The Best of Soul and Funk Music in 2016

A look at the best soul and funk music of 2016. From classic hits to new chart toppers, these are the tunes that got us moving this year.

The Best of Soul and Funk Music in 2016

It was a great year for soul and funk music. We saw a lot of great releases in 2016, and it was hard to narrow it down to just a few. Here are our picks for the best soul and funk albums of 2016.

The Revival of Funk Music

Funk music made a big comeback in 2016, with several artist bringing the genre back to the forefront of the music industry. Bruno Mars’ album “24K Magic” was heavily influenced by funk, while artists like Anderson Paak and Solange released albums that took cues from the classic sound of ’70s and ’80s funk. Even Kendrick Lamar incorporated elements of funk into his critically-acclaimed album “Untitled Unmastered.” Here’s a look at some of the best soul and funk music that was released in 2016.

The New Soul Sound

If there’s one genre that can be defined by its ability to constantly evolve, it’s soul music. What started as a way for African Americans to express their feelings about the Civil Rights movement has become a musical melting pot, with artists from all backgrounds and styles putting their own spin on the sound. This year was no different, with a slew of new soul artists making waves with their fresh takes on the genre. Here are some of the best new soul sounds of 2016.

The London-based group Nao is one of the most exciting new soul acts around. Their debut album For All We Know blends classic R&B with contemporary electronic production, resulting in a sound that is both retro and cutting-edge. Nao’s lyrics are also refreshingly honest and personal, giving the listener a window into her world.

Similarly, Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard has been making waves with her solo project Thunderbitch. Although Thunderbitch doesn’t stray too far from Alabama Shakes’ classic rock sound, Howard’s songwriting and vocal abilities shine through in a way that feels more intimate and personal. These tracks are perfect for those times when you just want to let loose and rock out.

If you’re looking for something a little more laid-back, Australian singer/songwriter Hiatus Kaiyote may be more your speed. Their music has been described as “future soul,” and it definitely lives up to that label. Hiatus Kaiyote’s songs are ethereal and dreamlike, with lush production that recalls classic ‘70s soul records. But don’t be fooled by the gentle sound — there’s plenty of depth and complexity to these tracks if you take the time to listen closely.

The Best Soul and Funk Artists of 2016

Though it has been said that Funk and Soul music is dead, the best of the genre was released in 2016. From Bruno Mars to Anderson .Paak, these artists have kept the sound of Funk and Soul music alive.

D’Angelo

D’Angelo is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. His first album, Brown Sugar, released in 1995, received critical acclaim and commercial success. Initially a neo-soul and R&B artist, he has since explored other genres including funk, Soulquarianism, and Afrobeat. After a decade-long musical hiatus following the release of his 2000 album Voodoo, he returned with Black Messiah in 2014.

D’Angelo was born in New York City on February 11th, 1974 to a Pentecostal preacher father and an English teacher mother. Growing up, he exposed to music by his mother’s record collection which included The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Jackie Wilson. D’Angelo began playing piano at age five and by age seven he had joined his church’s choir. In 1987 he joined the band Groove Heart which played local clubs in Virginia Beach throughout the late 1980s. After graduating from high school in 1991, D’Angelo enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University on a jazz piano scholarship. He dropped out after two years to pursue a career in music full time.

In 1992 D’Angelo recorded “U Will Know”, a song written by friend Jason Elliot for the film JASON’s LYRICS. The song caught the attention of Kedar Massenburg who signed D’angelo to his new label Uptown Records in 1993. That same year he began working with producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest on some demo tracks which resulted in the recording of “Brown Sugar” – the lead single for D’Angelo’s debut album of the same name. Brown Sugar was released on July 4th 1995 to critical acclaim and commercial success peaking at number two on Billboard’s Top R&B albums chart and selling over two million copies in the United States alone. The album’s second single “Lady” became one of D’Angelo’s biggest hits reaching number one on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart for eleven weeks straight.

Following the success of his debut album, D’Angelo embarked on a world tour with fellow R&B artist Maxwell.. In 1996 he won his first Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Brown Sugar”. He began work on his second album in 1997 but due to disagreements with his label about its musical direction, as well as personal issues related to drug abuse and depression, progress was slow and it wouldn’t be until 2000 that the album – entitled Voodoo – would be released. The album was once again met with critical acclaim but its sales were considered disappointing compared to Brown Sugar. Following its release D’Angelo went into another long period of musical hiatus during which time he battled addiction problems..

In 2008 it was rumored that D’Angelo was working on new material with multiple producers including Mark Ronson and ?uestlove.. In 2009 he made a surprise appearance at a Benefit Concert for Hurricane Katrina relief playing drums during ?uestlove’s set.. These appearances fueled speculation that new music from D’Angelo was imminent but it would be another five years before anything concrete would materialize.. Finally in 2014 – fifteen years after the release of Voodoo – D’angelo returned with Black Messiah; an album that would once again receive critical acclaim and earn him numerous Grammy nominations including Album of The Year..

D’Angelo is widely considered one of the most important figures in modern R&B music; helping to pioneer what has come to be known as Neo Soul – a subgenre that combines elements of traditional soul music with contemporary hip hop production techniques.. He has been heavily influenced by Funk legends such as James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone as well as soul greats like Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Prince.. His unique blend of these styles has resulted in some truly groundbreaking music that has inspired countless other artists within the genre..

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is an American hip hop recording artist from Compton, California. He is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar’s major label debut album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, was released on October 22, 2012 to critical acclaim by music critics, who praised its thematic scope and introspective lyricism. The album earned Lamar several accolades, including seven Grammy Award nominations at the 56th Grammy Awards.

Anderson .Paak

Anderson .Paak is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Oxnard, California. He released his debut album, Venice, in October 2014. .Paak followed up with Malibu, in 2016. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 59th annual ceremony. He has been hailed as “one of the most exciting talents in music today.”

The Best Soul and Funk Albums of 2016

2016 was a great year for soul and funk music. Many great albums were released this year, including albums from some of the genre’s biggest names. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best soul and funk albums of 2016.

Black Messiah by D’Angelo

Black Messiah is the third studio album by American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist D’Angelo. It was released on December 15, 2014, by RCA Records. Produced by D’Angelo, Black Messiah is a spiritual and political album that draws upon afrofuturism, classic rock, Slave trade music as well as drawing from “Funkadelic and Sly Stone’s brand of psychedelic, touchstone rhythm and blues.”

In an interview with GQ magazine, D’Angelo spoke about the success of Black Messiah:

“I feel like people were just ready for something else… I was reading a lot about the African diaspora and Afrocentricity and started getting into afrofuturism. I was looking at it through the lens of ‘What if there was an alternate reality where we were never brought over here [to America]? How would our music sound? Would it be different?’ And that’s how I started approaching the album.”

Black Messiah won Best R&B Album at the 57th Grammy Awards and was nominated for Album of the Year.

To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp a Butterfly is the third studio album by Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in sessions at Chung King Studios, Soul Alchemist Studios and Top Dawg Studios from 2012 to 2015, and was produced by Lamar himself, Sounwave, Boi-1da, Tae Beast, Teddy Walton, Terrace Martin and others.

Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Anderson .Paak’s Malibu is one of the best soul and funk albums of 2016. .Paak’s smooth, unique voice is perfect for the laid-back yet funky grooves on this album. Highlights include “Come Down,” “Silicon Valley,” and “The Waters.”