Electro-Funk
Located in 2 routes
Understanding the genre
Electro-Funk is funk rebuilt with drum machines, synthesizers, vocoders, talkboxes, scratch effects, and futuristic 12-inch production. It keeps funk's swing, bass, and party chants, but replaces live-band looseness with programmed snap and space-age color. The result is the most bodily side of early electro: robot music that still sweats.
History
Electro-funk formed at the meeting point of Kraftwerk, P-Funk, Zapp, post-disco boogie, hip-hop DJing, and producer Arthur Baker's early-1980s studio language. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force, Planet Patrol, Jonzun Crew, Newcleus, Herbie Hancock, Warp 9, Egyptian Lover, D-Train, Zapp, Midnight Star, and The System all shaped the groove. It became a key ancestor of freestyle, Miami bass, Detroit techno, electro breaks, and modern funk revival.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Planet Rock(1982)— Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic ForceSpotifyYouTube
- Play at Your Own Risk(1982)— Planet PatrolSpotifyYouTube
- Pack Jam(1982)— Jonzun CrewSpotifyYouTube
- Jam on It(1984)— NewcleusSpotifyYouTube
- Rockit(1983)— Herbie HancockSpotifyYouTube
- Nunk(1982)— Warp 9SpotifyYouTube
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- Egypt, Egypt(1984)— Egyptian LoverSpotifyYouTube
- You're the One for Me(1981)— D-TrainSpotifyYouTube
- More Bounce to the Ounce(1980)— ZappSpotifyYouTube
- No Parking on the Dance Floor(1983)— Midnight StarSpotifyYouTube
- You Are in My System(1982)— The SystemSpotifyYouTube
- Just Be Good to Me(1983)— The SOS BandSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Guardian Afrika Bambaataa obituary
- Red Bull Music Academy Egyptian Lover interview
- electro-funk and boogie histories
- Discogs release listings