Steve PMHMusic has evolved over the centuries, and in the last 100 years, there were many genres and subgenres that became quite popular.
And African American music enriched the music industry with lots of influences and effects that later resulted in creating new music forms.
So, what is funk music? What are its characteristics? In this article, you will learn about the history of funk music and the most significant artists who influenced and enriched the music scene.
What is Funk Music?
Funk music is a dance music genre that incorporates elements from soul, blues, and jazz. Funk originated in African American communities in New Orleans and led to the birth of an aggressive dance style.
It’s characterized by having strong bass lines and drum beats with several instruments that create a rhythm towards a groove.
The first funk attempts appeared in the 1960s, where multiple genres were growing, but they combined more rhythm and dancing elements. The interplay between bass and drums created the groove that made funk stand out from other genres that were popular during this period.
This is why bass players became the most crucial key players in funk music. They combined high and low note rhythms with a slap playing style. In most cases, guitarists used strumming fast patterns to make funk perfect dance music.
How Did Funk Evolve?
In 1958, James Brown started his band James Brown and the Famous Flames. By the mid-1960s, he had already created a signature style that represented the origin of funk.
During this period, other artists and acts like Sly and the Family Stone got influenced by Brown’s style producing hits like “Thank You.” After that, funk became recognized as a music genre and began to break into subgenres.
The 1970s marked the peak period of funk, as it got mixed with other emerging genres. Funk was later mixed with jazz, rock and led to the creation of P-funk.
P-funk peaked in the 1970s, but its effects can still be seen today in hip hop. It later led to the creation of another subgenre, like G-funk. It was also incorporated into disco songs, which relied on the same rhythmic movements.
James Brown is the funk’s music pioneer and one of the first people who created the funk beat. This is an aggressive rhythm that emphasizes the first part of the musical measure, as opposed to the back beat, which was emphasized in blues music.
In the 1970s, other artists used the funk beat and made it more widespread. These included names like Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, and Herbie Hancock, who explored the funk groove.
During the 1980s, funk didn’t disappear like other ‘60s and ‘70s genres that became less popular. As a matter of fact, it managed to absorb the technological advancement of the 1980s and used several synthetic elements to create some of the greatest funk hits.
Icon artist Prince contributed to funk like no other artist since James Brown, and other famous artists like Michael Jackson used funk elements in their new music.
Prince and Rick James made funk more popular, mixing it with more aspects of hard rock. Funk was later mixed with rap music and paved the way for the creation of hip hop.
In the 1990s, funk began to become less commercial as other genres emerged to the scene. However, it was still an element in several subgenres that became popular during this era, including metal funk, R’n’B funk, and rock-funk.
In the 2000s, Ice Cube was one of the first musicians who used G-funk. This music style became popular in dance clubs and live concerts as the audience loved the naughty danceable elements and the stress on the downbeats.
Recently, funk might not be as prevalent the way it used to be, but its subgenres are.
P-funk is probably one of the most obvious examples, as Kendrick Lamar uses P-funk in his popular music. However, he also uses elements from jazz, blues, and R&B; all interweaved together to create a masterpiece.
Other artists like Childish Gambino produce music that sounds like it’s produced in the 1970s. As a matter of fact, some of his hits remind us of the tracks created by Funkadelic.
What are the Characteristics of Funk Music?
Funk contains several unique elements that characterize it as a musical style and add the influence that creates other subgenres.
- Funk music originated from Sub-Saharan African music. It also got influenced by Cuban music and other forms of black music.
- The vocal style of the funk music created in the 1960s is very much similar to the other musical styles that were popular during this era. These include shouts, yells, moans, and other melodic riffs. Funk songs also incorporated the call and response style with the narration of emotional and sentimental stories.
- Funk performances focused on creating black aesthetics that focused on creating energetic performances using the performers’ shouts and yells and their colorful costumes, facial expressions, and gestures. During the 1970s, the lyrics focused on the declining economic conditions in black communities, and this trend was carried over to other genres like hip hop.
- Syncopation is a crucial trait of funk music. This refers to the temporary irregularity of the regular music notes by stressing the weak beat instead of the strong one.Several rhythms are played at the same time to make part of the music off-beat. This musical style became popular in other musical subgenres that became prominent in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Funk is based on dance music which has strong rhythms, just like soul music. This is why the rests between the notes played are extremely important as they make the music more fun. In this sense, funk is similar to disco, although it’s slower and more fun. Musicians use this rhythm to add texture and personality to the main melody.
- Strong downbeats or playing on the one is one of the main traits of funk music. Artists like James Brown were famous for this musical style, as he instructed his band to play on one of the most assertive downbeat accents. After these downbeats, the band played notes, riffs or grooves that made funk extremely popular.
- Playing grooves by the bass guitar is another popular trait. This is probably why most of the popular funk musicians are bassists who managed to make famous compositions using a popular groove.
- Using densely voiced chords is another trait of funk music. Funk musicians relied heavily on using the 7thchord and the 9th, 11th, and 13th. Relying on minor chords is common in funk, although the 7th major chord is quite common. These chords are common in bebop jazz, but musicians rely on single chord vamps instead of fast chord changes. Some funk musicians also use electronic effects to add more texture to their music.
- The drums in funk music are usually unpredictable and unusual. The groove is created depending on the drummer’s emotions and feelings, as some of the grooves depend on swing beats, while others depend on more upbeat drumming.
- Even during the studio recording stage, funk musicians depend heavily on the performer’s focus on their feelings on when to change the chords. This defines the concept of grooving or jamming, which characterizes funk performances. Musicians took this style to their stage performances, which are always packed with energy and surprises.
- A wide range of keyboards can be used in funk music. These include the acoustic piano, electric piano, Hammond B-3 organ, and clavinet. Funk synthesizers are also used to enhance the bass or to replace the bass guitar.
Is Funk Music Still Popular?
When it was first created, funk became one of the liveliest forms of dance music. It represented an advancement from jazz and blues vocals with rhythmic bass lines that made the music easier to dance to.
Over time, funk-influenced other music forms like disco and hip hop, in addition to modern-day R&B.
Funk is still a popular dance music genre. It’s different in the sense of adding emphasis on the first beat of each measure compared to the second and fourth beats that characterize other dance genres.
Today, there are several funk bands, artists, and acts that still make focus on this music genre. These modern funk performers keep funk alive while incorporating several new elements that make it popular today. Here are some of the most popular modern-day funk musicians.
Anderson .Paak
Brandon Paak Anderson, also known as Anderson .Paak is an American musician, songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He creates rap, jazz, soul, and funk music, combining several elements in his music creations.
In his own words, Anderson .Paak describes his music as funky good-time music that can be danced to. His music is dynamic and combines several elements to create a unique mix.
He started his career by making covers of rock and folk songs that were created by the white artists of the 1950s with funk, jazz, and soul elements that made these tracks more popular.
Shareef Keyes & the Groove produce music with a lot of funk and soul elements. Acts like James Brown and Raphael Saadiq provided the needed inspiration to help create Shareef Keyes’s signature style.
Although Shareef Keyes is mostly a touring musician, he has a lot of popular hits that make him one of the most popular names among the newest funk artists.
This New York-based artist is currently producing soul music tracks with funk influences that make them popular in clubs and pubs.
Naughty Professor
This jazz-funk band originated in New Orleans and is similar to other funk bands, although it produces music with a twist. Compared to other funk bands, this one incorporates brass instruments to add a unique edge to their music.
While other funk bands depend on their bass and drums to create the dictating rhythm, the brass instruments do this job in Naughty Professor’s music. The band also pays tribute to New Orleans’ brass tradition and the popularity of saxophones.
Dumpstaphunk
This is a funk and jam band that formed in 2003 in Louisiana. Their performances include extended musical improvisations, and they play different kinds of music, including funk, jazz, blues, soul, and rock.
Dumpstaphunk’s performance is characterized by the dual-bassist approach and the strong percussion of the drummer.
Ever since this band has come to light, it has been voted time and time again as the best funk band. “Where Do We Go From Here” is one of the band’s most popular hits.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
This band chose a fun name that shows the edgy and bold element of their music. This is a funk jam band that started in 2009 in Baltimore, but the band is different from typical funk bands because of its setup.
Unlike other funk bands, this one lacks keyboards and operates using a bass, two guitars, and drums.
The band has been working on their fifth album, always emphasizing the fun element in funk, which makes their music more danceable.
This is quite obvious in the band’s live recordings and tours, where the audience always reacts with their energy-packed performances.
VulfPeck
VulfPeck is a clear representation of how digital and online platforms have contributed to the spread and popularity of funk music.
They released their first track in 2011 on YouTube, and soon enough was producing music that captured the energy and soul of the 1960’s funk.
Through their music, VulfPeck members built a bridge to overcome the gap between older and newer genres by incorporating funk and danceable elements.
The band focuses on creating a minimal and simple music composition where instruments don’t dominate but rather complement each other. Their music style is characterized by being fun and carefree.
VulfPeck also released special tracks to preserve their status as an unusual band. Their silent album “Sleepify” was released on Spotify, and fans streamed it while they slept.
The band used the money they earned from streaming this album to create an admission-free tour.
