What people are saying.

  • “MC Jack Brown, keyboardist extraordinaire Adam Gold, and natural born drummer Emanuel Washington know their history – blending 1960s fusion with 70s funk and 80s hip-hop into something that is irrefutably cool without the need for words like retro or nostalgia. On top of their instrumental duties, which are the lifeblood of this group, Gold and Washington also provide backing vocals, creating a dialogue between themselves and Brown that settles nicely over their tasty grooves. And, when coupled with the stage presence of all three members, Sophistafunk becomes a true performance band.”

    JOHN MABERY
    KNOCKS FROM THE UNDERGROUND

  • “Sophistafunk blended hip-hop, funk and rock flawlessly to create a sound very much their own. At times channeling Rage Against The Machine—even a reworking of their hit single “Renegades of Funk,” other times, sounding more like a soul-filled jazz band, the originally unreceptive crowd quickly warmed to the band, dancing and shouting back lyrics as if they’d been seeing the band for years.”

    TJ OLSEN
    BEYOND RACE

  • “Syracuse’s SOPHISTAFUNK, like the name implies, prefers its hip hop covered in a dripping later of funk. …Between putting out an album, winning the 2009 Syracuse Big Break Contest, and opening for superstars like Fergie, it seems like the band is off to a great start.”

    ROB SICKELCO
    CITY NEWS (Rochester)

  • “SOPHISTAFUNK has a genre-destroying range of musical ability and mix of socially-conscious lyrics. Much of the trio’s set was spent rifling through thick instrumental funk, fluid vocals, soul crooning, metal, reggae and intricate interplay between Adam Gold’s four-keyboard setup and Emanuel Washington’s drums — an infectious journey that left the full crowd gasping for air.”

    DAN RYS
    THE DAILY FREE PRESS (Boston)

  • “Combining the vibes of funk music with the intensity of hip hop and spoken-word poetry, Syracuse-based group SOPHISTAFUNK specializes in cross-genre music. The three-man band features vocals from Jack Brown, drums by Emanuel Washington, and keyboard, bass, & backup vocals by Adam Gold.”

    EVAN JOHNSON
    THE ITHACAN

  • “SOPHISTAFUNK has proved that they have the staying power to make an impact on our scene. Their full summer schedule includes a number of club shows and an alarming amount of festival performances. Be sure to catch them on the road this summer, you will not be disappointed… Who knew that merging the new school with the old school could be this much fun?”

    SELENA HODOM
    THE GROOVELINK MAGAZINE