The Brand New Heavies began in 1985 as an instrumental acid jazz group call… Read Full Bio ↴The Brand New Heavies began in 1985 as an instrumental acid jazz group called Brother International.

The group came up with the Heavies name after signing their first record contract, borrowing from a liner note on a James Brown single declaring the artist "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk". As The Brand New Heavies they gained a cult following in the London club scene and soon signed to Cooltempo as acid jazz replaced rare groove in clubs. The band issued a debut recording for Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz label in 1990 with Jay Ella Ruth as lead singer.

A single, "Got to Give", came out on Cooltempo before the Brand New Heavies signed to Acid Jazz Records and released Brand New Heavies to critical acclaim. The band signed to a division of Chrysalis Records in the UK, and American distribution was picked up by influential label Delicious Vinyl, and N'Dea Davenport (who had signed an artist development deal with Delicious Vinyl) joined the group. A revamped version of the first album with vocals by N'Dea Davenport was then released, and the singles "Dream Come True", "Never Stop" and "Stay This Way", all with Davenport on lead vocals, became hits on both sides of the Atlantic, with the latter becoming a music video directed by Douglas Gayeton that saw heavy rotation on MTV.

The group's appearance with MC Serch (formerly of 3rd Bass) and Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) at a performance in New York City, inspired the group to incorporate elements of hip hop music. Their next album was the critically acclaimed Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1, which included collaborations with Guru of Gang Starr and The Pharcyde, among others, but lacked any female vocals.

While under management by Colin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildlife Entertainment, The Brand New Heavies released Brother Sister (1994) which was the last album for a while with N'Dea Davenport, who had left to complete her solo album (which she had put on hold to join the Heavies). The album spawned more singles, though one of them, a cover of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis", was popular only in the UK because it was not included in the US version of the album.

Siedah Garrett joined the group for their next album, Shelter (1997). It contained the minor hit, the Carole King-penned song "You've Got a Friend" that was originally made famous by James Taylor. Again, though, this song did not appear on the US version of the album. The album also contained the hit "Sometimes". The remix of "Sometimes" included the rap vocals of Q-Tip from Tribe.

The Brand New Heavies then released their greatest hits album, Trunk Funk - The Best of The Brand New Heavies (2000) with Carleen Anderson on vocals for some newly recorded songs, followed by the Japan only album We Won't Stop (2003) featuring a variety of vocalists and Allaboutthefunk (2004) featuring British singer Nicole Russo on vocals.

In April 2006, the Brand New Heavies reunited with N'Dea Davenport and former label Delicious Vinyl. A new album, Get Used to It was released on June 27 2006 via Starbucks and more traditional music retail outlets. The album was recorded in New York and London; and the lead single "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" was issued in early May. The single was notable for being one of very few late releases to feature the trademarked "A Tom Moulton Mix", as the legendary disco pioneer had been asked to contribute mixes. Later that year, their song "Jump 'N' Move" was featured on the soundtrack for the 2006 computer animated feature film, Happy Feet, and the in-game soundtrack for 2004's NBA Live 2005. The band toured at the end of 2006.

After the release of a live CD Live at the Indigo2 in late 2008, the Brand New Heavies announced they would be releasing a new album in 2009 with N'Dea Davenport on vocals.

Bonafied Funk
The Brand New Heavies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Main Source forever crews got to get more clever
Whatever just have your shit together
Cause it's '91 which means not a thing
'Cause for centuries we'll make crews sing
No matter what record label we stay stable
Pick up the album we're never on cable
Crews cross over but not Main Source
I use Simon's guitar strings to floss

Brand New Heavies play the shit that people
Used to listen to in '70 Chevies
So we don't have to loop up a beat to fuck your crew up
Just bring the band, by the way we got Jan
On the drums, Andrew plucks the bass with his thumbs
And Simon, like I mentioned before, just strums
The guitar strings for all my siblings
Just follow when everyone sings

Brand New Heavies (Brand New Heavies)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)

Ayo, wait a minute
We got the Heavies in the crib putting the funk back in it
And if you know the Main Source, then you know my man K-Cut
And him and Simon is going to show you what's up

I can't forget the other man on the scratches
Sir Scrathes, like his hands are two hachets
While Andrew plucks on the bass
I'm gonna let my man Sir Scratch drop taste

Ayo, now everybody sing
Brand New Heavies (Brand New Heavies)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)

Just an example of how rappers don't have to sample
To keep the funk beat on the street
Slide to the side when the Source and the Heavies collide
Bonafied Funk for ya hide
To wiggle, making beatheads uncivil
Turntables swivel as the rap crews shrivel
Away, like a fiend with tooth decay
Peace is not the word to play, hey

Brand New Heavies (Brand New Heavies)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)
And Main Source (Main Source)

One time it's the

One time for your mind, one time for your mind
The Large Professor in the house, Main Source forever y'all, be cool

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Brand New Heavies' song Bonafied Funk serves as a tribute to the hip-hop group Main Source. The song captures the pride of both groups as they boast of their unique style and sound that has become a staple in the music industry. The opening line of the song "Main Source forever crews got to get more clever" highlights the collaborative nature of the song as it emphasizes the importance of being clever and creative in the music industry.

Throughout the song, the lyrics reinforce the idea that Main Source and The Brand New Heavies are not bound by labels or trends. Their success is not determined by pop culture or commercial success, but rather by their talent and authentic sound. The line "I use Simon's guitar strings to floss" demonstrates their self-reliance and the fact that they do not need to rely on conventional methods to create music.

Bonafied Funk also displays the unique qualities that each member of the group brings to the table. The lyrics mention each member by name, displaying their impressive skill sets, such as Simon being on the guitar, Andrew on the bass, and Jan on the drums.

Overall, Bonafied Funk is a celebration of the two groups' passion for music and the creative process that goes into making it. The lyrics highlight their unique sound and ideals that go beyond commercial success.

Line by Line Meaning

Main Source forever crews got to get more clever
Main Source is a permanent crew that constantly seeks to improve their skills and talent

Whatever just have your shit together
Be prepared and ready to perform at your best

Cause it's '91 which means not a thing
The year does not determine the quality or success of a musical group

'Cause for centuries we'll make crews sing
Main Source strives to create timeless music that will be enjoyed for generations

No matter what record label we stay stable
Main Source remains loyal and committed to their music regardless of the record label they are affiliated with

Pick up the album we're never on cable
Main Source produces quality music that is not necessarily mainstream or heavily promoted on television

Crews cross over but not Main Source
While other crews may compromise their musical integrity to become popular, Main Source stays true to its original style

I use Simon's guitar strings to floss
The artist uses Simon's guitar strings to show off his wealth and success

Brand New Heavies play the shit that people
Brand New Heavies produces music that resonates with the masses

Used to listen to in '70 Chevies
Brand New Heavies' music is reminiscent of the kind of music that was popular in the 1970s and was often played in Chevy cars

So we don't have to loop up a beat to fuck your crew up
Brand New Heavies' music is so good that they don't need to use samples to compete with other crews

Just bring the band, by the way we got Jan
Brand New Heavies has a talented drummer named Jan who is part of the band

On the drums, Andrew plucks the bass with his thumbs
The band's bassist, Andrew, plays with his thumbs, creating a distinctive sound

And Simon, like I mentioned before, just strums
Simon is the guitarist who strums his instrument to create a unique sound

The guitar strings for all my siblings
The band members are like siblings who make music together

Just follow when everyone sings
The audience should join in and sing along with the band

And if you know the Main Source, then you know my man K-Cut
K-Cut is a member of Main Source, a well-known musical group

And him and Simon is going to show you what's up
K-Cut and Simon will demonstrate their musical talents

I can't forget the other man on the scratches
The singer acknowledges the importance of the DJ, Sir Scratch, who scratches records to create a unique sound

Sir Scrathes, like his hands are two hachets
Sir Scratch's hands move quickly like two sharp hatchets

To wiggle, making beatheads uncivil
The music is so good that it causes listeners to dance uncontrollably

Turntables swivel as the rap crews shrivel
The turntables are in motion while other rap crews fail to create good music

Away, like a fiend with tooth decay
Poor quality music disappears like a drug addict's teeth

Peace is not the word to play, hey
The focus should be on music and talent, not on fighting

One time for your mind, one time for your mind
Enjoy the music and let it fill your mind and soul

The Large Professor in the house, Main Source forever y'all, be cool
The Large Professor, a member of Main Source, is present and committed to the group's success. He encourages everyone to stay cool and enjoy the music.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON BARTHOLOMEW, JAN KINCAID, ANDREW LEVY, KEVIN HAROLD MC KENZIE, SHAWN MC KENZIE, PAUL MITCHELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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