I LOVE BLAXPLOITATION!!!
That’s right, I love it and I am not ashamed to admit it!
1970’s in general and 1970’s Black culture specifically “are hot” again. As far as I am concerned, this very funky decade never stopped being hot, it has just taken the rest of the world some time to catch up and show some respect.
1970’s funk is everywhere, such as the proliferation of 1970’s funk and r&b music used in advertising and as samples in hip hop music, the resurgence of a funky sense of style with afros, cornrows and throwback fashions worn by cool people and the attitude, the rampant, pimped out swagger that is even being shown by our new Black, Hip, Funky President. Now just where do you think all of his funkiness came from...
Sista ToFunky
Curator
The Museum of UnCut Funk
Blaxploitation...It’s A Love Thang!
Lost Blaxploitation Soundtracks
Brotherman
Brotherman was a Blaxploitation film set to hit screens in 1975. Prior to the script being finished, the producers commissioned an original sound track to be performed by The Final Solution, a vocal group from Chicago's west side. Before even one foot of film was shot, the plug was pulled and the movie was cancelled. Dragged around for 30 years by songwriter, guitarist and arranger Carl Wolfolk, the tapes of his life's work have finally been mixed, and the soundtrack album has been augmented to include two orchestrated instrumentals intended for the film. Having no stills from the film to work with, the Minneapolis' Burlesque of North America was hired to paint the cover.
You can listen to this soundtrack on the Blaxploitation Soundtracks page. You can purchase this soundtrack at Amazon.com - check out our mini-Amazon Blaxploitation store at the bottom of this page.
Soul Ecstasy
Great soundtrack to the long lost 1970's Blaxploitation movie Soul Ecstasy. With a plot containing such volatile content as The Black Panthers collaborating with the Red Chinese, young girls kidnapped and sold to Hong Kong bordellos, Soul Ecstasy didn't get much of a theatrical run before it was closed down by 'The Man'.
Sadly, the only existing print of the movie was destroyed in a fire, but the master tapes of the soundtrack were tracked down and have been released for the first time. Or at least that is what I have read...
There is some controversy surrounding this soundtrack and whether the movie was actually produced or whether this whole story is a hoax and the soundtrack a fake...
You can listen to this soundtrack on the Blaxploitation Soundtracks page. You can purchase this soundtrack at Amazon.com - check out our mini-Amazon Blaxploitation store at the bottom of this page.
Spike Lee Making James Brown Biopic
Spike Lee is making a biopic on the life of James Brown and will be using the vocals of the Godfather instead of the actor portraying him - Wesley Snipes. Lee says the film will get made despite Wesley’s upcoming jail stint for tax evasion.
You know that I will be all over this one...
Marlon Wayans To Star In Richard Pryor Biopic
Writer / director Bill Condon, who most recently wrote and directed Dreamgirls, is producing his script Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? Marlon Wayans’ has now replaced Eddie Murphy in the role of Richard Pryor.
I will be all over this one too...
Car Wash
Rose Royce
From The 1976 Soundtrack
Car Wash
Blast From The Past!!!
Black Hollywood
"White people put together cheap films, took advantage of a hungry black moviegoing audience, took advantage of hungry black actors and actresses, paid very little money and stole all the profits."
—Jim Brown, on Blaxploitation
The above insight from football-star-turned-actor Jim Brown is one of many compelling points made by a wide variety of interviewees in the 1984 documentary Black Hollywood: Blaxploitation and Advancing an Independent Black Cinema, which is only now getting a DVD release. The 75-minute feature is comprised mostly of interviews with about a dozen of Hollywood's prominent Black actors, actresses, writers, and producers, supplemented by clips and stills from notable films.
You can purchase this soundtrack at Amazon.com - check out our mini-Amazon Blaxploitation store at the bottom of this page.
Latest Blaxploitation News...
Ice Berg Slim’s Pimp to hit the big screen
Ice Berg Slim’s 1969 autobiography Pimp: The Story Of My Life is being rumored to be headed for the big screen. After years of legal problems with the late authors estate and book publisher rights to the story have been acquired by Robert Weiss, the executive producer of HBO’s Entourage. At more than 5 million copies sold, Pimp is the second best selling book by a Black male author, after Alex Haley’s Roots.
You know I will be keeping tabs on this one and will let you know when I know...
Afrodisiac
The Museum of UnCut Funk is thrilled that Jim Rugg shared some of the art from his Afrodisiac graphic novel with us. The complete collection of Afrodisiac comics is currently available on Amazon. This is a must have for any comic book collector, fan of Blaxploitation films or anyone interested in comic art. Right On!!!
Please read our Can’t Get Enough...Of That Funky Stuff blog for more details.
Latest 1970’s Black Culture News...
In 2002, Will Smith and his production company bought the rights to Sidney Poitier's Uptown Saturday Night with plans to do an all-star Black update on the 1974 classic that originally paired up Poitier and Bill Cosby. At the time, Smith mentioned casting Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. Eight years late the remake is in motion again, this time with Smith set to co-star with Denzel Washington.
Please read our Can’t Get Enough...Of That Funky Stuff blog for more details.