Funk Music is Making a Comeback on DJBooth
Contents
Funk music is making a comeback on DJBooth! Check out our latest article to learn more about this musical genre and why it’s seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Introduction
Funk music is making a comeback on DJBooth, with a new generation of artists drawing inspiration from the genre’s golden era.
For most of the past decade, funk music has been largely absent from the mainstream. But in recent years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the genre, led by a new generation of artists who are drawing inspiration from funk’s golden era.
On DJBooth, we’ve been tracking this trend closely, highlighted by our recent “Best Funk Albums of the 2010s” list. And today, we’re proud to present our latest roundup of the freshest funk tracks, featuring new music from Dam-Funk, DâM-FunK, and Anderson .Paak.
So whether you’re a longtime fan of the genre or just getting acquainted with its sounds, we invite you to dive into this collection of the best funk music has to offer in 2019.
The History of Funk Music
Funk music is a genre of music that originated in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by a strong bassline and percussion. The word “funk” is derived from the word “funky”, which means “smelling bad”. Funk music was created by African American musicians who were influenced by the music of their African ancestors. The genre became popular in the 1970s with the release of funk albums by James Brown and Parliament.
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American musical group formed in 1968 by George Clinton. The group’s style incorporated elements of psychedelic rock, R&B, and soul. Funkadelic is notable for being one of the first bands to fuse elements of rock and R&B. The group’s debut album, Maggot Brain, is often cited as one of the greatest albums of all time.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
James Brown
Funk music is a genre of music that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a heavy bassline, prominent electrical guitars, and drumming that emphasizes the groove. Funk has its roots in soul music and rhythm and blues, but it also draws influence from jazz and rock.
The genre was pioneered by artists like James Brown, who helped to popularize the sound with hits like “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” and “Super Bad.” Brown’s style of funk was often imitated by other artists, and the genre soon spread throughout the United States and beyond.
Funk experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s thanks to artists like George Clinton, whose band Parliament-Funkadelic was one of the most influential groups of the era. Today, funk is enjoying something of a renaissance thanks to DJs and producers who are incorporating elements of the style into their music.
Parliament
Parliament was an American funk band formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton. The group’s music mixed elements of acid rock, psychedelic funk, and R&B. They are often cited as one of the progenitors of funk and their style has been influential on subsequent funk, hip-hop, and post-punk artists.
The band’s 1970 album Funkadelic was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number six on the Billboard 200. The follow-up album Maggot Brain (1971) was equally successful, reaching number five on the R&B chart and number nine on the Billboard 200. Parliament’s third album, Up for the Down Stroke (1974), was also their first to crack the top ten on the Billboard 200, peaking at number seven.
Parliament disbanded in 1980, but reformed in 2005 with several original members, including Clinton. Since then, they have released three albums: 2006’s How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent?, 2008’s Mothership Connection: Live 1976, and 2014’s First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate.
The Comeback of Funk Music
Funk music is a genre of music that is characterized by a groove that is often times described as “tight” and “sexy”. The genre arose out of the African-American communities in the mid-1960s. Funk music is making a comeback on DJBooth with a new generation of artists bringing their own flavor to the genre.
Bruno Mars
Over the past few years, Bruno Mars has been one of the biggest names in pop music, but his latest album shows that he’s also a master of funk. 24K Magic is a return to form for the genre, and it’s clear that Mars has put his own spin on the style.
The album’s lead single, “24K Magic,” is a perfect example of Mars’ take on funk. The track features a catchy bassline, horns, and Mars’ signature falsetto vocals, all blended together to create a sound that both nods to the past and feels fresh at the same time.
While Bruno Mars may be leading the charge when it comes to contemporary funk music, he’s far from the only artist keeping the genre alive. Artists like Janelle Monae, Childish Gambino, and Kendrick Lamar are all incorporating elements of funk into their own unique styles, and there’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing more of it in the years to come.
Kendrick Lamar
Funk music is making a comeback on the popular music charts, and one of the most prominent artists leading the charge is Kendrick Lamar. The rapper’s latest album, To Pimp a Butterfly, includes several tracks that explore the genre, including the Grammy-nominated “i.”
Funk first rose to prominence in the 1970s with artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. The style is characterized by its heavy use of groove-based bass lines and drum beats, as well as its often improvised vocals and guitar solos.
Lamar isn’t the only artist exploring funk’s resurgence in recent years; Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” single, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks in 2015, also drew heavily from the genre.
The success of Lamar and Mars’ funk-influenced tracks indicates that there is still a large audience for the style of music, even nearly 50 years after it first gained popularity.
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Donald Glover, is one of the most interesting artists in the game right now. He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and stand-up comedian, and he’s not afraid to take risks. His music is eclectic and experimental, blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and soul with whatever else he feels like throwing in the mix. And it’s working – his last album, “Because the Internet,” was a critical and commercial success, debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200 and earning him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
Now Gambino is back with a brand new single, “Redbone,” and it’s a pure funk jam. The song is built around a hypnotic bassline and some slick guitar work, with Gambino flowing effortlessly over the top. It’s a throwback to the classic sound of 1970s funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy Collins – in fact, Collins himself tweeted his approval of the track.
If “Redbone” is any indication of what Childish Gambino has in store for us on his next album, we are in for a treat. Welcome back, funk!
Conclusion
In conclusion, it seems that funk music is making a comeback on DJBooth, thanks to the hard work of a few dedicated artists. This revival is good news for fans of the genre, who have been waiting for years for funk to make a comeback. With any luck, this trend will continue and we’ll see more funk music in the future.
