Published: Wednesday - September 17, 2008
Words by Todd Davis
The Funky Bunch (Photo: via MySpace)
Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch are a hip-hop group, originally, fronted by Mark Wahlberg, who went on to become a popular actor. However, the few lesser known cats in the crew stayed in the cut despite Mark abandoning ship. The, now, eight person collective are finally gearing up for the release of their long overdue, third studio effort, Still Standing, sans Mark, and BallerStatus.com recently reached out to the Funk B's on the eve of the release of their soon-to-be available new effort.
BallerStatus.com: Let's start by introducing for me the members of Funky Bunch...
Funky Bunch: Scott Ross, Hector Barros, Terry Yancey, Chad Penney, Lola Frazier, Jamie Haage, Michael Wilder and Dwayne Branco.
BallerStatus.com: Welcome back. Musically, it's been quite awhile since the masses last heard from you all. What exactly have you all been up to since the release of the gold selling You Gotta Believe LP back in 1992?
Hector: Back home in New Bedford, Massachusetts, raising my children. Terry and I formed a production and management company in the Boston area working with several up and coming artists. Scott lived in Orlando, and formed his own management company. He managed artists like Devin Lima of LFO, Tynisha Keli, who is currently on Warner Bros Records, and Heath Burgett on Interscope Records. He also is co-owner of a salon in Southeastern Massachusetts, and still teaches hip-hop in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
BallerStatus.com: Why did you all opt to take such a lengthy musical hiatus?
Funky Bunch: I don't think it was an option. Due to circumstances, we had to move on. We didn't think we would be away from it for as long as we had been. Although we were out of the music scene per se, we never stopped being involved with music. It just hasn't been on the scale of what it once was.
BallerStatus.com: Were you, at all, taken aback, or surprised, that Mark Wahlberg, a.k.a. Marky Mark, would ultimately go on to achieve the amount of success that he has? And, did you ever think that he would eventually abandon music altogether?
Funky Bunch: I'd say we were taken back maybe a little. From the time the Calvin Klein thing took off for him, we kind of had a feeling he was gonna go off in that direction. He was getting scripts and going over them frequently, so we knew he would act someday, but probably did not think he would be as successful as he has been with acting. As far as music goes, I know first hand that Mark was a hip-hop fan, and he loved to rap. He probably didn't want to leave music totally at the time, but I guess as he achieved more success with the acting, he felt there really wasn't any reason to go back to it.
BallerStatus.com: So, did the group disband after you all finished promoting that last Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch record? Was his, then, newfound fame the reason behind the group's dissolution?
Funky Bunch: Pretty much. We did go out and tour to promote the record, but we could tell things were a little different. The single "You Gotta Believe" didn't do so well, and there were less and less people coming to the shows. Mark seemed he didn't care about promoting the album. I think Mark wanted to change his direction in his career, and he wanted to do something he was more in control of.
BallerStatus.com: I had even heard that there were possible solo projects in the works at that time. What became of those?
Hector: I don't know about any of us doing solo projects as artists. Terry and I recorded an album a few years back.
BallerStatus.com: Now, you all are back together and working on a new Funky Bunch album. What can you divulge about it thus far?
Funky Bunch: It is a record you would wanna play cruising down your favorite stretch road, on your way out to a nightclub with your homies and your home girls. It's a cross between "Good Vibrations" and "You Gotta Believe" -- heavy ass tracks with a feel good vibe.
BallerStatus.com: Aside from Mark's absence, how do you feel that this new release measures up to those first two group efforts?
Scott: I feel we worked harder than ever before. I feel that our efforts will pay off if we stay humble. Having a no. 1 record back in the '90s set the bar high, so we needed to be correct in song selection and production. Our sound is definitely on the money.
BallerStatus.com: You have also added a few additional members as well. How is this new dynamic working out? What are they actually bringing to the Funky Bunch fold?
Scott: Well, by adding new members, added a new twist to the project. We have dudes from different parts of the States to add to the vibe.
Hector: They bring enormous talent as rappers, singers and songwriters.
Terry: Collectively there isn't anything comparable to what we are coming out with.
BallerStatus.com: Let's take it back to your early beginnings. How did it all begin for the Funky Bunch?
Hector: I became interested in music probably since I can remember. My father was a musician, and my sister, who was older, always played the latest music, and there was an R&B group named Tavares from my hometown that inspired me. Well, Scott and I got a call from Anthony Thomas, who was an original member as well, asking us to dance with him in a group called Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch. Terry was already a part of the project.
BallerStatus.com: So, that's how you all became Marky Mark's Funky Bunch?
Funky Bunch: It was all put together by the one and only Donnie Wahlberg.
BallerStatus.com: And then you all signed to Interscope Records?
Funky Bunch: After recording and rehearsing, we had a little showcase for Interscope and they loved it.
BallerStatus.com: Who actually dubbed the group the Funky Bunch?
Funky Bunch: I think the word "funk" meant you had an inner soul, which was funky a.k.a. flava, and we had several dudes which became a bunch of dudes, ya dig? Just ask Donnie.
BallerStatus.com: What type of music do you all create and perform?
Funky Bunch: Hypnotic bangers with a little sexy swagger.
BallerStatus.com: How have you all managed to stick around for so long?
Funky Bunch: We're very sincere about what we're doing, and staying on top of our game. By keeping our music strictly-business, and having a little fun in the process. We applaud those who still are banging out heat, and keeping hip-hop golden. It's hard as hell to stay in the game and make your money.
BallerStatus.com: What is the one main thing about you all that everyone doesn't already know?
Funky Bunch: The Funk B's are like family, and in life family is always important.
BallerStatus.com: Now that Marky Mark has, no disrespect, "gone hollywood," do you all remain in touch still? And, is there any chance of him ever picking up the microphone again?
Funky Bunch: We talk here and there. We met up with Mark in December of '07 and chopped it up with him about our project, and he was into the idea. We shall see.
BallerStatus.com: Also, the New Kids on the Block recently announced their forthcoming reunion CD and tour. Will you all play a part in their return?
Funky Bunch: Hopefully Donnie gives us a go. It will be the bomb.
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