James Brown is The Godfather of Soul. There hasn’t been one soulful musician since his debut that wasn’t influenced by the KING. James discography will forever reign supreme, because his artistry was simply unmatched. He gets his flowers due to his undeniable importance in the world of music.

James is the most sampled artist of all time. I mean, it would take days to explain every single person who’s sampled his work, covered or even put one of his screams on their records. That’s what I mean by his influence in the world of R&B & Hip-Hop.

This precious moment between Michael Jackson & James is truly amazing. If you’re a fan of Michael, you know how James is his fave and the person who he was inspired by the most. WHOLE LEGENDS!

The 50s:

Albums Released: Please Please Please, Try Me!

James joined lifelong friend Bobby Byrd’s gospel group, which would eventually turn into The Famous Flames. The group signed to a subsidiary of King Records (Federal,) and received their first hit with “Please, Please, Please.” They also had a #1 R&B hit with “Try Me.”

The 60s:

Albums Released: Think, The Amazing James Brown, James Brown Presents His Band, Good, Good, Twistin’, James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A., Prisoner of Love, Showtime, Grits & Soul, Out of Sight, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday, I Got You (I Feel Good,) Mighty Instrumentals, James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo,) It’s a Man’s Man’s World, Handful of Soul, James Brown Sings Raw Soul, James Brown Plays the Real Thing, Cold Sweat, I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me, I Got the Feelin’, James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul, Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things, Say It Loud-I’m Black and I’m Proud, Gettin’ Down to It, The Popcorn, It’s a Mother.

The 60s saw a peak in James’ success! He changed the game with performing with live bands for his studio albums, despite objections from his label about live albums not selling as much as studio albums.

James Brown’s song “Cold Sweat” is credited for being the first true song of Funk! Ironically, it is one of my favorite songs from the KING.

What made James the GOAT was his free citywide concert the day after Martin Luther King was assassinated. Legend!

James’ legendary song “Say It Loud-I’m Black and I’m Proud” is an anthem for Black empowerment, and was created in mind to discuss the hell black people endured at the time. It was and still is..important to Black history. It’s an important song to discuss, because it shows the beauty in black people.

The 70s:

Albums Released: Hey America, Ain’t It Funky, Soul On Top, It’s A New Day-Let a Man Come In, Super Bad, Sho Is Funky Down Here, Hot Pants, There It Is, Get on the Good Foot, Black Caesar, Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off, The Payback, Hell, Reality, Sex Machine Today, Everybody’s Doin’ the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump, Hot, Get Up Offa That Thing, Bodyheat, Mutha’s Nature, Jam 1980’s, Take a Look at Those Cakes, The Original Disco Man.

The tunes didn’t stop in the 60s! He kept the heat coming, period.

One of my favorite songs from this decade is “The Payback.” AN ICONIC HIT!

The 80s:

Albums Released: People, Soul Syndrome, Nonstop, Bring It On, Gravity, I’m Real.

James’ cameo in The Blues Brothers film is everything okay!

James brought the heat into the 80s with his own twist with the sounds of New Jack Swing and other genres.

The 90s:

Albums Released: Love Over-Due, Universal James, I’m Back.

James did not release music as much as he did in the glory days, but the music is still litty!

The 00s:

Albums Released: The Next Step.

James received the lifetime achievement award at the 3rd annual BET Awards, and he gave us an one of a kind performance, including the great Michael Jackson!

James Brown passed away Christmas Day 2006, but his legacy will always live on. Chadwick Boseman’s performance of James in the Get Up Movie is proof of that, and also introduced the number one soul brother to a younger generation.

James’ influence in the entertainment industry is undeniable due to the fact that he is the most sampled act EVER. That means that he is the blueprint..and that his reign will never die. Rest easy, legend! -MJ.