James Brown's Daughter Says There Would Be No Hip-Hop, Michael Jackson or Usher Without Her Dad (Exclusive)

The late singer’s daughter Deanna tells PEOPLE her dad is the “most sampled artist”

James Brown may be known as the “Godfather of Soul,” but those who knew him as “Daddy” are making sure his influence continues to be recognized.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE ahead of A&E’s four-part docuseries, James Brown: Say it loudtwo of his daughters, Deanna Brown and Dr. Yamma Brown, say music wouldn’t be where it is today if it weren’t for their father.

“There would be no hip-hop. There would be no rapping because he’s the artist with the most samples,” says Deanna, 55. “There would be no Michael [Jackson]there would be no Usher, there would be no Chris Brown — all these people who were taking from him.”

EXCLUSIVE: Usher remembers James Brown

Usher; Michael Jackson — Super Bowl halftime performers.

Getty

“I mean, where would that be? You can ask a lot of these musicians, they’ll tell you the same thing. It would probably be zero. I think that LL [Cool J] she says that in the documentary the trajectory of the music would be — she can’t even imagine where it would be without James Brown,” she continues.

Offset deals with ‘drama’ with Cardi B in Spoof of Bizarre 1988 James Brown Interview

Musician James Brown performs on stage at the Miller Rock Thru Time celebration of 50 years of rock concerts at Roseland on September 17, 2004 in New York.

James Brown, September 2004.

Frank Micelotta/Getty

Referring to the “Around the Way Girl” rapper, Yamma, 52, also adds, “And I think that’s the key thing that you take from what LL Cool J said, it would have been very different. Who knows what would have happened? ”

See also  1 Minute Brain Teaser: Only A Person With Brightest Mind Can Find All 6 Six Hidden Words In The Study Room. Hurry Up!

She notes that her late father started his career “so long ago.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Yamma tells PEOPLE she’s “grateful” that her father — who died on Christmas Day 2006 at age 73 — “created” funk and influenced other genres, “hip-hop definitely being one of them.”

Yamma Brown, in a sheer leopard print coat, with Adrienne Rodriguez (1950-1996), American singer and musician James Brown (1933-2006) and Deanna Brown Thomas, in a pink coat, in the 34th Annual Press Room Grammy Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York, on February 25, 1992. Yamma and Deanna are the daughters of James Brown, and Rodriguez is his wife.

Yamma Brown, Adrienne Rodriguez, James Brown and Deanna Brown Thomas; February 1992.

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

But she said that while many musicians were influenced by his craft, his influence extended far beyond the entertainment industry.

Yamma said: “Someone sitting at home might be watching this and thinking, ‘His story is not so different from mine and look what he’s done.’ And if you can inspire someone to be the greatest that they can be, that’s amazing.”

She added: “I just wish he was still here to see some of this. He wouldn’t believe it. He wouldn’t believe it.”

James Brown Say it out loud

‘James Brown Say It Loud’.

Emergency

James Brown: Say it loud will air on A&E on Monday, February 19, and Tuesday, February 20 at 8:00 PM EST.

In it, both Yamma and Deanna fondly reminisce about their childhood with their parents.

“I could hear him, how he talked to different people, how he wanted his business to be run. I learned a lot putting those rollers in his hair,” Deanna says of the “life lessons” she learned from her father while on the way.

See also  Hannah Waddingham Praises Ted Lasso Costar and 'Greatest Champion' Jason Sudeikis: 'Big Kiss to Him' (Exclusive)

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education

Rate this post

Leave a Comment