What is Go-Go Music and How it Relates to Hip Hop

Growing up in VA I had a lot of musical influences. Trust me hip hop has always been my love but there is an affair I must own up to. Don't get me wrong it's nothing to be ashamed of and it's nothing that anybody has to hang their head low about. My side chick is Go Go music. Now I know a lot of cats are like, "what the hell is Go Go music"? So let me explain what it is.

Go-Go is best when it's performed live. Go-Go is the music of D.C, originated in D.C, and only the best in the capitol of the U.S.

Go-Go involves a group of people playing different instruments, some on the mic, playing songs we hear on the radio but just a little differently than you expect. Go-Go music was founded in the D.C area in the mid to late 70s. Chuck Brown had a crowd jumper in 1978 with the single "Bustin Loose." Go-Go has inspired many artists in our time. In the 1980s Salt-N-Pepa was influenced by Go-Go with their song "Shake Your Thang." Also, "Rollin with Kid-N-Play by Kid-N-Play was influenced by Go-Go music. Music you'll probably remember like "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce or "One Thing" by Amerie was also influenced by Go-Go music.

The only place you hear authentic GO GO music is in the DMV (DC, Maryland, VA). To truly experience GO GO you need to go to a live GO GO show and feel the energy that flows throughout the room. Go-Go is a "Whateva I say y'all gotta do" kind of music. Go-Go is known for its live performances, but also for Go-Go dancing. It's hard to explain. It consists of two people battling by dancing, doing something with your body, getting yourself hyped. From the beats, dances and attitude, GO GO will truly have you on the floor enjoying yourself all night long.

There are all types of different bands in D.C. The first bands that came out in the late 70s were Rare Essence, Junkyard Band, Northeast Groovers, Backyard Band, TCB, Familiar Faces, Lissen Band, and Suttle Thoughts just to name a few. Bands then aren't like bands now. Bands that are still playing and out now are TCB, Backyard Bands, TOB, Rare Essence, New Impressions, Reaction, CCB, MOB, KIB, PIB, and GOB just to name a few.

Check out a very popular Go Go band Mambo Sauce and then peep Jim Jones in DC doing what it do when he comes to DC!