.D.Y.
The Funk Mob’s style of music could best be described as a hybrid of funk, fusion, hip hop, soul, and jazz. The combination of these elements in the hands of the core musicians of the group is what creates ‘Gorilla Funk’.
Gorilla Funk could be best summarized as a raw, primal, hands in the dirt style of music that is all their own. The bands signature style has left its mark on every set the have performed in backing other artists. In certain situations the Funk Mob has backed as many as 9 artists in a single show.
Although the musicianship of the Funk Mob is its signature, the band’s biggest strength is its versatility. On many occasions local DJ’s have challenged the band to learn songs onstage, on the spot. It’s not at all uncommon to catch an acapella/live remix set by the Funk Mob when watching them perform live. With all the various influences of the members, genre change-ups come with ease and are blended effortlessly within the framework of any style they play. 2010 will see the release of two projects that have been 2 years in the making. A full on ghetto-rock album, and a live hip hop collaboration of original songs with many of Detroit’s finest emcees.
