Funky 4 + 1

 Funky 4 + 1 was an American hip hop group from The Bronx, New York, formed in 1976. The original lineup consisted of MCs Sha-Rock, Jazzy Jeff, Keith Keith, and Rahiem, as well as DJ Breakout. Lil Rodney C joined the group later, bringing their total membership to five.

The group gained fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s, becoming the first hip hop group to sign a record deal and the first to perform live on national television. They were also notable for being the first hip hop group to have a female MC, Sha-Rock, who is often referred to as the "Mother of the Mic".

In 1979, Funky 4 + 1 released their debut single, "Rappin & Rocking the House". The song was a success, and the group soon followed up with their breakthrough hit, "That's the Joint", which was released in 1980. The song featured an interpolation of Cheryl Lynn's "Got to Be Real" and was produced by Sylvia Robinson for her Sugarhill Records label.

"That's the Joint" was a major hit and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip hop songs of all time. The Village Voice music critic Robert Christgau named it the best song of the 1980s, praising the instrumental track and the group's rhythmically compelling rapping.

In 1981, Funky 4 + 1 became the first hip hop group to perform on a national television show when they appeared on Saturday Night Live. They were subsequently asked to open for Blondie on tour, but Sugarhill Records' CEO Sylvia Robinson forbade them from doing so.

The group released several more singles in the early 1980s, including "Do You Want to Rock (Before I Let Go)" and "Feel It (The Mexican)". However, their momentum began to slow down as new hip hop acts emerged and the group faced internal conflicts. By 1983, Funky 4 + 1 had disbanded, with several members going on to pursue solo careers or join other groups.

In spite of their relatively short career, Funky 4 + 1's impact on hip hop was significant. They paved the way for other hip hop acts and helped to popularize the genre among mainstream audiences. In 1999, the compilation album Back to the Old School 2 - That's the Joint was released, featuring some of the group's most popular tracks.

Members:
Sha-Rock (Sharon Green) - MC
Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Miree) - MC
Keith Keith (Keith Caesar) - MC
Rahiem (Guy Williams) - MC
Lil Rodney C (Rodney Stone) - MC
DJ Breakout (Keith Wiggins) - DJ
DJ Baron (Baron Lattimore) - DJ (1977-1980)