Synth Funk

tagStarted c. 1980Peak 1982-1987Last big hit active through modern funk and boogie revival

Located in 4 routes

R&B / Soul → Freestyle / Electro-Soul R&B / Soul → Funk / Soul-Funk / Groove R&B R&B / Soul → Go-Go & Funk Depth Electronic / Dance → Electro / Electro-Funk / Breakdance

Understanding the genre

Synth Funk is funk rebuilt with synthesizers, drum machines, talkboxes, and glossy studio electronics. It can be smoother than electro-funk and more R&B-facing, but it shares the same love of programmed bass, claps, keyboard hooks, and futuristic body music. The sound is central to boogie, Minneapolis funk, post-disco, and modern funk revival.

History

The style grew as funk and R&B bands absorbed affordable synths, LinnDrum/808 programming, and post-disco club formats. Zapp, D-Train, The System, Midnight Star, The SOS Band, Dazz Band, Mtume, Cameo, Prince, The Time, Kashif, Cherrelle, Roger, and Klymaxx made electronic funk a mainstream 1980s language. Hip-hop, electro, freestyle, new jack swing, G-funk, house, and modern funk all took pieces of its bright machine groove.

Essential listening

More Bounce to the Ounce(1980)— ZappSpotify YouTube
You're the One for Me(1981)— D-TrainSpotify YouTube
You Are in My System(1982)— The SystemSpotify YouTube
No Parking on the Dance Floor(1983)— Midnight StarSpotify YouTube
Just Be Good to Me(1983)— The SOS BandSpotify YouTube
Joystick(1983)— Dazz BandSpotify YouTube

Show 6 more

Juicy Fruit(1983)— MtumeSpotify YouTube
Word Up!(1986)— CameoSpotify YouTube
1999(1982)— PrinceSpotify YouTube
Jungle Love(1984)— The TimeSpotify YouTube
I Just Gotta Have You(1983)— KashifSpotify YouTube
I Didn't Mean to Turn You On(1984)— CherrelleSpotify YouTube

← Explore Electronic / Dance

Sources

synth-funk and boogie histories
AllMusic artist histories
Discogs release listings
funk/electro collector guides