Today, funk legend Bootsy Collins releases his 23rd studio album Album of the Year #1 Funkateer out now on Bootzilla Records/ Roc Nation. Listen to the album here and the lead single “Bubblepop” featuring Ice Cube and Fantaazma here.
Bootsy Collins, even at his 73 year-old, funk legend, wise-elder status, remains a deeply curious, experimental artist who is ever-evolving. This album finds Bootsy in the producer's chair, with an A&R top hat and the funky bass still in his hands. He’s gathered talent established and new – including Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Wiz Khalifa, and Dave Stewart, as well as newcomers October London, Harry Mack, Baby Triggy, Fantaazma, and more.
“When I start on a project now, it's about getting the energy from people around me,” says funk maestro Bootsy Collins. “Because the way I came up, with a band, I don't ever want to lose that. It's important to me to see who the universe brings for me, and I've been really blessed that every time I want to do a new record, I get these incredible musicians around me, right on time. And that's what this album is about—hooking up with different musicians and artists, and mainly a lot of young people.”
The result is a genre-bending kaleidoscope of funk, punk, rock, r&b, pop, and even a little electronic futuristic vibes as Bootsy contemplates AI. He is letting his alter egos – Bootdullivan, Bootzilla, Caspar the funky ghost, and Bootronix among others – join the party, with seductive jams (“Pure Perfection”), futuristic exploratory musings (“I.Am.AI.”, “Ubiquitous” – a true jam), pure funk fun (“Bubblepop”, “Fishnets”, “Chicken & Fries”) and unexpected rock-pop genius (“Satellite”).
Talking about his new Album of the Year #1 Funkateer leads Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Collins to revisit the most pivotal moment in his legendary career, when James Brown hired the Pacemakers—the band led by teenage Bootsy and his brother Catfish—to replace his backing group in 1970.
“I understand now why we were really important at that particular time for James Brown,” says Collins. “It wasn't just the music. It was because we were lit up, and I understand that more now. With the young artists that are really on fire, I get lit up, and it reminds me that you don't have to just stand around and not be feeling it, you can be absorbing all this fresh, new energy. I get off on that. I guess you can say that I moved from being a player and now I'm a coach. I want to be looked at as a help, a mentor, somebody they can look up to and trust. That's my goal.”
In addition to working with young artists like Barbara Teleki (whose blazing guitar rips up “Barbie T & Me”) and the mysterious Bootdullivan, Collins brought in some other legendary contributors to help him mix things up on Album of the Year, including longtime friend Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.
“I asked Dave if he would be interested in collaborating,” says Collins, “and that sparked the first vibe of, yeah, I can stretch out—I can make some rock and funk and merge that together with some hip-hop. That's what we did on the first single, ‘The Influencers.’”
“Then on ‘Satellite,’ I heard him playing acoustic guitar and that put me in the right mood,” he continues. “Okay, this can be, like, a real song from Bootsy. I usually don't do real songs, I guess that's part of my thing, but that one and ‘Alien Flytrap’ brought me back to why people do songs with a form and a structure and this time, I wanted to.”
The album also reunites Collins with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and tha Dogg Pound, all of whom helped keep the P-Funk flag flying by mutating the sound into the West Coast G-Funk era. “Even before we knew each other, we were drawn to each other,” says Collins. “They'll never forget, and we'll never forget them, because they kept the fire burning. It's like we're each other's keeper. They can call me, I can call them, whatever you need, I'm there.”
FUNK NOT FIGHT & BOOTSY COLLINS NETWORK
In addition to the new album, Bootsy has many other endeavors including Bootsy’s peace-driven initiative Funk Not Fight, and the new Bootsy Collins Network, the ultimate destination for live entertainment and on-demand content. Dive into a world of electrifying live-streaming channels featuring Pay-Per-View events, exclusive video-on-demand content, and groundbreaking live product launches. Whether you're tuning in for high-energy concerts, the latest in tech innovations, or intense e-sports action, the Bootsy Collins Network delivers an immersive experience like no other. Bootsy Collins network will be available across all major streaming services, including Apple iOS, Google Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV, ensuring you never miss a moment of the excitement. From legendary live performances to cutting-edge digital experiences, we bring you front-row access to the best in music, technology, and gaming—all in one place.
Track Listing for Album of the Year #1 Funkateer:
01. Album of the Year #1 Funkateer feat. Myra Washington and Bootdullivan
02. The JB’s Tribute Pastor P feat. Harry Mack, Clyde Stubblefield, John “J’abo” Starks, Fred Wesley, and Daru Jones
03. Bootdullivan is Soopafly feat. Ouiwey Collins, Kokane, Daz Dillinger, and Soopafly
04. The InFluencers feat. Dave Stewart, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, WestCoast Stone, and Fantaazma
05. Bubble Pop feat. Ice Cube, Fantaazma, and Brother Nature
06. Fishnets feat. Myra Washington, Kurupt, Matthew Whitaker, and Daz Dillinger
07. Satellite feat. Dave Stewart and Brother Nature
08. Ubiquitous feat. Casper the Funked up Ghost and Kid Talk
09. Hundo P feat. Fantaazma and Snoop Dogg
10. Chicken & Fries feat. Soopafly, Myra Washington, Baby Triggy and Fantaazma
11. Pure Perfection feat. Fantaazma, Gilbert Driver and Bedroom Bootsy
12. Anybody Out There feat. Myra Washington and Brother Nature
13. BeWild feat. Isis Valentino, Alexandria Rosemond, and Brother Nature
14. Alien Flytrap feat. Dave Stewart and Bootdullivan
15. Reach the Zone feat. October London, Musiq Soulchild, and Bedroom Bootsy
16. 2Nite we Rise feat. DREION, Fantaazma, ZGM Precious Praisers, and Casper the Funked up Ghost
17. I.AM.AI feat. Tobotius, I.AM, and Kid Talk
18. Barbie T & Me (Tribute To Buckethead) feat. Barbie T, Zillatron
Record Store In-Store Appearances
April 12 - Minneapolis, MN - Electric Fetus (2000 4th Ave S)
April 14 - Chicago, IL - Reckless Records (26 E Madison St)
April 16 - Nashville, TN - The Low Bar (917 Woodland St)
April 18 - Atlanta, GA - Criminal Records (1154 Euclid Ave NE)
