Meaning of “That New Funkadelic” by Ice Cube
“Funkadelic” is not only a reference an old 1970s band that heavily influenced the sound of NWA and indeed all of West Coast hip-hop. The term also points to the flamboyant culture that group personified. In this track Cube is once again giving a shoutout to these classic entertainers by stating the movement has been reborn, in a new form. And now he is the one embodying the spirit of Funkadelic. As such, the track is mainly about partying, attractive females and most importantly, the fresh musical vibe Ice Cube is bringing to the music scene.
Who are Funkadelic?
It is an American band that was formed in 1968. Under the leadership of singer George Clinton, Funkadelic was one of the biggest bands in the United States in the 1970s. In 1997, the band was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Funkadelic was dissolved in 1982. However, in 2014, the members reunited again.
Facts about “That New Funkadelic”
- Ice Cube penned this song. The production was done by American music producer T-Mix. In a December 2018 interview with Zane Lowe on the famed Beats 1 Radio show, Cube referred to T-Mix as a “secret weapon” of his.
- “That New Funkadelic” was commercially released on December 4, 2018. It came out as the second single from Cube’s 10th studio album. The album in question is titled Everythang’s Corrupt. The anti-Trump song “Arrest the President” was the first single from that album.
- This is officially Cube’s second single of 2081. The first was “Arrest the President”.
- In his conversation with Lowe, Cube described this song as one made by staying faithful to “a winning formula”. But what does he really mean by this? According to him, it is about doing what he does best. Despite the fact that the hip hop world is filled with new trends, he isn’t going to abandon the kind of music his famed for. He wouldn’t chase these new trends. He would rather stick to what he’s known for. Hence the old school/throwback vibe heard on “That New Funkadelic”.
