Produced by frontman Roger Troutman and Bootsy Collins (who also played guitar on the album), Zapp was recorded between late 1979 and early 1980 at the United Sound Studios in Detroit, U.S.A.

Topping the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for 2 weeks in fall 1980 [5] and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that November, the album has been cited as one of the definitive albums of early 1980s electro funk[citation needed], and partially influenced the creation of the G-funk sound of hip hop music[citation needed], which became popular on the West Coast of the United States during the early and mid 1990s.

After the two Collins musicians witnessed one of Zapp's live performances, they invited Zapp to visit Detroit's United Sound Studios, where they went on to write and record the demo for More Bounce to the Ounce, which would later appear on the debut album.

"George Clinton just happened to step into the studio this night and he really liked this one part that we had already re-did on 'Funky Bounce'.

"More Bounce to the Ounce is featured in the films Boyz n the Hood, Mi Vida Loca, Losing Isaiah, Hate, Any Given Sunday, Blue Hill Avenue and Straight Outta Compton, the 2002 Rockstar video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and the 2018 South Park episode "A Boy and a Priest".