New topic
Printable| Author | Message |
21st Century Funk Since we seem to have a lot of Funk-obsessed enthusiasts here in the music forum, I thought maybe I'd start a new thread to keep that spirit going.
Besides myself (  ), what artists are out there today that are keeping the funk alive in the 21st century? Of course you have the old school cats that are still touring or making music (Prince, George Clinton, Chili Peppers, Slave, Bar-Kays, Cameo, etc.). But I mean the next generation of folks that have some funk in their trunk. See, folks like these here in orgland have been complaining about how there's no new funk out there today, when there really is. Is just not in the forefront as much as it used to be in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. I can name you mad funky cats. And they could be in any genre, not just R&B and Soul. Look at Beck, for example. He's got that whole Alternative/Hipster/Folkie/Indie/whiteboy thang happening. But he's got the FUNK, as he has proven with the "Midnite Vultures" album. So here's who I think is keeping the funk around:
Jamiroquai Van Hunt Me'Shell N'Degeocello Beck The Rapture Jamie Lidell Los Amigos Invisibles Plant Life Soulive Jaguar Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Meech Wells Basement Jaxx !!! (chk chk chk) Robert Randolph and the Family Band Harco Pront D'Angelo The Rebirth Q and Not U (even though they're not together anymore) Erykah Badu Foals Cake Galactic Adequate Seven Raphael Saadiq Medeski, Martin, and Wood Femi Kuti Indivisible DJ Shadow Hot Chip Justice The Poets of Rhythm Quantic Soul Orchestra And I'm open to debating with you on any of these artists. But I'd be more interesting in knowing some names that aren't up here. [Edited 5/6/08 3:33am] NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
D'Angelo keeping the funk alive? What the hell have you been smokin', dude? It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
- Lammastide | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Bastian / Seymour Bits / Comtron
Chromeo (not a huge fan myself, but I guess they can still kick ass for a song or two) Don Byron Uhm, I'm a little short on this list right now... Jimi Tenor? (with his wife preferably on the damn vocals) | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Chro-MEEE-oooo OOOOHHH-ooohhh! Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
FuNkeNsteiN said: D'Angelo keeping the funk alive? What the hell have you been smokin', dude?
Obviously you have never listened to "Voodoo". But then again, you don't even listen to Neo-Soul or anything beyond the early 80's.  NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Moonbeam said: Chro-MEEE-oooo OOOOHHH-ooohhh!
Yeah, they're pretty cool. And I totally forgot to mention Nikka Costa.  NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
There are lots of great Funk bands currently rockin' the world, but these below are definitely the most respectable and most successful ones in the global Funk scene. If you like Funk, any of these will simply blow your mind.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (New York City) 
Osaka Monaurail (Tokyo) 
The Dynamites (Nashville) 
Breakestra (L.A.) 
The New Mastersounds (London) 
Speedometer (London/Leeds) 
The Fantastics (London) 
The Sweet Vandals (Madrid) 
The Poets of Rhythm (Munich) 
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators (Helsinki) [Edited 5/3/08 14:18pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Thanks for those names, dude. I'm gonna have to check them out. I had already mentioned a couple though, like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. They seem to be the most popular of the old school Funk revivalists.
I'd be more interested in finding more cats that are inspired by 70's and 80's Funk since I'm more fond of those eras. Folks like Van Hunt and Chromeo seem to pick up on that era a little more. NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
You guy are to funny. Are any of these groups funky like the Barkays or Cameo
or Cunfunkshun etc.. Your talking about some weird kind of funk like Van hunt or some silly shit. I can out funk him in my own studio. Where are the real new funkaters ala Lakeside, Midnightstar, SOS Band, ZAP thats what I want to know. And I dont want to to hear about some 20 piece orchestra trying to look like Cab Calloway. Do an experiment at your next party put on some jams from the groups that I mentioned and watch the party start. Then put on a record by these cool cats in the picture and listen for the crickets. Heaven forbid they go stage a concert together. We gonna come on with the come on, gonna get down with the get down! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
elem55 said: You guy are to funny. Are any of these groups funky like the Barkays or Cameo
or Cunfunkshun etc.. Your talking about some weird kind of funk like Van hunt or some silly shit. I can out funk him in my own studio. Where are the real new funkaters ala Lakeside, Midnightstar, SOS Band, ZAP thats what I want to know. And I dont want to to hear about some 20 piece orchestra trying to look like Cab Calloway. Do an experiment at your next party put on some jams from the groups that I mentioned and watch the party start. Then put on a record by these cool cats in the picture and listen for the crickets. Heaven forbid they go stage a concert together. Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited. The prime of Funk was during it's origins - between 1967 and 1973. What came after that was nice, but watered down. I'm talking about deep Funk here. Do some research. Check out a group like Osaka Monaurail on YouTube and you'll find the only Funk act worldwide that does the James Brown Band from 1969 justice. It doesn't get any more funky than that. Like I said, study the music first. Then we'll talk.  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MrSoulpower said: elem55 said: You guy are to funny. Are any of these groups funky like the Barkays or Cameo
or Cunfunkshun etc.. Your talking about some weird kind of funk like Van hunt or some silly shit. I can out funk him in my own studio. Where are the real new funkaters ala Lakeside, Midnightstar, SOS Band, ZAP thats what I want to know. And I dont want to to hear about some 20 piece orchestra trying to look like Cab Calloway. Do an experiment at your next party put on some jams from the groups that I mentioned and watch the party start. Then put on a record by these cool cats in the picture and listen for the crickets. Heaven forbid they go stage a concert together. Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited. 
Actually, the fact that he's lumped these 80s-electro-funk groups together tells more... Nothing against 80s-electro-funk because it did serve its purpose. But I wonder if this person could recognize tunes like 'Soulfinger', 'Rigor Mortis' or 'Be Alright' considering they were released by his/her aforementioned groups. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I'd like to add:
Fat Freddy's Drop The Roots Omar Amp Fiddler Van Hunt Heavy J*Davey Janelle Monae Mint Condition Sa-Ra Creative Partners Joi The RH Factor (Roy Hargrove) | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
bsk3601 said: MrSoulpower said: Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited.
Actually, the fact that he's lumped these 80s-electro-funk groups together tells more... Nothing against 80s-electro-funk because it did serve its purpose. But I wonder if this person could recognize tunes like 'Soulfinger', 'Rigor Mortis' or 'Be Alright' considering they were released by his/her aforementioned groups. I didn't mean to dis late 70s and 80s Funk, but we gotta keep it real here. Funk had its prime when James Brown had his prime - and that was from '67 until '73. In those days, Funk was innovative, raw, organic. And the Funk scene was the most vibrant - I'd estimate that 80% of all Funk tracks were recorded in those days, literally 10,000s of 45s alone. The artists I've mentioned above are keeping this Funk tradition alive like no other artists these days. But who even cares about Zapp-style Funk anymore? Those records were classic back in the day, and I still enjoy them, but they are hardly much inspirational when it comes to new Funk. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MrSoulpower said: bsk3601 said:
Actually, the fact that he's lumped these 80s-electro-funk groups together tells more... Nothing against 80s-electro-funk because it did serve its purpose. But I wonder if this person could recognize tunes like 'Soulfinger', 'Rigor Mortis' or 'Be Alright' considering they were released by his/her aforementioned groups. I didn't mean to dis late 70s and 80s Funk, but we gotta keep it real here. Funk had its prime when James Brown had his prime - and that was from '67 until '73. In those days, Funk was innovative, raw, organic. And the Funk scene was the most vibrant - I'd estimate that 80% of all Funk tracks were recorded in those days, literally 10,000s of 45s alone. The artists I've mentioned above are keeping this Funk tradition alive like no other artists these days. But who even cares about Zapp-style Funk anymore? Those records were classic back in the day, and I still enjoy them, but they are hardly much inspirational when it comes to new Funk. Well, I was hoping that every era of Funk would be represented going from the 60's cats like JB and the Funk Brothers, to the 70's megastars like P-Funk, EWF, and into the 80's with digital funk like Cameo, Zapp, and our own purple hero. I'm not just singling out one era or just saying name new artists who are inspired by Funk from one era. I'm talking about any artists today of any genre that are creating music that's inspired by Funk of all eras. Hell, you can even throw in some Hip-Hop and Electronica cats if you want. And that's another thing. It's ironic that many of you turn your noses up at Hip-Hop today when many of those artists and producers are inspired by Funk music themselves. They could sample funk songs into their beats, like J Dilla and DJ Shadow did. Or they could possess a style that's inspired by their heroes, like Snoop Dogg, Outkast, and Cee-Lo. Since Hip-Hop is the spawn of Funk and Soul (whether you like it or not), wouldn't it be fair to include some of those artists that are carrying the torch of the Funk? And I don't mean "shit hop" either. That's a category unto itself and has no place here. NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MrSoulpower said: elem55 said: You guy are to funny. Are any of these groups funky like the Barkays or Cameo
or Cunfunkshun etc.. Your talking about some weird kind of funk like Van hunt or some silly shit. I can out funk him in my own studio. Where are the real new funkaters ala Lakeside, Midnightstar, SOS Band, ZAP thats what I want to know. And I dont want to to hear about some 20 piece orchestra trying to look like Cab Calloway. Do an experiment at your next party put on some jams from the groups that I mentioned and watch the party start. Then put on a record by these cool cats in the picture and listen for the crickets. Heaven forbid they go stage a concert together. Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited. Talk about ignorant! How about you being arrogant. Who said I didn't know any of these groups. The prime of Funk was during it's origins - between 1967 and 1973. What came after that was nice, but watered down. I'm talking about deep Funk here. Do some research. Check out a group like Osaka Monaurail on YouTube and you'll find the only Funk act worldwide that does the James Brown Band from 1969 justice. It doesn't get any more funky than that. Like I said, study the music first. Then we'll talk. We gonna come on with the come on, gonna get down with the get down! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
bsk3601 said: MrSoulpower said: Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited.
Actually, the fact that he's lumped these 80s-electro-funk groups together tells more... Nothing against 80s-electro-funk because it did serve its purpose. But I wonder if this person could recognize tunes like 'Soulfinger', 'Rigor Mortis' or 'Be Alright' considering they were released by his/her aforementioned groups. Yes buddy I know Rigor Mortis and Be. Alright and Soul Army And Ill Be You. Im a funk expert. Now go put on Holy Ghost and dance sucker We gonna come on with the come on, gonna get down with the get down! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Thanks for the list NWF, I see some ppl I want to check out here  If you will, so will I | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NWF said: FuNkeNsteiN said: D'Angelo keeping the funk alive? What the hell have you been smokin', dude?
Obviously you have never listened to "Voodoo". But then again, you don't even listen to Neo-Soul or anything beyond the early 80's. I actually own the 'Voodoo' album. Haven't listened to it in awhile, though. I remember liking maybe one or two cuts and the rest was shit. It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
- Lammastide | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MrSoulpower said:
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators (Helsinki) Ah, apparently they are known outside of Finland too It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
- Lammastide | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
elem55 said: Talk about ignorant! How about you being arrogant. Who said I didn't know any of these groups. So your original post wasn't ignorant and arrogant?
You dismissed these acts by calling them "weird kind of funk", when in reality, they play early Funk. Then you babbled something about "some 20 piece orchestra trying to look like Cab Calloway" and you compared them to Van Hunt. 
The final proof of your ignorance on the matter was this: "Do an experiment at your next party put on some jams from the groups that I mentioned and watch the party start. Then put on a record by these cool cats in the picture and listen for the crickets." This shows me that you really have no idea of what you're talking about. Because the artists I mentioned get play in Funk clubs all accross the world, and they do mainly sold out live performances. You claim to be a Funk expert, yet you dismiss the artists who seriously carry on the torch of Funk. I happen to make my living as a Funk DJ who plays in many countries. I think SOS Band and Zapp are aight, but if I started playing those at my gigs, I'd be send back to my hometown in less than 20 minutes. So once again my advice to you, open your mind, do some studying and learn how to appreciate the sounds of raw Funk, not just the played-out "Holy Ghost". | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
FuNkeNsteiN said: MrSoulpower said:
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators (Helsinki) Ah, apparently they are known outside of Finland too I know them too. I'm so glad this thread was made. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NWF said: Well, I was hoping that every era of Funk would be represented going from the 60's cats like JB and the Funk Brothers, to the 70's megastars like P-Funk, EWF, and into the 80's with digital funk like Cameo, Zapp, and our own purple hero. I'm not just singling out one era or just saying name new artists who are inspired by Funk from one era. I'm talking about any artists today of any genre that are creating music that's inspired by Funk of all eras. Hell, you can even throw in some Hip-Hop and Electronica cats if you want.
I understand what you're saying. However, there's probably a reason why few modern Funkateers consider music like Zapp or the later EWF material important enough when it comes to Funk (listen to EWF's first three albums, that music is on a whole other level. The same goes for Kool & The Gang whose first five to six albums were groundbreaking Funk records while later they watered down to lame disco stuff). Most young Funk artists try to immitate their heroes from 1967 - 1973, sometimes add some influences from later years, but the core of the music centers around the years I've mentioned. The groups I posted above are actually successful worldwide (even though the Funk scene remains an underground phenomen), while acts like SOS Band or Mint Condition are mainly popular just here in the U.S. And that's another thing. It's ironic that many of you turn your noses up at Hip-Hop today when many of those artists and producers are inspired by Funk music themselves. They could sample funk songs into their beats, like J Dilla and DJ Shadow did. Or they could possess a style that's inspired by their heroes, like Snoop Dogg, Outkast, and Cee-Lo. Since Hip-Hop is the spawn of Funk and Soul (whether you like it or not), wouldn't it be fair to include some of those artists that are carrying the torch of the Funk? I agree. But you asked for "21st century Funk", not music that was inspired by Funk. Hip Hop is highly important, though the use of Funk samples has become less common over the recent years (mainly do to the fact that they are not free anymore). I personally really dig Public Enemy, The Roots, Digable Planets, Outlaw, Tribe Called Quest amongst others, but I wouldn't label them "Funk acts". | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
FuNkeNsteiN said: D'Angelo keeping the funk alive? What the hell have you been smokin', dude?
Actually he's got a point. Even though D'Angelo has not released a new album in years, he's produced a lot of music. He's definitely part of the circle Questlove/Badu/Hargrove who took Funk to a new level. This album is one of my favorite new Funk records of the past ten years. D is all over it:  [Edited 5/4/08 5:49am] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
elem55 said: Im a funk expert.
A bold claim, bro It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
- Lammastide | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Waasup Soulpower!
How many times have you actually listened to Rh Factor? Man, I tried to get into it, but failed. It's got a few bright spots, but it's pretty dull. 
On the subject of "neosoul" drummers, I know ?uestlove gets a lot of press and though I like The Roots, I still loose interest listening to hip-hop. However, a drummer that I really enjoy is Poogie Bell. He's been Marcus Miller's drummer for a few years and he always blows me away. I though he was an old school jazzer from Philly, but I was surprised to find he's associated with neo-soul artists like Badu, Karen Bernod and Kindred. http://poogiebell.com/ http://www.myspace.com/th...iebellband I saw Marcus and copped both MM's and Poogie's disc (from 2007). It's more jazz funk then popfunk-neosoul. test | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
FuNkeNsteiN said: NWF said: Obviously you have never listened to "Voodoo". But then again, you don't even listen to Neo-Soul or anything beyond the early 80's. I actually own the 'Voodoo' album. Haven't listened to it in awhile, though. I remember liking maybe one or two cuts and the rest was shit. Wish he would get back on the scene already
This Brazilian concert is funky as HELL!! MUST find a dvd of this! http://www.youtube.com/wa...syswiA91bM http://www.youtube.com/wa...qKwnZPJufI http://www.youtube.com/wa...vc6SzTugL8 http://www.youtube.com/wa...gCeBoYD9ps _ Music, sweet music, I wish I could caress and...kiss, kiss... | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
PFunkjazz said: Waasup Soulpower!
How many times have you actually listened to Rh Factor? Man, I tried to get into it, but failed. It's got a few bright spots, but it's pretty dull.
On the subject of "neosoul" drummers, I know ?uestlove gets a lot of press and though I like The Roots, I still loose interest listening to hip-hop. However, a drummer that I really enjoy is Poogie Bell. He's been Marcus Miller's drummer for a few years and he always blows me away. I though he was an old school jazzer from Philly, but I was surprised to find he's associated with neo-soul artists like Badu, Karen Bernod and Kindred. http://poogiebell.com/ http://www.myspace.com/th...iebellband I saw Marcus and copped both MM's and Poogie's disc (from 2007). It's more jazz funk then popfunk-neosoul. I really dig the RH Factor album. Sorry that you are not feelin' it.
I don't really categroize it as a relevant Funk album per se (which is why I set it apart from my original listing of artists), but I think the arrangements are stunning, the songwriting is great and the vocal performances by Badu and D'Angelo amazing. It's a pretty fresh album, because I think it's innovative. It's interesting. The other artists I mentioned are not really original - which is fine with me because I want them to stay rooted where they are - but the RH Factor album shows what can be done with Funk in the 21st century. I wish those guys would record more albums together. I enjoy Poogie Bell's drummin'. I'm not a huge Marcus Miller fan (simply because I'm not really into slap technique), but the drumming makes them worth listening. [Edited 5/4/08 9:10am] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
bsk3601 said: MrSoulpower said: Actually you're funny. Your musical ignorance speaks volumes. The fact that you don't even know any of these artists - yet you judge them - shows that the knowledge you have about Funk is more than limited.
Actually, the fact that he's lumped these 80s-electro-funk groups together tells more... Nothing against 80s-electro-funk because it did serve its purpose. But I wonder if this person could recognize tunes like 'Soulfinger', 'Rigor Mortis' or 'Be Alright' considering they were released by his/her aforementioned groups. 
Oh and I love this thread. 
I am so bored musically and I wll be checking a lot of these folks out soon. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MrSoulpower said: I understand what you're saying. However, there's probably a reason why few modern Funkateers consider music like Zapp or the later EWF material important enough when it comes to Funk (listen to EWF's first three albums, that music is on a whole other level. The same goes for Kool & The Gang whose first five to six albums were groundbreaking Funk records while later they watered down to lame disco stuff).
Heeeeey (said in that way.) ...
  
  
  
Regarding their early to mid 70s period... "They're the second-baddest out there...They make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck." ~James Brown tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |