| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[2] |
| Robert Christgau |  [3] |
Funke, Funke Wisdom is the fourth solo studio album by American recording artist Kool Moe Dee from the Treacherous Three. It was released in 1991 via Jive Records, making it the rapper's final album on the label.
Background
Production of the record was handled by Teddy Riley, Dale Hogan, Keith Spencer and Kool Moe Dee. The album peaked at #72 on the Billboard 200[4] and #19 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[5] It spawned three singles: "How Kool Can One Black Man Be", "Death Blow" and "Rise 'N' Shine".
"Rise 'N' Shine" featuring KRS-One & Chuck D became the most successful single, reaching number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[6] "How Kool Can One Black Man Be" peaked at #9 on Hot Rap Songs and #49 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track "Death Blow", a diss track directed at LL Cool J, did not chart, and the music video satirized LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" video.
The track "Bad, Bad, Bad" was featured in the 1992 film Stay Tuned.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Kool Moe Dee | 1:01 | |
| 2. | "Funke Wisdom" | M. Dewese | Teddy Riley | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Here We Go Again" | M. Dewese | Kool Moe Dee | 3:46 |
| 4. | "To the Beat Y'all" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 5. | "How Kool Can One Blackman Be" | M. Dewese | Teddy Riley | 4:58 |
| 6. | "Bad, Bad, Bad" | M. Dewese | Kool Moe Dee | 4:47 |
| 7. | "Rise 'N' Shine" (featuring KRS-One & Chuck D) |
| Kool Moe Dee | 4:38 |
| 8. | "Mo' Better" |
| Kool Moe Dee | 0:58 |
| 9. | "I Like it Nasty" | M. Dewese | Kool Moe Dee | 4:46 |
| 10. | "Death Blow" | M. Dewese | Teddy Riley | 6:37 |
| 11. | "Let's Get Serious" | M. Dewese | Kool Moe Dee | 3:54 |
| 12. | "Poetic Justice" | M. Dewese |
| 3:50 |
| 13. | "Gangsta Boogie" | M. Dewese |
| 4:12 |
| 14. | "Time's Up" | M. Dewese | Kool Moe Dee | 4:07 |
| Total length: | 54:24 | |||
Sample credits[7]
- Track 2 contains elements from "Make It Funky" and "Hot Pants" by James Brown (1971)
- Track 3 contains elements from "Escape-ism" by James Brown (1971), "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy (1987) and "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton (1982)
- Track 4 contains elements from "Mind Power" by James Brown (1973)
- Track 5 contains elements from "Papa Don't Take No Mess" by James Brown (1974)
- Track 6 contains elements from "Funky Drummer" by James Brown (1970)
- Track 7 contains elements from "Outa-Space" by Billy Preston (1971) and "Stand!" by Sly & the Family Stone (1969)
- Track 9 contains elements from "Bigger's Theme" by Mtume (1986)
- Track 10 contains elements from "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown (1972), "Escape-ism" by James Brown (1971), "Rock the Bells" by LL Cool J (1985), "Let's Go" by Kool Moe Dee (1987), "To Da Break of Dawn" and "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J (1990), "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by Beside (1982) and "It Gets No Rougher" by LL Cool J (1989)
- Track 11 contains elements from "Soul Power" by James Brown (1971), "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (1974) and "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe (1990)
- Track 12 contains elements from "Spirit of the Boogie" by Kool & the Gang (1975) and "Introduction to the J.B.'s" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (1973)
- Track 13 contains elements from "Gangster Boogie" by Chicago Gangsters (1975) and "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown (1972)
- Track 14 contains elements from "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players (1972), "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim (1987), "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins (1972) and "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (1988)
Personnel
- Mohandes Dewese – vocals, producer
- Carlton Douglas Ridenhour – vocals (track 7)
- Lawrence Parker – vocals (track 7)
- Steve Arrington – backing vocals (tracks: 6, 11)
- Mirage Mixeau – backing vocals (tracks: 11, 12)
- Edward Theodore Riley – producer
- Keith Spencer – producer
- Dale Hogan – producer
- Barbera Aimes – engineer/mixing
- Anthony Saunders – assistant engineer/mixing
- Dave Way – engineer
- Jason Chervokas – engineer
- Josh Chervokas – engineer
- Al Singleton – assistant engineer
- Ben Garrison – assistant engineer
- Charlie Allen – assistant engineer
- Dave Hecht – assistant engineer
- Eric Lynch – assistant engineer
- Scott Weatherspoon – assistant engineer
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Sally Boon – photography
Charts
References
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Funke Funke Wisdom - Kool Moe Dee". Allmusic. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Bernard, James (1991). "Funke, Funke Wisdom EW.com". Entertainment Weekly. No. May 31. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Kool Moe Dee". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Kool Moe Dee Funke Funke Wisdom Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Kool Moe Dee Funke Wisdom Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Kool Moe Dee Rise 'N' Shine Chart History". Hot Rap Songs. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ "Kool Moe Dee on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot Rap Songs. Retrieved 2017-11-29.