News & Features » September 2017 » D Hunter’s Playlist – “To Funk and Die in LA”
D Hunter’s Playlist – “To Funk and Die in LA”
To Funk And Die In LA, the fourth book in the D Hunter crime-fiction series from Nelson George, brings the ex-bodyguard to the City of Angles on a very dark mission. As D Hunter cruises the LA neighborhoods of Crenshaw, Koreatown, and Pico-Union in his recently murdered grandfather’s green 1970 Buick Electra 225 convertible, the sounds of the city are ever-present. From funk to R&B to rap, Nelson George has created a dynamic playlist in To Funk and Die in LA.
It is no surprise that To Funk And Die In LA is brimming with musical references. Since starting out as black music editor for Record World, Nelson has become a passionate storyteller and music aficionado. He is the author of several ground breaking histories of African American music, including Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound, The Death of Rhythm & Blues and Hip Hop America. As a filmmaker, George has directed a number of documentaries including A Ballerina’s Tale, Finding the Funk, The Announcement, and Brooklyn Boheme. George’s passions have made him sensitive to the cultural movements that accompany shifts in musical tastes and ascetics. Spanning decades, neighborhoods and cultures, the songs in To Funk And Die In LA are quintessentially west coast.
The first song in D Hunter’s playlist is James Brown’s “Gonna Have a Funky Good Time.” Below are the songs that accompany the man in black, D Hunter, as he seeks the truth on the streets of LA. Here is a full playlist, organized by chapter, for your listening pleasure.
Chapter 1: To Funk in Santa Monica
“Gonna Have a Funky Good Time” — James Brown
“Wind Me Up” — Bootsy Collins (P-Funk)
Chapter 2: To Funk and Die in L.A.
“Push It Along” — A Tribe Called Quest
“HiiiPower” — Kenrick Lamar
“Machine Gun” — The Comodores, on Soul Train
“KDAY Supermix 1985” — Dr. Dre
Chapter 3: Dead Man’s Mixtap
“Let the Music Take Your Mind” — Kool & the Gang
“Kool & the Gang” — Kool & the Gang
“I Want to Be Free” — The Ohio Players
“Thank You” — Sly & The Family Stone
“Intimate Connection” — Kleer
“Candy” — Cameo
Chapter 4: Big Danny’s House
“I’ll Be There” — Jackson 5
“The Beautiful Ones” — Prince
Chapter 6: Big Danny Was A Loan Shark
“O Tu, O Ninguna” — Luis Miguel
Chapter 7: Red Dawg Has A Theory
“Fuk Da Police” — NWA
“Sanguinarios del M1” — Movimiento Alterado
Chapter 8: Dr. Funk Makes A Groove
“Sucker MC’s” — Run DMC
“Planet Rock” — Soulsonic Force
“Sketches of Spain” (full album) — Miles Davis
Chapter 9: Dinner With Aunt Sheryl
“In My House” — Mary Jane Girls
Chapter 10: A Youtube Wake
“Goo Goo Wah Wah” — Wah Wah Watson
Chapter 11: Hollywood Singin’
“Just Gets Better With Time” — The Whispers
Chapter 12: Big Danny’s Will
“Let Me Ride”— Dr. Dre
Chapter 13: The Relentless Beat
“If You Want Me To Stay” — Sly Stone
“I Need You” — Maurice White
“If Anybody Gets Funked Up” — George Clinton
“It Was Almost Like A Song” — Johnny Hartman
Chapter 15: R’Kaydia’s Malibu Soiree
“Straight Outta Compton” — NWA
Chapter 16: Michelle Pak Introduces Herself
“Faden Away” — Dâme Funk & Snoop Dogg
Chapter 17: Westside Connection To Downtown
“Nuthin’ But A G Thang” — Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
“M.A.A.D City” — Kenrick Lamar
“West Coastin’” — MC Ren
“Hate It or Love It” — The Game ft. 50 Cent
“Bow Down” — Westside Connection
Chapter 19: R’Kaydia’s Vision
“California Love” — 2Pac
“Too Late Playa” — 2Pac Feat. MC Hammer, Big Daddy Kane, Nutt so & Danny Boy
Chapter 20: Irritating Amos Pilgrim
“Besame Mucho” — Cesária Évora
Chapter 21: A Ride From the Past
“For Ever With You” — Terrace Martin
Chapter 22: Scratch Has Some Tapes
“Opening Theme” — Chinatown
Chapter 23: Night In The Valley
“Let Me Get This Right” — Ne-Yo
Chapter 24: Serene Powers Is No Joke
“Take Me To The River” — Al Green
Chapter 25: Old Men Playing Dominoes
“Stop Doggin’ Me Around” — Jackie Wilson
“Farewell Is A Lonely Sound” – Jimmy Ruffin
Chapter 26: D And Night Go To Funkmosphere
“BBE” — J Dilla
“Dice Game” — Sound Directions (Yesterday’s New Quintet)
“Devotion” — Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf
Chapter 29: Teo Garcia Has A Story
“Forever” — Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem
Chapter 30: A Soul Spinner In Pico-Union
“Man in Black” — Johnny Cash
Chapter 31: A Farmers Market Meet-Up
“So Far To Go” — J Dilla feat. Common & D’angelo
Chapter 32: A Koreatown Night With Michelle
“Dirty Vibe” — Skrillex with Diplo, CL & G-Dragon
“NYC Bitche$” — Awkwafina
Chapter 33: Walli’s Ill Fated Love Affair
“Who Shot Ya?” — The Notorious B.I.G.
Chapter 34: Sun Hee Pak Tells A Story
“We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up” — Ice Cube
“Never Say Goodbye” — The Game
Chapter 35: R’Kaydia Has Game
“(Not Just) Knee Deep” — Funkadelic
Chapter 36: Michelle Pak Meets Aunt Sheryl
“In A Sentimental Mood” — John Coltrane
Chapter 37: In The Antelope Valley
“Black Girl Pain” — Talib Kweli
Chapter 39: Everyone Has A Story In LA
“What The Fuck Right Now” — Tyler, The Creator
Chapter 40: Michelle And D Talk About Her Family
“Love Is The Message” — DJ Rashida
Chapter 41: Walli’s First Pool Party
“King Kunta” — Kendrick Lamar
Chapter 42: After Hours At Heaven’s Gate
“Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” — Charles Mingus
Chapter 43: Violent Interventions
“Trap Queen” — Fetty Wap
Chapter 44: Incriminating Conversations
“Fuck The Police” — 2Pac
Chapter 46: D Has A Busy Day
“Slippin Into Darkness” — War
Chapter 47: A Brief Musical Meeting
“Started From The Bottom” — Drake
Chapter 48: Bitter Like Ale
“Cutie Pie” — One Way
“Holy Ghost” — The Bary-Kays
“Fantastic Voyage” — Lakeside
Chapter 49: Hoping For Justice
“Rewind” — Kelela
Chapter 50: Floating The Funk In Cupertino
“Lost Ones” — Lauryn Hill
Chapter 51: Aunt Sheryl Shakes Her Head
“No Frauds” — Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne
Chapter 52: Sunday Afternoon At The Ace Hotel
“Hello Stranger” — Barbara Lewis
Chapter 53: Last Dance In K-Town
“Electric Relaxation” — A Tribe Called Quest
Posted: Sep 26, 2017
Category: Akashic Insider, Music/Pop Culture/Art | Tags: D Hunter, funk, Los Angeles, Music, music video, Nelson George, playlist, The Accidental Hunter, The Lost Treasures of R&B, The Plot Against Hip Hop, To Funk and