The 1982 Electro-Funk Record That Set the Blueprint for Electronic Dance Music

If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, then you need to check out this classic electro-funk record from 1982. This album was a major influence on the development of the genre and helped to set the blueprint for what we know today as EDM.

Introduction

A new style of funk was created in the early 1980s by combining the heaviness of James Brown’s bass with the electronic sounds of Afrika Bambaataa and Kraftwerk. This new sound, which came to be known as electro-funk, would go on to have a major influence on the development of electronic dance music.

One of the earliest and most influential records in the genre is “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force. Released in 1982, “Planet Rock” blends elements of electro, hip hop, and disco to create a novel sound that is both catchy and danceable. The track was an immediate hit, reaching #1 on the US Dance chart and #46 on the Billboard Hot 100.

While “Planet Rock” is primarily an electro-funk track, it also contains elements of other genres that would come to be important in the development of EDM. The use of synthesizers and drum machines gives the track a very futuristic sound, while the heavy bassline provides a solid foundation for dancing. The track also features samples from other songs, including Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” and Queen’s “Flash’s Theme.”

“Planet Rock” is a landmark record that helped to set the blueprint for electronic dance music. Its innovative blend of genres and use of technology laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in EDM, making it one of the most important records in the history of dance music.

What is electro-funk?

In the simplest terms, electro-funk is a type of electronic dance music that combines elements of funk and hip hop. The genre first gained popularity in the early 1980s, and is often considered to be a direct ancestor of modern electronic dance music styles such as house and techno.

One of the earliest and most influential electro-funk tracks is Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock”, which was released in 1982. This track heavily sampled the classic Kraftwerk song “Trans-Europe Express”, and its success helped to popularize both electro-funk and sampling in general.

While electro-funk may not be as popular as it once was, its influence can still be heard in many modern electronic dance music genres. If you enjoy dancing to contemporary EDM, chances are you have Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” to thank!

The history of electro-funk

The history of electro-funk begins with the seminal 1982 track “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force. The track’s blend of funk, hip-hop, and electronic elements was influential in the development of both hip-hop and electronic dance music. “Planet Rock” is widely considered to be one of the earliest examples of electro-funk.

Electro-funk would go on to have a significant influence on the development of both hip-hop and electronic dance music. In the early 1980s, electro-funk tracks like “Planet Rock” and “Flash Light” by Parliament-Funkadelic helped to popularize the use of synthesizers and drum machines in hip-hop music. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, electro-funk tracks like “Pump Up The jam” by Technotronic and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” by James Brown were popular House Music anthems.

The influence of electro-funk

While it is often cited as the first electro record, “Nunk” by Warp 9 is more accurately described as the first electro-funk record. The track was produced by Lotti Golden and Dick Walter, with Walter also providing the robotic vocals. It was released on the small New York-based label, Tommy Boy Records in 1982.

What made “Nunk” so influential was its use of synthesizers to create a new kind of funk sound that had a harder edge than anything that had come before. The track also featured a drum machine, which was something that was beginning to become more popular in dance music at the time.

While “Nunk” may not have been the first electro record, it was certainly the most influential. It set the blueprint for what would become one of the most important genres in electronic dance music.

The legacy of electro-funk

While the origins of electronic dance music are often debated, there is no denying that electro-funk played a major role in its development. The genre emerged in the early 1980s, drawing elements from disco, funk, and hip-hop. It was a style that emphasized the use of synthesizers and drum machines, and it quickly gained popularity among clubgoers and nightclub DJs.

The 1982 song “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force is widely considered to be one of the most influential electro-funk tracks of all time. The song’s innovative use of Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” as its main sample helped to popularize the German group’s work in the United States. “Planet Rock” was also one of the first songs to make use of the TR-808 drum machine, which would go on to become a staple of hip-hop and electronic dance music.

In the years since its release, “Planet Rock” has been widely credited with helping to set the blueprint for electronic dance music. Its influence can be heard in subsequent tracks like Cybotron’s “Clear,” Afrika Islam’s “Electric Shock,” andHashim’s “Al-Naafiysh (The Soul).” Today, electro-funk continues to be an important subgenre of electronic dance music, with artists like Mr. Fingers, Lidell Townsell, Armand Van Helden, and DJ Premier incorporating its sound into their own productions.