Description
A long-lost cornerstone of modern deep funk returns. In The Raw, the 2001 debut album from The Whitefield Brothers, finally gets the reissue treatment it deserves. Originally released in limited quantities on the short-lived Soul Fire label, this raw, psychedelic, and deeply soulful LP became a cult favorite—prized by collectors and revered by funk heads across the globe.
Recorded in New York by Munich-based brothers Jan and Max Whitefield (founding members of Poets of Rhythm), In The Raw blends heavy funk with African, Afrobeat, and psychedelic influences. With contributions from early torchbearers of the funk revival—including Leon Michels, Neal Sugarman, and Gabriel Roth—this album was ahead of its time, created before Sharon Jones had broken through and before Daptone had become a household name.
Gritty, hypnotic, and fiercely musical, In The Raw draws from the traditions of Fela Kuti, The Meters, and obscure African psych-funk bands like Blo and the Psychedelic Aliens—resulting in a sound that’s timeless and entirely its own.
Lovingly restored and reissued as a deluxe 2xLP set, this essential album is once again available for those who missed it the first time around.
Tracklist:
A1 Rampage
A2 Chokin'
A3 Weiya (Serengeti Beat)
B1 In The Raw
B2 Prowlin'
C1 Yakuba
C2 Weiya
C3 Witch-Jam
C4 Eji
D1 Sol Walk
D2 Thunderbird
D3 Buster
