James Brown - The Payback

The Payback (1973) by James Brown is a landmark in funk, widely regarded as one of his most influential works. Originally conceived as a film soundtrack but rejected for being “the same old James Brown stuff,” the album instead became a blueprint for deep, groove-based funk. Built around hypnotic basslines, wah-wah guitar, heavy horn stabs, and Brown’s raw, commanding vocals, the record focuses less on tight pop structure and more on sprawling, extended jams. Lyrically, it’s defiant and vengeful—the title track, “The Payback,” is a gritty anthem of betrayal and retribution, while other cuts like “Take Some… Leave Some” and “Mind Power” lean into his philosophy of self-reliance and empowerment. Clocking in at over an hour, the double LP is one of Brown’s funkiest and most sampled works, laying the groundwork for hip-hop production in the decades that followed.