The Grunt

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“The Grunt”

Single by The J.B.'s from the album Food for Thought
A-side	"The Grunt - Pt. 1"
B-side	"The Grunt - Pt. 2"
Released	1970
Format	7"
Recorded	May 19, 1970, King Studios, Cincinnati, OH
Genre	Funk
Length	3:30
Label	King 6317
Writer(s)	James Brown Clyde Stubblefield Robert McCollough Darryl Jamison William Collins Phelps Collins Frank Waddy Clayton Gunnels Johnny Griggs
Producer	James Brown

"The Grunt" is a funk instrumental recorded in 1970 by James Brown's band The J.B.'s. It was released as a two-part single on King. Part 1 of the recording was included on The J.B.'s 1972 album Food for Thought. It was one of only two instrumental singles recorded by the original J.B.'s lineup with Bootsy and Catfish Collins.

"The Grunt" has been a prolific source of samples for hip hop producers. Several different musical elements of "The Grunt" have been sampled, including a squealing trumpet glissando that begins the piece, a two-note saxophone riff that occurs in the middle of the recording, and the underlying rhythmic groove that continues throughout. Three different tracks on Public Enemy's breakthrough album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back loop portions of the recording. Other artists who have sampled "The Grunt" include Eric B. and Rakim, 2 Live Crew, Jungle Brothers, Compton's Most Wanted, and Ultramagnetic MCs.