Play That Funky Music Till You Die
What is Funk?
Funk is a genre of music that originated in the mid-1960s in Black communities in the United States and hit its peak in the 1970s. Funk is defined as a mixture of soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues and there are many derivatives of the genre. Some of those derivatives include: disco, hip hop, post-punk, and dance punk. Funk music is known for its strong baselines, syncopated beats, and emphasis from horns and percussion instruments. Funk music did not shy away from including social and political themes in the lyrics so while music-lovers were dancing to the groove of the beats, they were also listening to the musicians’ commentary about race relations and inequality.
Characteristics of Funk
Strong Basslines
Syncopated Beats
Music to Groove to
Political and Social Commentary
Making a Statement: Funky Fashion
The Funkiest to Ever Do It
George Clinton
Founder of "Parliament-Funkadelic"
Some of Clinton's hits include:
Atomic Dog, Nubian Nut, and Give Up the Funk
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Bootsy Collins
Funk Legend and Member of Parliament-Funkadelic
Some hits include: Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine and Bootzilla
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James Brown
Zapp
The Champions of the Talk-Box Effect
Some hits include: More Bounce to the Ounce and Computer Love
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Prince
Rick James
Kool & the Gang
Parliament
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Sly and the Family Stone
"Rock’s first integrated band, black, white, women, men. Hair, skin. Fringe and sweat."
Some hits include: Dance to the Music and Everyday People
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