the incomparable Prince, and soulful songstress Teena Marie. Acts like Kool & the Gang and Herbie Hancock have left a permanent mark on the genre, laying down tracks that have had lasting impacts. The Isley Brothers, with their smooth and funky tunes, are also part of this esteemed group. ...
While there are many fantastic jazz-funk artists, some are just better than others. This list is designed to let the fans of jazz-funk separate the absolute best jazz-funkbands and groupsfrom all of the rest. Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz that’s known for it’s strong, funky groove...
Amidst the hysteria of funky Michigan rap basslines inflecting music scenes all across the US, Detroit hero Veeze opts for a different approach. He’s not typically rapping over the ENRGY-style bounce with outlandish punchlines like his peers – he instead picks beats with electricity coursing...
As with most arts, sampling is inexpertly done more often than not. But the sample on En Vogue’s most iconic track is an example of how to do it right. Poppy, funky and soulful, En Vogue belt the song out over a few bars from James Brown’s “The Payback.” Factor in the unfo...
He was known for his rolling breakbeats, and his instrumental single “Funky Drummer” was influential in the early 80s, when producers began to create hip-hop by looping copied fragments of music from other records. His solo features in “Fight The Power” by Public Enemy and is believed ...
musician would open the song with a spooky church organ before letting the guitars and BPM-raising drums take over. But this high energy ride does take one detour midway in, giving listeners a surprisingly funky lounge break before hurtling full throttle back into a feverish race to the finish...
These are the songs that made our year better, they formed an unique playlist that is so versatile and beautiful that it just never grows old to listen to the many talented bands and artists that helped us through the hard times and made the good times even better....
5. “The ‘In’ Crowd” by The Ramsey Lewis Trio A Chicago native, keyboardist Ramsey Lewis had already released close to 20 albums by the time he picked up on this funky tune written by Billy Page in 1965. It had already been a substantial R&B hit by singer Dobie Gray earlier in ...
The penultimate song on the Black Album, “My Friend of Misery” is that rarest of Metallica songs: a tune co-written by bassist Newstead. Opening with an elegant bass line before moving into one of the band’s patented cinematic intros, it features detailed, Thin Lizzy-ish solos from both...
Africano,” dedicated to an African soccer player, opens his fantastic 1976 albumAfrica Brazil; Ben works closely with his backup singers, who alternate between echoing the lead and providing sweet chirping accents, to pour fuel on the rhythm section’s fire. The result is a funky tour de ...