The Best of Latin Funk Music

Find the best Latin Funk Music blogs and artists. Get new music and listen to top Latin Funk hits.

History of Latin Funk

Latin Funk music originated in the 1970s, created by Afro-Latin and Latin musicians who blended funk and soul with Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms. The result was a new, infectious sound that quickly spread beyond its origins in the barrios of New York and Los Angeles. In the 1980s, Latin Funk began to cross over into the mainstream, thanks to artists like Madonna and Arrested Development, who helped to introduce the sounds of Latin America to a wider audience.

Origins in the 1960s

The Latin Funk sound has its origins in the 1960s, when Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians living in New York City began experimenting with new ways to fuse traditional Latin music with American R&B and soul. This new sound quickly spread throughout the Latin community in the US, and by the 1970s, Latin Funk was a fully-fledged musical genre.

One of the earliest and most influential bands in the Latin Funk scene was La Liga Del Norte, who blended Cuban son montuno with American funk and soul. They were soon followed by other pioneering bands like Chicano Batman, WAR, and Malo, who helped to cement the genre’s reputation for being both danceable and politically conscious.

In recent years, Latin Funk has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to modern reinterpretations by artists like Ozomatli, Orgone, and Quantic. Whether you’re a fan of the old school or the new school, there’s no denying that Latin Funk is one of the most vibrant and exciting musical genres around.

Rise of popularity in the 1970s

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a unique blend of African-American soul, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and South American sounds started to take shape in the barrios of New York City. This dynamic new style – which came to be known as Latin funk – quickly caught on with music fans of all backgrounds, and by the end of the decade it had spread to cities across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

Latin funk bands like Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, and Willie Bobo found success with mainstream audiences, while more underground artists like Eddie Palmieri and Cal Tjader developed followings among discerning listeners. The genre reached its commercial peak in the mid-1970s with crossover hits like Santamaria’s “Watermelon Man” and Puente’s “Oye Como Va,” but its influence can still be heard in the work of today’s leading Latin musicians.

Continued popularity in the 1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, Latin funk continued to be popular with bands like Hashim, Manteca, and The blow up. In the 1990s, it saw a resurgence in popularity with groups like Ozomatli, Tribe Called Quest, and Linkin Park.

Key Artists of Latin Funk

If you’re a fan of funk music, you might want to check out some of the best Latin funk artists out there. This type of music is a mix of African-American funk and traditional Latin American music, and it’s become pretty popular in recent years. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the key artists of Latin funk.

Fela Kuti

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, also known as Fela Ransome Kuti or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and political activist. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Afrobeat genre. Born in Abeokuta, Kuti studied music at Trinity College of Music and the Kyambogo University before relocating to Ghana to study medicine. He eventually gave up medicine to pursue a career in music, forming his first band, Koola Lobitos, in 1963.

Kuti rose to prominence in the 1970s with his band Africa 70 and their hit single “Zombie”. His music often incorporated elements of traditional African music with influences from James Brown and Western pop music. Kuti’s politically charged lyrics led to numerous clashes with the Nigerian government; he was arrested and imprisoned several times throughout his career. In 1978, Kuti was attacked by soldiers at his home; his mother was killed in the attack. This event further increased Kuti’s anti-government views. In 1979, he released the album suffering… From Yoruba Soul Revolutionary__Pt 1 & 2, which included the track “Unknown Soldier”, an indictment of the Nigerian military government.

In addition to his work as a musician, Kuti was also a political activist; he frequently spoke out against military dictatorships and corrupt governments in Nigeria and other African countries. His ceremonies at his nightclub, The Shrine, were often political rallies where he would deliver speeches critical of the Nigerian government. In 1984, Kuti ran for president of Nigeria on an African socialist platform; he placed sixth out of twelve candidates with nearly 3% of the vote.

Kuti continued to record and perform until his death from complications from AIDS in 1997. His son Femi Kuti has followed in his father’s footsteps as a musician and political activist; he currently leads Africa 70

James Brown

James Brown is often referred to as the “godfather of soul” and is credited with developing the funk music genre. His unique style of music was a mix of soul, R&B, and gospel, which he combined with danceable grooves and rhythms. He is also considered to be one of the most influential figures in 20th-century popular music.

In addition to his work in funk, James Brown was also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and bandleader. He released dozens of hit singles throughout his career, including “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “I Got You (I Feel Good),” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” He also wrote and produced several groundbreaking albums, such as 1964’s Live at the Apollo and 1968’s Black Caesar.

James Brown’s influence extends beyond music. He is also credited with helping to shape the look and sound of African-American culture in the 1960s and 1970s. His flamboyant stage costumes, free-form dancing, and social commentary helped to define the aesthetic of the era.

Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was a rock, soul, and funk band active from 1966 to 1983. The band was led by singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and featured a rotating cast of fellow musicians. The band’s top-selling album was their 1968 release Stand!, which peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

George Clinton

George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer. He was the principal architect of P-Funk and the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s. He has been cited as one of the foremost innovators of funk music along with James Brown and Sly Stone. Clinton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. Collins is credited with creating the “P-funk” sound of the 1970s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Collins was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a graduate of Covington Latin School and later attended the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. He received his nickname “Bootsy” from bandmate Jerome Brailey; they were both known for their flashy style and had families who werebootleggers during Prohibition.

Notable Songs of Latin Funk

Latin Funk is a musical fusion of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian rhythms with American Funk and Soul. This style of music emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The best Latin Funk songs are a mix of all these genres, and they create a unique and infectious sound.

“Super Bad” by James Brown

“Super Bad” is a song recorded by James Brown in 1971. The song was released as a single and peaked at number one on the soul singles chart. The song was also included on Brown’s album Super Bad.

“Super Bad” is a funk song with a length of seven minutes and forty-seven seconds. The song features a horn section and Brown’s vocals. The song has been sampled by artists such as Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, and N.W.A.

“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown

“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” is a song recorded by James Brown with Bobby Byrd on backing vocals. Released in 1970, it was written by James Brown and Bobby Byrd. Musically, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” is a funk song that features a series of horn stabs and contains several references to Brown’s onstage dance moves. The song’s lyrics are based on sexual innuendos and are both sexually suggestive and humorous.

The song was a commercial success, peaking at number one on the US R&B chart and number two on the US pop chart. It has been ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time by numerous publications, including Rolling Stone, which ranked it as the fourth-greatest song of all time. In 2004, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament

“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” is a song by Parliament. It was released in 1976 as the lead single from their album Mothership Connection. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and is considered one of Parliament’s signature songs.

“Flash Light” by Parliament

“Flash Light” is a song by Parliament, released as a single in 1977 on the Casablanca Records label. The song was written by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell, and it was produced by Clinton and Collins. It was the first single from Parliament’s album Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome.

The song features Bootsy Collins on lead vocals and bass guitar, with George Clinton providing background vocals. The rest of the instrumentation on the track was performed by various members of Parliament’s touring band, The Horny Horns, and Bernie Worrell.

The song achieved widespread popularity, especially in the United States, where it peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1978. In addition to its success on the pop chart, “Flash Light” also became a staple of funk and dance music radio stations. The song has been sampled numerous times by a variety of artists, including hip hop acts such as De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., Public Enemy, and Dr. Dre.”

“One Nation Under a Groove” by Funkadelic

This classic Funkadelic song was released in 1978 and quickly rose to the top of the charts, becoming one of the best-selling singles of that year. The song is seen as an anthem for the funk movement, and its catchy bass line and lyrics have made it a favorite among funk fans for decades.