Celebrating the artists, the music and the moments
William “Billy Bass” Nelson Jr.
Bassist, singer, songwriter, and producer William “Billy Bass” Nelson, Jr. was a founding member of 1997 Inductees Parliament-Funkadelic – he even came up with the name “Funkadelic” – and played a key role in shaping the band’s signature sound. His blues-, jazz-, and R&B-influenced bass guitar style was a crucial element of the first three Funkadelic albums, including 1971’s revolutionary classic Maggot Brain. Nelson’s influence can be heard in the work of many bassists who came after him, including Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Norwood Fisher of Fishbone, and it served as a backbone for Dr. Dre’s “G-Funk” style.
Sorry Ms. Jackson: A Hip-Hop Symphony
From funk grooves and Prince’s genre-blending vision to dramatic, classical-tinged piano, Outkast turned heartbreak into art
A Rock B-Side Turned West Coast Anthem
From a 1972 Joe Cocker flip side to NYC breakers to Tupac’s West Coast classic
From CBGB’s to Hip-Hop’s Mainstream
From Blondie’s disco-punk smash to Missy Elliott’s hip-hop classic, one drum loop kept moving forward
A Mother’s Love Scored in Soul and Hip-Hop
How a 1974 Spinners ballad became the heartbeat of Tupac’s most personal anthem
From Teen Pop to Timeless Standard
From the Shirelles’ first No. 1 to Carole King’s Tapestry to hip-hop samples, one ballad kept evolving
The MJ Anthem That Took Over the Dancefloor
From Thriller’s opening spark to ’90s hip-hop remixes to Rihanna’s global club takeover
The Guitar Riff That Shaped Generations
From Stevie Nicks’ guitar hook to Destiny’s Child and Missy Elliott, one riff kept finding new life
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