Members of Florida A&M University’s Upsilon Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., alongside Florida State University’s (FSU) Chi Theta Chapter, shared the stage with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton during his inaugural P-Funk Fest in Tallahassee, Florida.
FAMU, FSU form one nation under a groove
In what marked the first of what is expected to become an annual celebration, the predominantly FAMU Omegas electrified the crowd—hopping, barking, and stepping in signature fashion—as Clinton and his band performed the Billboard No. 1 hit “Atomic Dog,” widely regarded as his most popular and most sampled song.
Cole Bigelow, a junior at FAMU and president of the Upsilon Psi Chapter was elated at the opportunity. “One of my prophytes alerted us that Mr. Clinton wanted us to perform Atomic Dog with him at this festival,” Bigelow said. “I was so happy to not only see him perform some of his other songs, but have a chance to step as well. It was crazy. I can only say he is iconic and it was an honor to be on stage with him.”
Originally released in December 1982 as part of Clinton’s solo album Computer Games, “Atomic Dog” quickly rose to the top of the Billboard Top Black Singles chart by early 1983. But while the song was climbing the charts, a cultural movement was simultaneously taking shape—driven by an HBCU.
That movement began at Howard University
Just two weeks after the song’s release, Clinton was scheduled to perform in Washington, D.C. At the time, many major Black artists frequently toured college campuses due to limited access to larger venues. Upon arriving, Clinton was picked up from the airport by a group of young men he initially assumed were football players.
“They were kind of big, so I just assumed they were the football team,” Clinton recalled…