Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music

Them ChangesThundercat

Thundercat – ‘Them Changes’ (Official Video)

Born in Los Angeles and raised in a musical family, Stephen Bruner—better known by his artist name Thundercat—is a phenomenal bassist, singer-songwriter, and Grammy-winning producer who’s active across many fields.

A devoted Japanophile and big fan of Japanese anime, Thundercat is also a familiar, likable figure to many of us.

Them Changes, a track from his third album Drunk released in 2017, is one of his signature songs and a favorite of Ariana Grande.

Its undulating, groove-heavy bass line and synth-driven funk exude a sophisticated mellowness and a futuristic vibe, creating a sonic world that could only be Thundercat’s.

Don’t miss the fact that his fellow LA native and close friend Kamasi Washington joins on sax.

Although the lyrics are essentially a plaintive, heartbroken lament, the music video is intriguingly themed around samurai.

(Not Just) Knee DeepFunkadelic

Knee Deep

As a feature on funk music, we simply can’t leave out Funkadelic.

Formed in parallel by George Clinton—progenitor of P-Funk and leader of Parliament—the band included marquee names like P-Funk’s flagship bassist Bootsy Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and in its early days fused psychedelic rock with funk.

The track we’re highlighting here, “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” was a 1979 hit and a bona fide classic loved as a funk standard.

It’s hugely popular with the hip-hop generation as well; from De La Soul’s “Me Myself And I” onward, its explosively funky synth tones and catchy chorus have made it an obvious go-to for sampling.

Forget the logic, let it drift far away, and dance wherever your body takes you!

Talkin’ LoudIncognito

Incognito – Talkin’ Loud

Centered on “danceable jazz,” Incognito is a quintessential acid jazz band born from the club generation.

Since forming in 1979, they’ve remained a towering presence—the pinnacle of London-born jazz-funk—still thriving in the 2020s.

“Talkin’ Loud,” from their classic 1993 album Positivity, is flawless on every front: a rock-solid yet supple groove from the rhythm section, irresistibly dance-inducing guitar chops, a lavish brass section, and Maysa Leak’s radiant vocals with superb vocal arrangements.

It’s guaranteed to put you in a happy mood just by listening.

Incidentally, the album was released on the label “Talkin’ Loud,” founded by Gilles Peterson, one of the creators of Acid Jazz Records, the label that helped spearhead the acid jazz boom.

Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)Parliament

Parliament – Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)

A regular on the theme of all-time funk greats—and truly a masterpiece among masterpieces—this is the classic of funk classics: “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)”! Performed by Parliament, led by George Clinton, one of the world’s most famous funk bands and the originator of so-called P-Funk, the track appears on their hit 1976 album Mothership Connection and became their biggest hit single.

From its anthemic chorus to the uncanny groove where every instrument seems to drive the beat rather than carry a melody, every aspect earns its status as a classic.

It’s no surprise that it’s also hugely popular as a sampling source.

The title itself is a kind of paradox, hinting at a sly intelligence that adds to its allure.

Good TimesChic

Good Times (2018 Remaster)

This is CHIC’s classic that topped the U.

S.

charts in 1979 at the height of the disco boom and profoundly influenced popular music as a whole! As a flagship funk-to-disco band, CHIC was formed in 1977 in New York State by two musicians from the jazz world, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.

In addition to their work as a band, both have also been globally renowned as hit-making music producers.

As mentioned at the start, the most famous example of the broad influence of the song we’re featuring—Good Times—is The Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight, released the same year and considered one of the earliest rap records.

It used a track that re-performed and quoted elements like the bassline from Good Times, and became the first Top 40 hit in hip-hop history—an achievement that speaks to CHIC’s role in crafting the cutting-edge funkiness and groove of the time.

The ultimate funk beat that moves listeners on sheer instinct is right here!

ChameleonHerbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock – Chameleon (Official Audio)

Released in 1973, Head Hunters is a classic of electric jazz-funk and is regarded not only as a landmark in jazz but as an important album in music history.

The band formed by the genius behind the release, Herbie Hancock, was also named The Headhunters—a pioneering fusion group whose crossover sound blended jazz, funk, and rock.

Among the tracks, the opening number Chameleon—an extended piece running over 15 minutes—is not only a masterpiece of electronic funk but has also been widely sampled, exerting a profound influence beyond jazz.

Its distinctive bass line boldly expresses the track’s funkiness.

Incidentally, Hancock is sometimes called the “Chameleon of Jazz” in reference to this tune.

Looking at his flexible and free-ranging musical career, it’s easy to see why he earned that nickname.

Super FreakRick James

Super Freak

For music lovers who adore funk, the bassline of this track is nothing short of a classic—legendary, even.

It’s the masterpiece “Super Freak,” released in 1981 by Rick James, a quintessential funk musician who was both a genius and an eccentric, and who achieved major success through the 1970s and 1980s.

It’s also well known for being sampled by M.

C.

Hammer in his massive hit “U Can’t Touch This.” Rick’s bassline, which pulses throughout the entire track, has an almost magical allure, and the song itself stands as a truly sensual funk classic, boasting a level of quality that will go down in history.

It showcases Rick’s extraordinary talent both as a bassist and as a composer.