CAMEO: Word Up 7″ + Urban Warrior [Here is the original. Heavy Metal bands like GUN have covered Word up!] 7″

Description

B-side “Urban Warrior”
Released 1986
Format 7″ single
Recorded 1986
Genre Funk, hip hop, R&B
Length 4:20
Label Atlanta Artists Records

“Word Up!” is a funk/hip hop song written and originally recorded by Cameo. Due to its heavy play on American dance and R&B radio, as well as music video play on MTV (which has Levar Burton as a police detective trying to arrest the band), the single became the bands most well-known hit. From the album of the same name, “Word Up!” was Cameos first top-forty US hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and also spent three weeks at number one on the US Hot Black Singles chart. “Word Up!” also spent one week at number one on the US Hot Dance Singles chart, and reached number three in the UK. The song was written by Larry Blackmon & Thomas Michael Jenkins.
Like the bands previous single, Single Life, Word Up! features a sample of the opening notes of Ennio Morricones theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.