If you scroll through the songwriting credits on Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 magnum opus, To Pimp a Butterfly, there will be plenty of names you’ll recognise from the Compton rapper’s past work.
From Sounwave and Terrace Martin, to Pharrell Williams and Anna Wise, a majority of the credits were familiar names. Except for one name – Stefan Gordy, otherwise known as Redfoo, one half of the pop duo, LMFAO – who appeared on the album’s third single “King Kunta.” So how the hell did Redfoo score writing credits on one of the best songs off To Pimp a Butterfly?
As it turns out, during the mid-90s when Redfoo was making his way in the music industry, he scored his first major production credits for L.A. rapper Ahmad’s self-titled debut album. The album, released on May 24, 1994, via Giant Records and Reprise Records, included the single “Back in the Day” as well as the song “We Want the Funk.”
Fast-forward to 2015, Kendrick, Sounwave and Terrace Martin sampled “We Want the Funk” for “King Kunta”, along with songs by Johnny Burns, Michael Jackson and James Brown. Which is how Redfoo and Ahmad Lewis ended up as one of the songwriters credited for “King Kunta.”
Ahmad: I got a call about a sample clearance last week, I didn’t know the turnaround would be so quick. I’m grateful for the publishing check. Kendrick is the perfect emcee to use my music.
All 71 People on Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ Album | DJBooth
