Mystikal Joined In as Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars Brought the ‘Funk’ to ‘SNL’: Watch

The Thanksgiving episode of Saturday Night Live‘s 40th season may have not brought out the long line of special guests in its sketches, but the musical performances were another animal. Mark Ronson, gearing up for new album Uptown Special and shortly after premiering new single “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars on vocals, took to 30 Rock Saturday night (Nov. 22) to take us back to a time when roller rinks ruled supreme for two performances engaging for audiences old and now. “Uptown Funk,” the project’s first single, shimmers with its decades-old disco funk, and much like the song’s video that was released earlier this week, the tune’s live debut was an appropriate period piece. A horn section, backing band and backup singers flanked Mars and Ronson, who added electric guitar, with neon and twinkling lights surrounding them from side to side and above the stage. Would have been a snug fit on SNL in its first season, let alone its 40th. Related: Every Musician Who’s Hosted ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Ranked Mars and his four-man crew pulled off their share of in-sync dance moves while crooning the track, creating an infectious, raucous party atmosphere. If the second song is any indication, Uptown Special will be more of the same slice of music history. Host Cameron Diaz introduced Ronson and Mars again… but wait, is that Mystikal? IT IS! MYSTIKAL IS ON YOUR TELEVISION. The rapper joined the band for a rollicking number called “Feel Right,” Mars relegated to a backup role as he strutted and danced about the stage, setting Twitter ablaze with cries for its savior. Ronson’s appearance on SNL preceded the release of his new album Uptown Special, due out in 2015. Little else is known about the record, though Kevin Parker of Tame Impala purportedly also collaborated with Ronson for it in addition to Mars. Meanwhile, Mars returned to the 30 Rock stage after a hosting gig in 2012, around the release of his last album, Unorthodox Jukebox. He’s currently at work on his third studio album, though a release date is not known. As for Mystikal? The 44-year-old hasn’t released an album since 2001′s Tarantula—blame a stint in prison, partially—but has debuted new tracks intermittently since then, including a track in a similar vein to “Feel Right,” “Hit Me.” In honor of the holidays, the show also brought back our favorite rapping ladies who last Christmas were doing it on their twin beds and now are “Back Home Ballers.” Little Baby Aidy and her crew talk about sleeping all day, doing laundry on their own terms and trying to figure out what all the bowls in the house are for. This is what balling looks like, apparently.