The song features rapping vocals by graffiti artist Futura 2000,[1][2] who had previously designed the sleeve for their "This Is Radio Clash" 7" single.
It was played and also recorded on some bootlegs during the nights at the Théâtre Mogador in the fifth district of Paris, between 24 and 30 September 1981, where the band was premiering various tracks from the upcoming Combat Rock.
[11] New Yorker author and political essayist Mitchell Cohen, in his review of Combat Rock for High Fidelity, considered "Overpowered by Funk" as an "aptly titled" song and describes it as a "razor-sharp swipe from The Book of (Rick) James", specifying both this song and "Red Angel Dragnet" "cover aspects of the New York City transit system".
[12] Jamie Atkins, a writer for Record Collector, described the song as "jittery" and views it as one of the experimentations which can be found on Combat Rock.
[13] Paste reviewer Douglas Heselgrave thought "Overpowered by Funk" was one of the most "radical and challenging [songs]" that The Clash have recorded during their musical career.
[18] Uncut's Gavin Martin provided a negative review for "Overpowered by Funk", considering the "half-cocked rap" of the song as a "Sandinista!-style failed [experiment]".