Uncle Jamm's Army

Uncle Jamm's Army is a former American funk collective crew based in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s. Their singles "What's Your Sign", "Dial-a-Freak", and "Yes, Yes, Yes" were influential to the electro, old school funk, and early West Coast hip-hop genres.[1]

Uncle Jamm's Army
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop, electro-hop
Years active1978–1988
LabelsFreak Beat, Dunk Yer Funk
Past membersEgyptian Lover, Ice-T, DJ Pooh, Djkittkatt, DJ Bobcat

History
A poster for an Uncle Jamm's Army concert with Run-DMC in 1984

In 1978, Arthur "Gid" Martin, and his brother Tony Martin were planning to give a party and asked Rodger Clayton to DJ for them. Rodger suggested they join forces and start promoting dances together. In September 1979, Funkadelic released an album entitled Uncle Jam Wants You. The name Uncle Jamm's Army was adopted by Clayton and the Martins. Uncle Jamm's Army was among the earliest hip-hop groups on the West Coast and helped to bring the electro scene to Los Angeles. The group was influenced by Prince, Kraftwerk and East Coast electro. In the beginning, the Army first played funky disco but when Sugarhill Records started putting out rap and funk hits, rap had finally reached the West Coast.

By the beginning of the 1980s, the Army's popularity had grown. Their fans filled their shows at Alpine Village in Torrance, California. Summer 1980 brought "Shake Your Pants" and what later to be known as "The Twins", "4th of July" and "Labor Day Groove". They also played Long Beach State; Veteran's Auditorium, Culver City; Pasadena and Santa Monica Convention Centers; the Hollywood Palladium; and the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

In 1982, Rodger opened a music store, The DJ Booth (Slauson & Western Avenue), catering to all the local DJs and selling 12-inch records.

A ticket for a 1984 Uncle Jamm's Army concert with Run-DMC in Oakland, California

In 1983, the DJ group expanded further and Uncle Jamm's recruited underground DJs and MCs who were creating a cult following. The most well-known being Greg "Egyptian Lover" Broussard, Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow (who used to dance for the group at the Sports Arena events), who was later a gangsta rap pioneer, and later Mark "DJ Pooh" Jordan, best known for producing 3 Strikes and Friday 1, 2 & 3, and Bobby "DJ Bobcat" Ervin (Death Row Records). The group name dropped the second 'm', changing to Uncle Jam's Army. The electronic sound of the group was influential on West Coast hip hop, as G-Funk pioneered by Dr. Dre continued the tradition of an electronic sound in hip-hop music.

By 1988 the group disbanded as the music in the industry changed to gangsta rap, with violence in the lyrics and at the shows.

Discography

Singles
  • "Dial-a-Freak" (1984), Freak Beat - 12-inch single
  • "Dial-a-Freak (10 Minute Remix)" (1984), Dunk Yer Funk - 12-inch single
  • "Yes, Yes, Yes" (1984), Freak Beat
  • "What's Your Sign" (1985), Freak Beat - 12-inch single
  • "The Roach Is On The Wall" (1985), Freak Beat - 12-inch single
  • "Naughty Boy" (1986), Freak Beat - 12-inch single

References
  1. Gueraseva, Stacy (2005). Def Jam, Inc: Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, and the extraordinary story of the world's most influential hip hop label. Random House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-345-46804-8
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