The Home of Funk Music

Find the latest in Funk music news, albums, artists, and more.

Origins of Funk

Funk music originated in the 1970s and is a genre of danceable music with a groove centered on the strong beats. Funk music is often played with electric instruments such as bass, guitar, and drums. The word funk can be traced back to the African-American Vernacular English word “funky,” which means musty or mustiness.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

James Brown is often credited as the “Godfather of Funk,” and with good reason. His soulful, gritty style of R&B laid the foundation for the funk sound that would come to dominate popular music in the 1970s.

Born in Barnwell, South Carolina in 1933, Brown rose to prominence in the early 1960s with a string of hit singles and groundbreaking live performances. His innovations in rhythm and blues would pave the way for artists like Sly and The Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince to create their own distinct styles of funk.

While James Brown may have been the first to bring funk to the mainstream, it was George Clinton who truly took the genre to new heights in the 1970s. Clinton’s group Parliament-Funkadelic blended elements of R&B, rock, and psychedelia into a unique brand of funk that was both danceable and experimental. With its long jams, wild costumes, and outlandish stage shows, Parliament-Funkadelic became one of the most influential groups of the decade and helped solidify funk as a major force in popular music.

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars is an American band formed in 1993. The band’s music is a mix of Funk, Hip hop, and Rock. The band has been nominated for six Grammy Awards.

The band was formed in 1993 by George Clinton, after he left Parliament-Funkadelic. The band’s first album, Dope Dogs, was released in 1994. The album was produced by George Clinton and the band’s second album, Ahh…The Name is Bootsy, Baby!, was released in 1995. The album featured the singles “Aahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!” And “Funky Good Time”.

In 1996, the band released their third album, Fresh Outta ‘Pples. The album featured the single “Paint The White House Black”, which was later sampled by Eminem on his song “My Name Is”.

In 1998, the band released their fourth album, What’s Bootsy Doin’? The singles “Doin’ It To Death” and “Party All Night” were both hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2001, the band released their fifth album, Deezelized! The album featured the singles “Get Yo’ Feet Back On The Ground” and “Flash Light”.

The band’s sixth album, Howbootsy Are You?, was released in 2002. The album featured the single “Cabbage Patch”.

In 2003, the band released their seventh album,. 7 Day Party. The singles “All Night Long” and “Dirty Nursery Rhymes” were both hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2004, the band released their eighth album,. 8 Days A Week. The single “Axiom” was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The band’s ninth and most recent album,. 9 Lives: Good Times Ahead!, was released in 2006.

The Funk Sound

Funk is a genre of music that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a groove that is often accompanied by a strong bass line and drumbeat. The term “funk” can also refer to a style of dance that is associated with the music. Funk music is often based on a 12-bar blues or rock chord progression and is usually played at a fast tempo.

The Funkadelics

Funkadelic was an American band that was most prominent in the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament-Funkadelic (which performed as simply Parliament until 1977) developed an eclectic form of funk that drew on science fiction, psychedelic culture, and rock music. Its stage presence was often compared to Jimi Hendrix’s, and in 1968 they were asked to open for him at the Fillmore West.

The Funkadelics were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. They are best known for their hits “One Nation Under a Groove” (1978) and “(Not Just) Knee Deep” (1979).

Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Bootsy’s Rubber Band was a funk band formed in 1976 by Bootsy Collins. The band’s most successful line-up included Collins, guitarist Phelps “Catfish” Collins, bassist Frankie “Kash” Waddy, keyboardist Joel “Rodeo” Johnson, and singer Gary “Mudbone” Cooper. The band was based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The group’s first album, The Bootsy Collins Band – Stretchin’ Out in Bootsy’s Rubber Band (1976), was released on the Warner Bros. Records label and featured the hit single “I’d Rather Be with You”. The album was produced by George Clinton and Collins.

In 1977, the band released their second album, Bootsy? Player of the Year (1977), which featured the single “Bootzilla”. The album was once again produced by George Clinton and Collins.

The band’s third album, This Boot is Made for Fonk-N (1978), featured the singles “Hollywood Squares” and “Jam Fan (hot).” The album was produced by Collins and Bernie Worrell.

The band’s fourth album, Ahh…The Name is Bootsy, Baby! (1977), featured the single “Bootzilla”. The album was produced by Clinton and Collins.

The band’s fifth and final album, The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away (1982), was produced by Collins and Worrell.

The Legacy of Funk

Funk is a music genre that was born out of the African-American experience. It is a style of music that is characterized by a strong bass line and percussion. Funk music was created in the 1970s and has since been a staple in the African-American community.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group’s musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock and psychedelic rock. When played live, their music incorporates elements of jam band due to the improvised nature of much of their performances.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have won seven Grammy Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. They have sold over 80 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time. In 2019, they were ranked at number four on the Billboard’s year-end list of the top 20 radio songs, making them the only band to achieve this feat for four consecutive years.

Prince

Prince was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was a multitalented artist who could play multiple instruments, including the guitar, bass, piano, and drums. He achieved international superstardom with his album “1999” which included the hits “Little Red Corvette” and “Purple Rain.” Prince was known for his flamboyant stage presence and often wore outlandish costumes and makeup. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

OutKast

OutKast is an American hip hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of Outkast’s seven studio albums. Big Boi and André 3000 formed the group as high school students in 1991. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group’s name to OutKast. OutKast released their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994, which gained popularity after the single “Player’s Ball” reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. With successive releases including ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), the duo further developed their sound, experimenting with a wide array of styles and achieving commercial success. In 2000, Outkast released Stankonia, which included the singles “Ms. Jackson” and “B.O.B.”, and won Best Rap Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. Their fourth album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003), featured the number one singles “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move”, and won Album of the Year at the 46th Grammy Awards, becoming only the second hip hop album to do so (the first being The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill). The album would win both Album of The Year and Best Rap Album for that year making them two-time consecutive winners of both those awards; no rap artist had hold those awards for two years consecutively previously.[1] The duo went on hiatus in 2007 after André3000 released a promotional single entitled “I’m Sorry Ms. Jackson”.