Sly and the Family Stone是灵魂疯克乐(Soul-Funk)的代表，There's a Riot Goin' On，Fresh 和Small Talk等专辑被认为是最早也是最优秀的成熟Funk乐的范本。受他们影响的其他Funk乐队有Funkadelic，Earth, Wind & Fire和Kool & the Gang等。爵士音乐家Herbie Hancock也受到There's a Riot Goin' On专辑的影响，在自己的作品中加入更多的电声元素，录制了1973年的Head Hunters专辑，成为史上最畅销的爵士专辑之一。此外，Stevie Wonder，麦当娜，迈克尔·杰克逊，Prince，Outkast，D'Angelo，The Roots，The Black Eyed Peas，Arie India，Kanye West，Common，Alicia Keys和John Legend等许多流行音乐人都受到了Sly & the Family Stone乐队作品的极大启发。
这张专辑在滚石杂志选出的500张历代最强专辑中排名第99位。
It's easy to write off There's a Riot Goin' On as one of two things -- Sly Stone's disgusted social commentary or the beginning of his slow descent into addiction. It's both of these things, of course, but pigeonholing it as either winds up dismissing the album as a whole, since it is so bloody hard to categorize. What's certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stone's other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isn't entirely gone -- it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that it's hard not to get drawn in with him, as you're seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, it's hard not to nod in agreement, but it's a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isn't funk at its deepest and most impenetrable -- this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness. Sly's songwriting remains remarkably sharp, but only when he wants to write -- the foreboding opener "Luv N' Haight," the scarily resigned "Family Affair," the cracked cynical blues "Time," and "(You Caught Me) Smilin'." Ultimately, the music is the message, and while it's dark music, it's not alienating -- it's seductive despair, and that's the scariest thing about it.