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Repiglican Roast

A spirited discussion of public policy and current issues

Name: TheFuriousGourmet

Location: The mouth of being

I'm furious about my squandered nation.

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Monday, December 25, 2006

I saw him walking through O'Hare Once

James Brown performs during a concert in Shanghai, China, in this Feb. 22, 2006, file photo. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, his agent said. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.

"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."

His hit singles include such classics as "Out of Sight," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.

"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black," Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society."

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