James Brown - I'm A Greedy Man

Year Released: 1971
Genre: Funk

Description:

Released on Polydor in 1971, “I’m a Greedy Man” is one of Brown’s rawest, funkiest mid-tempo statements. Clocking in at over seven minutes in its album version, the two-part single features Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks trading complex drum figures beneath choppy horns and a rubbery bassline. Lyrically, Brown mixes humor and self-critique, portraying greed as both vice and survival instinct.

Sampling Legacy: The song’s crisp drum intro and percussive grunts have been sampled by A Tribe Called Quest (“Can I Kick It?” remix versions), EPMD (“I’m Mad”), and The Jungle Brothers. Its skeletal rhythm section makes it a goldmine for producers seeking pure groove.