Funk music emerged out of the late 1960s and early 1970s, drawing from R&b, soul and jazz music. Its primary audience and musicians were Black Americans. The genre was a way for the African American community to reclaim their voice in society. They made their prescence known through their music. The genre has a heavy influence from the Civil Rights movemment; with its themes and social compentary on systemic and institutionalized racism. Its primary audience and musicians sought funk as a form of escapsim, a resistance to criticism and prejudice. It helped build a sense of community along with its function; to dance.
Funk music is most notable for its low prominent bass and syncopated beat. This gives the song its main meolody and focuses on the groove. Each instrument, from the bass, drums, guitar, and horns play a different pattern, interlocking rhythms. The overall structure is usually a call and repsonse, where lyrics are repeated throughout the song and are spoken rather than sung. The beat is more important than the melody, calling back to the goal of funk; to dance and to groove.
With its great popularity in the 70s and impactful nature, funk music is considered one of the most influential genres of the 20th century. Its influence spread to other styles throughout the 70s and 80s; disco, rock, hip hop, just to name a few. With disco, similar musical and cultural features can be found. The sampling of 70s funk led to its prominence in hip hop culture. There was a mix with hard rock and punk, as well as experimentation with electronic music.
Rick James, Give It To Me Baby, 1981
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melloship Slinky in B Major, 1991
