The Funk History of Bass Music

A deep dive into the origins and history of bass music, exploring the influence of James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, and more.

The Origins of Funk

Funk is a style of music that began in the early 1970s. It is based on a combination of African-American music genres such as soul and rhythm and blues. Funk is characterized by a heavy groove, which is why it is often compared to disco. The genre is also known for its use of electric bass, which gives it a distinctive sound.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

In the 1960s, James Brown and his band The J.B.s developed a new style of music called funk. Funk is a type of rhythm and blues that was developed by African American musicians. It is characterized by a strong, catchy bass line, often played on an electric bass guitar. Funk songs also typically have a syncopated rhythms, which means that the beat is not evenly divided into four beats (like in rock or pop music). This creates a “grooving” feeling that makes people want to move their bodies.

Funk quickly became popular with young African Americans, who were looking for music that they could identify with. The J.B.s were one of the first bands to use electric instruments and amplifiers to create a louder, more “funked-up” sound. They also used some innovative techniques, such as playing multiple bass lines at the same time and using drum machines to create new rhythms.

Brown’s style of funk influenced many other musicians, including George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Sly and the Family Stone, and Prince. These artists took funk in different directions, but all retained the groove-based feel that was essential to the style. Funk continues to be popular today, with many modern artists drawing inspiration from the genre’s history.

The Godfather of Soul

In the early 1960s, a new type of music was born in the African American community. This music was a blend of soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel, and it came to be known as “funk.” The godfather of funk is James Brown, who started his career as a gospel singer before crossing over into secular music. Brown’s style of music was based on African rhythms and featured a tight, driving beat. His signature funk sound would come to be imitated by many other artists in the years to follow.

The Funkadelic Sound

In the late 60s and early 70s, a new sound was emerging from the United States. This sound was a mix of Funk, Soul, and Rock, and it would come to be known as Funk. Funk was a new way of making music, and it would change the course of popular music forever.

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic

In the early 1970s, a new style of music was born: funk. A mix of soul, R&B, and rock, funk was a way to get people moving and groove. The brainchild of George Clinton and his band Parliament-Funkadelic, funk took the world by storm with its driving basslines and catchy melodies.

Though Clinton is often thought of as the mastermind behind funk, the truth is that he was just one part of a larger group of talented musicians who came together to create this new sound. Bassist Bootsy Collins, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and guitarist Eddie Hazel were all key members of Parliament-Funkadelic, and together they created some of the most iconic funk songs of all time.

hits like “(Not Just) Knee Deep” and “One Nation Under a Groove,” Parliament-Funkadelic helped to define what funk could be. They weren’t afraid to experiment with different sounds and styles, and as a result their music has stood the test of time. Even today, 40 years after they first rose to prominence, their music is still being discovered by new generations of fans.

If you’re looking to get into funk, there’s no better place to start than with Parliament-Funkadelic. Their catalog is filled with timeless classics that will make you move your feet and groove your hips. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to Funk Out!

Funkadelic’s Influence on Hip Hop

Funkadelic is a legendary funk and rock band that formed in the late 1960s. The group’s unique sound and style has had a profound influence on many genres of music, including hip hop.

Funkadelic’s music is characterized by heavy bass lines, complex rhythms, and psychedelic melodies. These elements have all been hugely influential in the development of hip hop. Many of the genre’s biggest stars, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, have cited Funkadelic as a major influence on their sound.

The band’s 1973 album, “Cosmic Slop,” is often cited as a key influence on early hip hop. The record contains several tracks with heavy bass lines and funky beats that would go on to become staples of the genre. Funkadelic’s 1978 album, “One Nation Under a Groove,” is also considered to be an important early influence on hip hop.

Funkadelic’s unique mix of funk, rock, and soul has had a lasting impact on popular music. The band’s sound has served as a blueprint for countless artists across multiple genres.

The Funky Drummer

Clyde Stubblefield was James Brown’s drummer during the 1960s, and his drumming style was influential in the development of funk music. Stubblefield’s “groove” was a major influence on the sound of funk, and he was one of the most sampled drummers of all time. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of bass music and how Clyde Stubblefield’s drumming style helped to shape it.

Clyde Stubblefield

Clyde Stubblefield was an American R&B and funk drummer best known for his work with James Brown. During his career with Brown, Stubblefield created what has been referred to as the “funky drumming” style, characterized by its use of syncopated, off-beat accents, often in a stripped-down, simpler form than what was typical of Brown’s earlier band. This style would come to be influential in the development of several subsequent genres of music including hip hop, drum and bass and contemporary R&B.

The Funky Drummer Sample

The Funky Drummer sample is one of the most iconic and influential samples in hip hop history. It was created by James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield, and first used on Brown’s 1970 track “Funky Drummer.” The sample has been used on thousands of tracks over the past four decades, including some of the biggest hits in hip hop.

The Funky Drummer sample is so ubiquitous that it’s hard to even imagine hip hop without it. It’s been used on tracks by everyone from Public Enemy to Kanye West, and has helped to define the sound of generations of hip hop. There’s no doubt that the Funky Drummer sample is one of the most important samples in hip hop history.

The Funky President

When most people think of Funk, they think of James Brown. The Godfather of Soul. The Hardest Working Man in Show Business. The man who popularized the concept of “The One,” the central groove that propels a song and makes people want to move. But there’s another man who deserves credit for bringing Funk to the masses, and that man is Bootsy Collins.

James Brown’s Legacy

Few people have had as profound and lasting an impact on music as James Brown. The Godfather of Soul was a creative force of nature, constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what was possible in music. He was also a master showman, with a magnetic stage presence that was unrivaled in his day. But perhaps most importantly, James Brown was the architect of funk.

Funk is a style of music that is all about groove and feeling. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to move, and it’s often based around a deep, driving bassline. The earliest pioneers of funk were incorporating elements of this style into their music in the late 1960s, but it was James Brown who really perfected it.

Brown’s band, The J.B.’s, were simply astonishing musicians. They laid down some of the tightest, most groove-laden grooves imaginable, and they did it with consummate ease. But they were more than just excellent players; they were also masterful arrangers and producers. Under Brown’s direction, they created a sound that was unlike anything anyone had ever heard before.

The legacy of James Brown and The J.B.’s can be heard in countless funk and soul records from the 1970s onwards. But their influence can also be felt in other genres such as hip-hop, disco, and house music. In fact, it could be argued that without James Brown, there would be no modern dance music at all. He truly was the Funky President.

The Funk Era

The funk era was a time when bass music was exploring new grooves and sounds. The biggest names in funk were James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly & the Family Stone. These artists pushed the boundaries of music, creating a new style of funk that was influenced by soul, R&B, and jazz. These artists also had a major impact on the development of hip hop and electronic dance music.