Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music
Even if you don’t actually listen to funk as a music genre, many people unconsciously use the adjective “funky,” don’t they?
As a word that’s already woven into everyday life, what kind of image do you all have of “funk”?
Funk, whose prototype is said to have emerged in the 1960s, has continued to be loved into the 2020s, evolving in form and powering countless hit songs.
This time, we’ll bring you a wide array of classics—from foundational funk essentials to disco, mellow groove, and contemporary funk.
You just might encounter the destined masterpiece that awakens the funkiness sleeping inside you!
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- Summary of representative Western funk artists and groups
- A classic jazz-funk masterpiece. A popular recommended track that offers a different flavor from traditional jazz.
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces of 70s Disco Music
- A roundup of classic Western jazz-funk albums—from staples to the latest releases
- [For Beginners] A Roundup of Classic Popular Soul/Funk Bands
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of 80s Disco
- R&B Masterpieces in Western Music: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics [2025]
- Back to those nostalgic days… Classic and hit Western songs of the 1960s
- Classic fusion music masterpieces. Recommended staple tracks.
Funky Feelings — The Past and Present of Funk Music (131–140)
Mr. DivaKaleta & Super Yamba Band
This track by Kaleta & Super Yamba Band has a sound that feels straight from the James Brown lineage.
The song unfolds over a foundation of repetitive backing.
While the sound is close to a vintage ’60s vibe, it was actually released in 2018.
Being able to hear new songs like this even today is pretty special, isn’t it?
Memphis Soul StewKing Curtis
King Curtis, the saxophonist.
He demonstrated his talent as an arranger, and one example is how he incorporated a funk groove into the band’s backing, establishing a distinctive musical style.
I felt his respect for the other players in the way he carefully introduced the members before his own performance.
How We Gonna Work It Out (Bosq remix)Kokolo
This is a remix of Kokolo’s track “How We Gonna Work It Out,” originally by the Afrobeat band, done by Bosq, a group known for primarily playing disco-funk.
Compared to the original, the drum beat is more up front, making it a sound you can really dance to on the floor.
If you’re interested, check out the original as well and feel the difference!
Juicy FruitMTUME
A track released in 1983 by the New York funk and soul group Mtume.
It reached No.
1 on the U.
S.
charts.
It has been sampled in many tracks, including Warren G’s 1994 track “This D.
J.”
Before I Let GoMaze
Maze is a San Francisco R&B, soul, and funk band that has been active since 1976.
This track was released in 1981 and reached No.
13 on the U.
S.
charts.
It was sampled in Sikdope’s 2015 track of the same name.
Give Up the FunkParliament
Give Up The Funk,” with its cheerful chorus and synthesizers, is perfect for putting you in a great mood.
Parliament is an American funk band.
It originated from The Parliaments, a doo-wop group formed by George Clinton in 1955.
Due to contractual issues, the band later changed its name to Funkadelic, and since the 1980s they have performed under the name P-Funk All Stars.
Mary JaneRick James
It’s a track with a thick, lo-fi bass that oozes an irresistible love for funk.
Funk often develops a song around a single E chord, but here the groove keeps the listener engaged, the piano adds a cool vibe, and the distorted guitar brings a sense of momentum—great stuff.