Philadelphia soul is a genre of late 1960s, early 1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements. The genre laid the groundwork for disco by fusing the R&B rhythm sections of the 1960s with the pop vocal tradition and featuring a slightly more pronounced jazz influence in its melodic structures and arrangements.
Later, in the late 1980s, early 1990s, pioneering hip hop groups such as The Roots began to run with the Philadelphia soul inspiration. The Roots pushed the hip hop envelope by combining jazz with experimental and contemporary grooves. They paved the way toward using a live band for mainstream hip hop acts to follow. It was nearly unheard of before the Philadelphia band started making waves in the scene. The driving force behind this jazz and groove accompaniment was drummer, Questlove.
Eventually, the group began sampling their own live recordings, bringing their style full-circle. Today, that live instrument sound is highly sought after in the beat-making world.
For this pack, percussionist Corey Fonville channeled that Philadelphia soul sound while adding tastes of drum & bass, Afrobeat, and other genres. Not only did he draw inspiration form Questlove and The Roots for this pack, but he also looked to the sounds of Clyde Stubblefield, Steve Jordan, Elvin Jones, and many others.
