"Chocolate City" is a song by the funk band Parliament, the lead track of their 1975 album of the same name. It was also released as a two-part single, the first from the album.

"Chocolate City"
Single by Parliament
from the album Chocolate City
B-side"Chocolate City (long version)"
ReleasedMay 1975
GenreFunk/R&B
Length3:08
LabelCasablanca 831
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Clinton

Background

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The song's largely spoken vocals (delivered by George Clinton) express pride in "Chocolate Cities", that is, cities with a majority black population. The song also reflects on the solidarity of African-American society at the time. The singer playfully hypothesizes what it would be like if there were an African American in the White House, and assigns the following people to positions in government:

Clinton's lyrics referred to Chocolate City as "my piece of the rock", as opposed to the "40 acres and a mule" that slaves were promised after the Civil War. The song closes with phrase "Just got New York, I'm told."

"Chocolate" cities in the song

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Chart performance

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] 94
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles[2] 24

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 644.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 450.