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Appropriate 5 Reasons to Honor the Excellence of Rap Group Whodini

29
Dec

Five Minutes of Funk is probably Whodini’s “anthem”, so it is appropriate that BET chose to honor the group by providing “5 reasons” to honor the Excellence of the group upon the passing of group co-founder John “Ecstasy” Fletcher last week. –By Brian Hurlburt, Host, Magnifying Excellence Podcast.

It has been a difficult year and hearing about the passing of Fletcher last week made it even that much worse. Fletcher and Whodini were a part of rap’s golden age and right there with RUN-DMC, LL Cool J and other icons who led the way of the music genre that changed music and the world.

From BET.com staff:

While hip-hop can be heard on nearly every pop radio station in the country, in the 1980s, it was nearly impossible for rap groups to get any mainstream attention. Whodini would change the game. After years of grinding, 1984’s “Friends” charted at no. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 4 on the R&B charts. The following year, “Freaks Come Out At Night” peaked at no. 104 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song blew up when it appeared in the 1985 film Jewel of the Nile, which starred Michael Douglas.

The five reasons to honor the Excellence of Whodini were:

  1. Paved the way for rap to go mainstream
  2. Style (Fletcher’s Zorro-style hat was iconic)
  3. Stage presence
  4. Whodini gave Jermaine Dupri first break
  5. Longevity

I will add to it that it wasn’t party in the eighties or early 90s without Whodini being played. And to this day, a certain podcast host may request some Whodini when and where the time is right.

More from BET.com Excellence of Whodini article