Michael Hampton's early Funkadelic days

Michael Hampton was 20 when he recorded Funkadelic's 1975 album Let's Take It to the Stage.

Kidd Funkadelic's nickname

He earned the nickname Kidd Funkadelic due to being younger than his P-Funk bandmates.

Funkadelic's free-spirited approach

Funkadelic was a collective of free-spirited, drug-using musicians focused on groove over paperwork.

Album's battle of the bands spirit

The album came from a 'battle of the bands' mentality where they aimed to outdo other bands on stage.

Recording process at Michigan United Sound

They recorded at Michigan United Sound near Wayne State University in Detroit, staying across the street at a motel.

Aerosmith's gear used for Funkadelic

Funkadelic used Aerosmith's old Music Man amps and Crown power amplifiers for recording.

“We were using Aerosmith's old equipment. I don't know how we got it. I don't wanna drop any names”

Guitars used on the album

Hampton used an old Gibson L6-S, a Les Paul, and a modified Framus guitar with augmented pickups.

Album's legacy and impact

Hampton says the album's legacy lies in how well it's played, not in its popularity.

Funkadelic's recording process

Recording sessions were fluid with no formal process, leading to unclear credits on P-Funk albums.

The 'smack addict' solo story

Hampton heard a story about a 'smack addict' recording a solo for $50 but doesn't confirm the details.

“I heard a story like that, but I don't wanna say the guy who did it was a smack addict, you know?”

Tupac Shakur's sample of the track

Tupac Shakur sampled the track in 1993's Holler If Ya Hear Me.

“Tupac Shakur sampled that in one of his tracks [1993's Holler If Ya Hear Me]”

How the gear was acquired

Funkadelic got Aerosmith's gear through roadies who worked with both bands.