Chicago legend Mike Dunn has been behind a number of house’s best loved underground anthems, but as he donned his MD X-Spress alias to speak the lyrics, “God made me funky, and I’m glad he blessed me that way…” he never could have anticipated the reaction the track would still get on dancefloors nearly three decades later. With the layering of garage beats, an addictive bassline and Mike’s distinctive Windy City spoken word vocal, Mike had produced something that was just a little bit special.
A not-so-secret weapon for DJs around the world, we caught up with some of the record’s biggest fans ahead of the release of our brand new remix package out today on Defected.
Louie Vega: "I was a fan of Mike Dunn's music way before 'God Made Me Phunky', but this one is definitely a favorite of mine. I broke 'God Made Me Funky' at my DJ residency back in the days, it was the Underground Network Parties at Sound Factory Bar with promoters Barbara Tucker & Don Welch. I still have the white label to this day! Great memories with this one, always a dancefloor frenzy, a dancer's dream record."
Karizma: “One of my favorite records in the world, the breaks, the spoken words (on point) and then there's the bassline... Maaan, it's over”
Roger Sanchez: "'God Made Me Phunky' is one of those sure fire, never leave the box tracks that I've been dropping in my sets since the 90s - it’s all about that intro build and the bass line drop… always sets the club on fire!"
A-Trak: "This is one of the greatest house tracks OF ALL TIME! No exaggeration! And Eats Everything really came through with the timeless remix."
Felix, Basement Jaxx: “'God Made Me Phunky’ was an underground classic - I’d hear Paul Trouble playing it at the Loft in Camden and at Bobbi & Steve’s Garage City in Vauxhall - it was a record of the scene then. I used to often play it towards the end of Basement Jaxx parties and eq the bit ‘We’ve got to get together, we’ve got clean up the neighbourhoods... it starts within’ so that people could hear the words loud and clear.”
Sam Divine: “'God Made Me Phunky' has been a stand out record in my sets for over two decades. A stone cold classic that destroys the dance floor each and every time. It’s about time someone was brave enough to remix this monster. Eats Everything for the win for me.”
Todd Terry: “Mike Dunn is one of my favorite producers period. ‘God Made Me Phunky’ is one of those timeless tracks, Dunn knows how to keep the beats and vocals funky, one of the few that know how to keep house music alive. Oh, and sorry for sampling you I owe you some $$$….”
Benji B: "In all the years since I first heard this tune and got a copy, it has never left my record box, then my CD wallet and now my USB stick. An absolute classic. There’s never a bad time to play it. Thank you Mike Dunn."
Monki: ''This record has been a stable part of my set for years! Every time I draw for it I know it will bring this nostalgic energy to the heads and to new ears.''
Featuring remixes from Eats Everything, Harry Romero and The Vision, as well as the original, this release will allow a new generation of house heads to discover what can only be described as a house essential.
'God Made Me Phunky (Remixes)' is out now via Defected, to grab the vinyl, stream or download click HERE.
