G. Love & Special Sauce is an American Hip-Hop Blues band known for its unique fusion of hip-hop, blues, funk, & soul musics. Formed in 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the band originally featured Garrett Dutton, aka G. Love, as the lead vocalist & guitarist, Jeffrey Clemens on drums, & Jim Prescott on bass. The trio quickly gained attention for their laid-back, groovy style and G. Love’s unique vocal delivery, blending rap-like spoken word with bluesy ‘sanging’. Their debut self-titled album, ‘G. Love & Special Sauce’, was released in 1994 on Epic Records and included the hit single “Cold Beverage,” which became popular on alternative radio stations & MTV, solidifying their presence in the music scene. The band’s style has been described as a mix of “slacker blues” & “alternative hip-hop,” as they frequently incorporate elements of 90s hip-hop beats with classic blues rhythms. Over the years, G. Love & Special Sauce has released numerous albums, including Coast to Coast Motel (1995), Yeah, It’s That Easy (1997), The Electric Mile (2001) and the GRAMMY nominated The Juice (2020). Their sound evolved to include more soul, R&B, and rock influences, though they retained their laid-back vibe and clever lyrical play. Their 2014 album Sugar saw a reunion of the original lineup after several years, and they continued to tour and produce music with a loyal fan base. Known for their energetic live performances, G. Love & Special Sauce has played at festivals like Bonnaroo & Lollapalooza. Garrett Dutton also frequently collaborates with other artists, including Jack Johnson, with whom he shares a similar vibe, and has released solo projects that dive deeper into his blues influences. G. Love & Special Sauce remains a beloved name in the music scene, blending genres in a way that feels fresh & authentic.
It is always a good time when I get a chance to catch up with family to the program, G Love. This time he is heading on back to Madison with The Special Sauce to get busy at the High Noon Saloon on January 8th. We get into what someone who doesn’t know might find out if they attend this show. We spend a good amount of time discussing an album that both of us think didn’t hit in the ‘rankings’ as much as it should have, the 2022 release ‘Philadelphia Mississippi‘. This outstanding collection really made me go back in time to my first taste of the special sauce, that combination of both raw blues AND hip hop really sat well with me and this album has that feeling. We specifically call out the working with Mr. R.L. Boyce in particular, and G spills the beans on an upcoming release (due around April 2025) from the overflow of tunes worked on with Mr. Boyce (he since has passed) during this original session. Since it is right around the holidays, we get into his new Christmas music, especially ‘Fishing For Christmas’ and how much he loves to create the holiday tunes, and how a little different this one went down. Which brings me to a couple of times we get into the business of it all, we both find the art more important than the money, but it is amazing who gets to have it all. We talk L.L. Cool J & Taylor Swift as well as what would we be spinning on his console if we got toGether to spin some tunes. Just two G’s once again keepin’ it real for the people who feel.
