Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars / Mark Ronson Ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard - Uptown Funk / Toxic
Year Released: 2025 (original recordings 2014 / issued as promo 7″ single 2015)
Genre: Funk / Soul / Pop-Funk / Nu Funk
Description:
Issued as a limited promotional 7″ on Columbia / RCA, this single pairs Mark Ronson’s global hit “Uptown Funk” featuring Bruno Mars with “Toxic” featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard — two tracks that showcase Ronson’s modernized take on vintage funk and hip-hop production aesthetics.
“Uptown Funk”, released in 2014, is a sleek, horn-driven homage to the Minneapolis-sound era and 1980s boogie-funk, fusing elements reminiscent of The Gap Band, Morris Day and The Time, and Prince with the polish of 21st-century pop. Built around a deep pocket groove, syncopated rhythm guitars, and a commanding vocal from Bruno Mars, the track dominated global charts — topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks — and went on to win Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance.
Its stylistic DNA is deeply connected to funk history: following its release, songwriting credits were officially expanded to include The Gap Band, acknowledging its rhythmic and melodic similarities to their 1979 classic “Oops Upside Your Head.” The production, while not a direct sample, embodies hip-hop’s crate-digging spirit through live re-creation of classic funk textures and break patterns.
The B-side, “Toxic” featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard, is a looser, grime-funk jam originally cut during the Version-era sessions and later reworked by Ronson’s touring ensemble, The Business Intl. It layers live drums, fuzz-bass, and ODB’s wild-style vocal swagger over a raw analog backing reminiscent of The Meters and Betty Davis.
Together, these sides illustrate Ronson’s skill at bridging eras — reviving the grit and groove of 1970s funk while framing it through contemporary pop and hip-hop sensibilities. “Uptown Funk” in particular has since been featured in numerous films and TV placements, including Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), Sing (2016), and Minions (2015), ensuring its status as one of the definitive funk anthems of the 21st century.