I am shocked that you guy's don't know that the album 'Superfly" is a statement, so powerful that we could feel it in Europe. Listen to the whole album and read something about Curtis. This was one of the most significant albums of the 70-ies. Greetings from an average white guy from Europe.
you shocked ??? LOL this guys are in their 20's this song came many years ago when you are in your 20's do you happen magically found out about sister rosseta thorpe ? i dont think so just because they are black doesnt mean they had to had a knowledge about curtis mayfield
young brothers you have to understand curtis didnt glorify drugs in his music, he told the message of the streets from the hope to the pain to the despair. if you think he was glorifying drugs and the life then you have to listen to freddy dead which is a extension of pusherman..
SmoothJJazzy well said. Curtis lyrics were so good he actually made you feel sorry for the drug dealer as you realize he is just another person trying to make money to get himself and his woman out of poverty.
@@jonathantucker1125 Woody Guthrie died in 1967. Charlie Parker died in 1955. Billie Holiday died in 1959. All either before I was born or, in the case of Woody, while I was a child. Still knew who all of them were in my teens. It's not difficult to know these things.
@@scottfrench4139 So what?? It depends on your upbringing. If you have not listened to any of their music and/or have not been in an environment where these artists were played.. you won't know them from Adam. Yes, I have heard of many artists that were around before I was born, but I was heavily into music at a younger age and there were many I weren't aware of until after becoming a musician.
@@jonathantucker1125 So what? There's no reason not to know history of any subject one is interested in, especially now when everything is readily available.
@@scottfrench4139 they are doing reactions. not music history. I'm fairly certain that they would probably do some research at a later time. Chill the frig out!
PUSHERMAN - drug dealer/supplier/hustler, often called Pusher cause thas what he do, push the drugs in them streets. To someone who’s addicted, that pusherman becomes just about anything when that Hines raise up: mama, daddy, doctor, n__a in the alley. By now, hopefully ya’ll got it that this is from a soundtrack to the iconic movie from the so-called ‘Blaxploitation’ era called, Superfly, starry Ron O’Neal. Other hits from Curtis Mayfield’s soundtrack include, Freddie’s Dead, & Superfly, which has a similar groove to Pusherman, where the drummer hits the snare drum on every beat instead of just 2 & 4. It’s sometimes called Detroit Pop (or soul). The biggest song of that style to date is probably Smokey Robinson’s Tears of a Clown, & You Better Shop Around, also the Four Tops’ Sugar Pie Honey Bun. Besides the movie, Curtis’ other known classics are Move On Up, & People Get Ready.
Curtis be the equivalent of gangsta groove before the world ever thought of gangsta rap. He was story tellin about the streets, the culture, the scene, the oppression, and life. Slangs change the story remains the same.
💥FYI: I'm the guitarist with Curtis Mayfield on this ORIGINAL recording of "PUSHERMAN" and find it interesting to see & hear your reactions to this music trk. as part of the "iconic" SUPER FLY album that is now a part of "music history" re: In 2019, the album was selected by the "Library of Congress" for preservation in the "National Recording Registry" for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". To clarify some multiple statements by the group: NO, "We" were NOT "smoke'n or snort'n"👎🏾 while recording this or any of the total 9 trks.🎼👍🏽 But, just the fact the group picked "Pusherman" from the "Super Fly" album for review "Reaction" as part of this video makes me feel VERY HONORED at this time Dec.18 2021 💥MUSICIANS💥 💫The Pushermen💫 "Master" Henry Gibson- Percussion.. Tyrone McCollum🥁 Curtis Mayfield🎸🎤 Craig McMullen🎸 Joseph "Lucky" Scott🎸Bass..
This is a legendary soundtrack. The majority of the songs were about characters in the movie and they were highly critical of the thug life. The producers didn't like this so they left most of the lyrics out of the movie but they were included on the album. The film was about Youngblood Priest, a drug dealer, disenchanted with the "game" and is determined to make one last big score and leave the business. Easier said than done and there in lies the challenge in the story. It was based on the life of an actual drug dealer in Harlem.
So much respect for Curtis Mayfield and his music. He sang so eloquently about our original sins in the United States. The genocide of Native Americans and the awful horror of chattel Slavery.
To get yours and your peers' best reaction, let the song play all the way through and then give your comments at the end. Then if there are sections that you want to highlight go back to them. The stopping and starting can be quite irritating.
This is so funny. I was their age when this music was hot in the 70's, these kids wasn't even born, but I'm glad they're listening and that's where most of them get the samples from.
Another good song from this album "Little Child Runnin' Wild". Also Donny Hathaway "The Ghetto" rap remake "The Ghetto" by Too Short. "Little Ghetto Boy" by Donny Hathaway also.
Curtis took RnB, Soul, Funk and Jazz Elements and put them together with a socially aware lyric - this is may not have the familiar "trap" beat you know today but in my opinion Curtis was a poet, story teller and set the stage for the rise of urban hip hop. Listen to the stories he tells and let me know if you agree.
I was born in the late 70's. Grew up in the 80's, became an adult in the 90's. I can say.....this song... and movie are new to me; however, the 70's era was hard core. Adults in the 70's grew up during the free love revolution, and experimenting with drugs. So, psychedelic 70's music mixed, REAL MUSICIANS playing real instruments, with turntables, and all kinds of outside the box music. I kinda wish I was there. Especially Woodstock. React to some Jimmy Hendrix. Your welcome. I'm 100% certain, it'll be enlightening. If ya'll reacted to the Superfly suggestion, I'll be watching and catching up. Stay positive and oh yeah, algorithm.:)
Guys you should learn the history of Harlem in the "70's". This was where they would show pictures when they discussed Ghettos. It was neglected, hard, dangerous, drug infested, majority white cop and detectives borough. To get out of Harlem and make a life was a fight. It was hard to grow old in Harlem. This is a soundtrack album to the movie "Superfly". The music overshadow the movie. For two reasons, Curtis Mayfield's Superfly is more than music. This was an expression of desperation, survival, anguish, anger, confusion, self preseveration, family, love, friends, helplessness, there were no cameras and cell phones in the early "70's" so if a cop kicked ass it ended there. Complaints went no where. The second reason is the movie had a low budget. I mean come on an all African American cast wasn't going to get big money from studios in "70's but they did a good representation of Harlem life with what they had. The movie had an excellent director, Gordon Parks. Jr. When I first heard this album I immediately new there was a difference than music I've listened to before. You could feel the music. The only other time I heard music that had memotions was some "Rap" music pertaining to what has happening to African American society. "Pusherman" is self explanatory. I was surprised that you weren't sure what it meant especially with the opening lyrics. Maybe it was because you guys paused the music so often. I've never seen a music reaction video interrupt as much as this reaction. You never gave yourself a chance for the song to flow. To listen to the music. To what he's trying for convey or the instruments. You focused on "N" word in the alley. This is the era that more artist of today "sampled". There were multitude of genres of music in the "70's. The "70's" is the foundation of the music today. A band called "Steely Dan" from the "70's" might be the most sampled music. This is my first reaction to you guys. I'll watch a couple more. If you are persistent with interrupting like this reaction l will not subscibe.
The greatest soundtrack album in history, Curtis Mayfield's masterpiece. The only R&B album I'd rate above "Super Fly," and it's close, is Sly and the Family Stone's "There's A Riot Goin' On." The film is worth seeing. It's not great -- not as good as the original "Shaft" -- but Ron O'Neal is a far better actor than Richard Roundtree.
In our day drug dealing was done in the alley.... and called the pusher man look at the movie Superfly ..listen to him sing be thankful for what you got
The term pusherman is specific to heroine dealers. Because people used and actual syringe to push the heroine through their veins. They had to push the plunger. I grew up in the streets of NY during this time. This is a great album but it is also very sad because as a child I saw the effects of heroine on the adults in my neighborhood. There are some things that are indelible in my mind. I was only 7/8 but there are things unforgettable during this time this is one.
The 2nd bridge has one of best & sharpest lyrical turns you'll ever hear in pop music, so well prepared for by all the seductive but hollow swag that went before: Two bags, please For a generous fee Make your world what you want it to be Got a woman I love desperately Wanna give her somethin' better than me Been told I can't be nuthin' else Just a hustler in spite of myself I know I can break it This life just don't make it Lord, Lord, yeah...
Yes! A classic. It DOES sound like an old cop show, right? Please react to PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE by The Temptations. Many would say it is one of the greatest songs of all time. I'll be waiting!✌👍Thanks guys!
Yes you have to watch the movie. I went to the movies to see this movie. The original Superfly movie. With Curtis Mayfield playing his music for this movie
You guys remember your reaction to the 'Animals' the lead singer Eric Burton was around a long time, and he 'discovered' a black rock band called "WAR". Listen to the one they recorded together called 'spill the wine'. Later they would do 'The world is a ghetto' and 'Lowrider'. You will love it.
Mayfield days is what the real meaning of OG comes from. Terms and slang change by the scene never does.... He takes this song into 1st and 3rd person perspectives, intertwining the two which fit the sign of the times.
Oh yeah young bloods i was definitely getting my smoke on back in college around 73 Rolling around in my 69 Chevy afro blowing in the wind it was fun being young hanging out at the disco's on a Saturday night , good reaction
" pusherman" it means getting you hooked and strung out There's a huge difference between just being a plug like just having it, being on the block wit it , dude has it know where to get it verses someone who has it and freely feeding it at first in hopes the ppl come back and be regular clients to becoming completely strung out = pusherman!! The "push" is exactly that free, then party/fun then regular client then Strung out. All that takes pushing in each level. Some ppl get on it on their own amd other times dealer pushes.
This is from the movie he made superfly that came out in the 70s the time I grew up when real music was real check how curtis plays that electric guitar he was so ahead of his time rip curtis mayfield back then he couldn't say drug dealer it was called pushaman😍💃💃💃💃
It's interesting to see you brothers analyze this song within the context of your understanding. If you saw the movie you could have a better insight into what Curtis was saying. He was NOT glorifying the pusher but was painting a musical picture of the role of the pusher in the community. It was a painful reality which was pervasive in black communities at that time and even now. Curtis was a deep thinker and always attempted to make us examine the way we were living. Check the movie for a clearer perspective. One love my brothers!
I appreciate your initial reaction to the groove and the lyrics in the first verse. Obviously at the time your first heard it you didn't know the story behind this soundtrack and the film "Superfly" which actually was pointing out some of the dangers of the drug life that was ravaging Harlem in the 1970s. Check out "Godfather of Harlem" or "American Gangster" you can learn about the period. Personally being an older listener, I'd like to see new artists come up with great tracks like this without having to sample the classics. You guys can do it like we did back in the day. Try it ;) Lorelei McBroom - Who Influenced You? (my channel)
What if "preacherman" was substituted for pusherman? Each one has a hustle that makes him a prince with a grateful following. One pushes drugs, the other pushes the bible but they both found ways to enrich themselves off the misery of life’s hardships. While Pusherman’s lyrics glamorize the lifestyle of a drug dealer, so does gangster rap. Money, drugs, clothes and beautiful women are still what many men aspire to have. I cannot think of a similar song written from a women’s perspective. Maybe ‘The Glamous Life” by Sheila E. comes the closest.
Curtis Mayfield was not a commercial song writer and musician. He was part Folk Singer as well. Folk Singers music is different. It tells stories. Bob Dylan is one. If Curtis was 'White' he'd of been greater than Dylan.
You guys should watch this movie, then you'll understand the song...This is the way they moved in the 70's...The whole album is nice...This came out in 1972...
I'm embarrassed that y'all's parents not doing do their job on music lineage. smh. This is why Bl@ck music is a dying as an art form bruh. This album is a classic Black staple.
This is a beat driven song. More than half of the instrumentation is rhythm, percussion, drums, and beat based. The embryonic state of hip-hop was based on shit like this.
Youngers he talking about the 60s and 70s and today people spending all there money on the get high leaving there kids and being there mother father and like today not caring about there children for the get high today they called meth heads
Damn the song is self explanatory, see that's the difference between then and now. Songs had Meaning And Substance, today music sounds the same and has No Meaning. This should make up dude's want to go digging so that you can become more conscious when you put a record on from the 70s or 80s. Peace
wow. how do you not know a pusher was a drug pusher? I guess that's a good thing. they catching that extensive use of that wah-wah paddle and rhythm guitar. Curtis had a tight little 5 piece band here. Boy am I old (thankfully).
That is so funny that they didn't know what a pusher man was but it is great to see that they do want to explore the history of black music. So many great Artists in the 60's and 70's who decided to make a change by writing their own lyrics and fighting to own their master tapes. Yes it was a time of peace, love, yet black pride and awareness, poverty still rampant, talk of civil rights and revolution, owning your own business and catering to THE PEOPLE. After the Vietnam war we danced away our worries to the sweet sounds of artists on SOUL TRAIN like Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Teddy Pendergrass with the Bluenotes and the OJay's with never a clue that we would still be fighting today for our rights to be treated fairly even as independent artists. Hopefully they will study the music along with the times.
Hi guys, I'm one those leftover hippies from back in the day. I read through some of the comments and I have to say you have to watch the movie. The album is the soundtrack and you need to make sure you watch the original movie that is uncut. It has a lot in it. If you watch one of the later cut versions you are going to miss a lot and say it sucks. And truly Curtis was about the hardness of the streets and it isn't any kind of life.
He telling you all in the song a man of our circumstance victum of ghetto demands. Its trapped in the song was told there can be nothing else so many lines. Dealing good for the man.
