Menahan Street Band

Biography

Menahan Street Band is a Brooklyn-based instrumental ensemble renowned for its eclectic blend of retro soul, funk, and afrobeat. Founded in 2007 by guitarist and producer Thomas Brenneck, the band originated in an apartment on Menahan Street in the Bushwick neighborhood, which inspired their name. The group quickly became a cornerstone of the Brooklyn soul revival, drawing together members from other acclaimed acts such as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, Antibalas, and El Michels Affair.

The band’s signature sound is rooted in vintage soul and funk, but their music also incorporates influences from jazz, afrobeat, and hip-hop, resulting in richly textured, cinematic instrumentals. Their debut album, 'Make the Road by Walking,' released in 2008, became a cult classic and was widely sampled by major hip-hop artists, helping to bridge the gap between classic soul and contemporary music. Menahan Street Band is perhaps best known for their work as the backing band for soul singer Charles Bradley, contributing significantly to his late-career rise and recording several albums with him. After a nearly decade-long hiatus, the band returned in 2021 with 'The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band,' reaffirming their status as leaders in the modern soul movement.

Menahan Street Band's legacy is marked by their role in revitalizing classic soul and funk for a new generation, both through their own recordings and their extensive collaborations and sampling by artists across genres. Their music continues to influence the sound of modern hip-hop and soul, cementing their place as one of the most important instrumental collectives of the 21st century.

Fun Facts

• The band was formed in Thomas Brenneck's apartment on Menahan Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn, which inspired their name.
• Menahan Street Band's debut album 'Make the Road by Walking' has been sampled by numerous hip-hop artists, including Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar.
• Members of the band are also part of other influential groups like The Budos Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and El Michels Affair.
• Despite being primarily a studio band, Menahan Street Band occasionally performs live and serves as the house band for Dunham Records, a Daptone sublabel.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Curtis Mayfield - Stylistic influence; inspiration for soulful, socially conscious grooves and arrangements. (General influence on band's sound) [2007–present]
• Mulatu Astatke - Influence on the band's Ethiopian-inspired soul and jazz elements. (General influence on band's sound) [2007–present]
• Ennio Morricone - Influence on cinematic, atmospheric instrumental arrangements. (General influence on band's sound) [2007–present]

Key Collaborators

• Charles Bradley - Primary backing band and songwriting collaborators for Bradley's solo albums. (No Time for Dreaming, Victim of Love, Changes) [2011–2017]
• Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Shared members and frequent collaboration within the Daptone Records collective. (Various live performances and studio sessions) [2007–present]
• The Budos Band - Shared members and cross-collaboration in Brooklyn soul scene. (Various projects and live shows) [2007–present]
• Rogê - Collaborated on the 2024 EP 'Tropical Man.' (Tropical Man (EP)) [2024]

Artists Influenced

• Jay-Z - Sampled Menahan Street Band's instrumentals in major hip-hop productions. (Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...) [2007–present]
• Kendrick Lamar - Sampled Menahan Street Band tracks in hip-hop productions. (The Heart Part 4) [2017]
• Eminem - Sampled Menahan Street Band's music in his work. (Sampled tracks) [2009–present]
• Travis Scott - Sampled Menahan Street Band's instrumentals. (Sampled tracks) [2010s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. The World (Is Going Up in Flames) (No Time For Dreaming)
2. Queens Highway (The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band)
3. The Traitor (Make the Road By Walking)
4. Heart of Gold (No Time For Dreaming)
5. There's a New Day Coming
6. How Long (No Time For Dreaming)
7. Home Again (Make the Road By Walking)
8. No Time for Dreaming (No Time For Dreaming)
9. Every Day a Dream (The Crossing)
10. Victim of Love (Victim of Love)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia