Bootsy Collins is one of the pioneers of the funk music genre.
His efforts are being recognized at this year’s Black Music Honors, which is set to air on Juneteenth on BounceTV. Before the taping of the awards show in Atlanta, Collins stopped by rolling out to discuss celebrating Black music and his thoughts on current music.
Why do we need to celebrate Black music?
It’s like celebrating yourself because you need to.
This is a place that lifts love, and makes it known that you should celebrate yourself, too. For them to do that, words can’t describe it.
You put your life out. You do this all your life, and I get a chance to be honored. I don’t feel like I should be honored, to be honest, but at the same time, being recognized by the Black Music Honors is a big deal.
I don’t think the whole world knows how important we as a people are and what we’ve done.
This is more than a, “Thank you.” Thank you doesn’t do it. I’ve got to figure that word out.
What was your reaction to Childish Gambino flipping “I’d Rather Be With You” on “Redbone?”
It always means we’re moving forward.
It’s always a compliment when people that to something you’re known for and they do it, it just goes to show, “Wow. The younger ones are picking up on it.” So it makes you feel good. Well, it makes you feel great.
Like, wow. We didn’t do this for that purpose, we did this because we were serving the people at that time, but the next generation comes along, grabs that and they serve the people coming up in that generation.
That keeps funk alive. It’s a beautiful thing.
Who do you think is keeping funk alive today?
MonoNeon, who’s performing tonight. He’s one of the hundreds. Victor Wooten. I mean, Snoop is always keeping the funk alive. We’ve got a new artist called Fantaazma, I mean, we can go on and on, but it’s just amazing to me to see the youth with stars in their eyes and their ability to play for real.
