200 Greatest Funk Songs
Criteria: These 200 greatest funk songs of all time are ranked based on impact, influence, and popularity in the music recording industry.
Greatest Funk Songs
1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine) Part I
James Brown
2. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
James Brown & The Famous Flames
3. Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Sly & The Family Stone
4. Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)
Parliament
5. Theme from "Shaft"
Isaac Hayes
6. Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
7. Superstition
Stevie Wonder
8. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
The Temptations
9. When Doves Cry
Prince & The Revolution
10. One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
James Brown
2. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
James Brown & The Famous Flames
3. Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Sly & The Family Stone
4. Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)
Parliament
5. Theme from "Shaft"
Isaac Hayes
6. Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
7. Superstition
Stevie Wonder
8. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
The Temptations
9. When Doves Cry
Prince & The Revolution
10. One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
11. Cold Sweat Part I
James Brown & The Famous Flames
12. Out of Sight
James Brown & The Famous Flames
13. Funky Broadway
Dyke & The Blazers
14. Cissy Strut
Meters
15. Chameleon
Herbie Hancock
16. It's Your Thing
Isley Brothers
17. Flash Light
Parliament
18. War
Edwin Starr
19. Super Freak Part I
Rick James
20. Little Red Corvette
Prince & The Revolution
21. Don't Stop ('Til You Get Enough)
Michael Jackson
22. Family Affair
Sly & The Family Stone
23. Living for the City
Stevie Wonder
24. I'll Take You There
Staple Singers
25. That Lady Part I
Isley Brothers
26. Mr. Big Stuff
Jean Knight
27. Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
28. Kiss
Prince & The Revolution
29. Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder
30. Play That Funky Music (White Boy)
Wild Cherry
31. Car Wash
Rose Royce
32. Brick House
Commodores
33. Fire
Ohio Players
34. Low Rider
War
35. Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band
36. Got to Give It Up Part I
Marvin Gaye
37. More Bounce to the Ounce Part I
Zapp & Roger
38. Jungle Boogie
Kool & The Gang
39. Funky Drummer Parts I and II
James Brown
40. Amen, Brother
Winstons
41. Apache
Incredible Bongo Band
42. The Payback
James Brown
43. Think (About It)
Lyn Collins
44. Word Up
Cameo
45. Express Yourself
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
46. Atomic Dog
George Clinton
47. You Sexy Thing
Hot Chocolate
48. Funky Stuff
Kool & The Gang
49. Dazz
Brick
50. Shining Star
Earth, Wind & Fire
51. Hollywood Swinging
Kool & The Gang
52. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
B.T. Express
53. For the Love of Money
O'Jays
54. Give It to Me Baby
Rick James
55. Clean Up Woman
Betty Wright
56. Groove Me
King Floyd
57. Ain't Nobody
Rufus & Chaka Khan
58. Rock Steady
Aretha Franklin
59. What is Hip?
Tower of Power
60. You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Gap Band
61. I Can't Stand the Rain
Ann Peebles
62. Genius of Love
Tom Tom Club
63. (Not Just) Knee Deep Part I
Funkadelic
64. Get Down On It
Kool & The Gang
65. Love Rollercoaster
Ohio Players
66. It's Just Begun
Jimmy Castor Bunch
67. Slide
Slave
68. P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
Parliament
69. I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)
Gap Band
70. Keep on Truckin' Part I
Eddie Kendricks
71. Fight the Power Parts I and II
Isley Brothers
72. Say It Loud - I'm Black and Proud Part I
James Brown
73. Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (In the Jungle Groove remix)
James Brown
74. Kung Fu Fighting
Carl Douglas
75. Bustin' Loose
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
76. Hot Fun in the Summertime
Sly & The Family Stone
77. Sign O' the Times
Prince
78. Cloud Nine
Temptations
79. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)
Temptations
80. Funkin' for Jamaica
Tom Browne
81. Heartbeat
Taana Gardner
82. Use Me
Bill Withers
83. Shakey Ground
Temptations
84. Future Shock
Curtis Mayfield
85. Just Kissed My Baby
Meters
86. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me?)
Gap Band
87. Get the Funk Out of Ma Face
Brothers Johnson
88. Freddie's Dead (Theme from "Superfly")
Curtis Mayfield
89. Upside Down (Inside Out)
Diana Ross
90. Lovely Day
Bill Withers
91. The Jam
Graham Central Station
92. Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
93. Right Place, Wrong Time
Dr. John
94. Computer Love
Zapp & Roger
95. Fantastic Voyage
Lakeside
96. Let it Whip
Dazz Band
97. I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)
Instant Funk
98. No Parking (On the Dancefloor)
Midnight Star
99. Cutie Pie
One Way
100. Get on the Good Foot
James Brown
James Brown & The Famous Flames
12. Out of Sight
James Brown & The Famous Flames
13. Funky Broadway
Dyke & The Blazers
14. Cissy Strut
Meters
15. Chameleon
Herbie Hancock
16. It's Your Thing
Isley Brothers
17. Flash Light
Parliament
18. War
Edwin Starr
19. Super Freak Part I
Rick James
20. Little Red Corvette
Prince & The Revolution
21. Don't Stop ('Til You Get Enough)
Michael Jackson
22. Family Affair
Sly & The Family Stone
23. Living for the City
Stevie Wonder
24. I'll Take You There
Staple Singers
25. That Lady Part I
Isley Brothers
26. Mr. Big Stuff
Jean Knight
27. Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
28. Kiss
Prince & The Revolution
29. Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder
30. Play That Funky Music (White Boy)
Wild Cherry
31. Car Wash
Rose Royce
32. Brick House
Commodores
33. Fire
Ohio Players
34. Low Rider
War
35. Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band
36. Got to Give It Up Part I
Marvin Gaye
37. More Bounce to the Ounce Part I
Zapp & Roger
38. Jungle Boogie
Kool & The Gang
39. Funky Drummer Parts I and II
James Brown
40. Amen, Brother
Winstons
41. Apache
Incredible Bongo Band
42. The Payback
James Brown
43. Think (About It)
Lyn Collins
44. Word Up
Cameo
45. Express Yourself
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
46. Atomic Dog
George Clinton
47. You Sexy Thing
Hot Chocolate
48. Funky Stuff
Kool & The Gang
49. Dazz
Brick
50. Shining Star
Earth, Wind & Fire
51. Hollywood Swinging
Kool & The Gang
52. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
B.T. Express
53. For the Love of Money
O'Jays
54. Give It to Me Baby
Rick James
55. Clean Up Woman
Betty Wright
56. Groove Me
King Floyd
57. Ain't Nobody
Rufus & Chaka Khan
58. Rock Steady
Aretha Franklin
59. What is Hip?
Tower of Power
60. You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Gap Band
61. I Can't Stand the Rain
Ann Peebles
62. Genius of Love
Tom Tom Club
63. (Not Just) Knee Deep Part I
Funkadelic
64. Get Down On It
Kool & The Gang
65. Love Rollercoaster
Ohio Players
66. It's Just Begun
Jimmy Castor Bunch
67. Slide
Slave
68. P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
Parliament
69. I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)
Gap Band
70. Keep on Truckin' Part I
Eddie Kendricks
71. Fight the Power Parts I and II
Isley Brothers
72. Say It Loud - I'm Black and Proud Part I
James Brown
73. Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (In the Jungle Groove remix)
James Brown
74. Kung Fu Fighting
Carl Douglas
75. Bustin' Loose
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
76. Hot Fun in the Summertime
Sly & The Family Stone
77. Sign O' the Times
Prince
78. Cloud Nine
Temptations
79. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)
Temptations
80. Funkin' for Jamaica
Tom Browne
81. Heartbeat
Taana Gardner
82. Use Me
Bill Withers
83. Shakey Ground
Temptations
84. Future Shock
Curtis Mayfield
85. Just Kissed My Baby
Meters
86. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me?)
Gap Band
87. Get the Funk Out of Ma Face
Brothers Johnson
88. Freddie's Dead (Theme from "Superfly")
Curtis Mayfield
89. Upside Down (Inside Out)
Diana Ross
90. Lovely Day
Bill Withers
91. The Jam
Graham Central Station
92. Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
93. Right Place, Wrong Time
Dr. John
94. Computer Love
Zapp & Roger
95. Fantastic Voyage
Lakeside
96. Let it Whip
Dazz Band
97. I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)
Instant Funk
98. No Parking (On the Dancefloor)
Midnight Star
99. Cutie Pie
One Way
100. Get on the Good Foot
James Brown
101. Doing It To Death Part I
Fred Wesley & The JBs
102. Tramp
Otis & Carla
103. Get Out of My Life, Woman
Lee Dorsey
104. Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Parliament
105. Up for the Down Stroke
Parliament
106. Soul Finger
Bar-Kays
107. The Horse
Cliff Nobles & Co.
108. Memphis Soul Stew
King Curtis & The Kingpins
109. Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man
Dyke & The Blazers
110. I Gotcha
Joe Tex
111. Smiling Faces Sometimes
Undisputed Truth
112. Outa-Space
Billy Preston
113. Be Thankful for What You've Got
William DeVaughn
114. Pusherman
Curtis Mayfield
115. I Know You Got Soul
Bobby Byrd
116. Drop the Bomb
Trouble Funk
117. Get Up Offa That Thing
James Brown
118. Bootzilla
Bootsy's Rubber Band
119. Jungle Love
The Time
120. A Love Bizarre
Sheila E. & Prince
121. (Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again
L.T.D.
122. Scorpio
Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
123. Too Hot to Stop
Bar-Kays
124. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
Indeep
125. She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)
Carl Carlton
126. Serpentine Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
127. Slippin' Into Darkness
War
128. Brother's Gonna Work It Out
Willie Hutch
129. Across 110th Street
Bobby Womack & Peace
130. The Bottle
Gil Scott-Heron
131. Jungle Fever
Chakachas
132. The Funky Worm
Ohio Players
133. You Haven't Done Nothin'
Stevie Wonder
134. Don't Stop the Music
Yarbough & Peoples
135. Holy Ghost
Bar-Kays
136. Cosmic Slop
Funkadelic
137. Pass the Peas
Fred Wesley & The JBs
138. Ffun
Con Funk Shun
139. Expansions
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
140. (Fallin' Like) Dominoes
Donald Byrd
141. Juicy Fruit
Mtume
142. All Night Long
Mary Jane Girls
143. Strawberry Letter 23
The Brothers Johnson
144. Candy
Cameo
145. Take Me To the Mardi Gras
Bob James
146. Fencewalk
Mandrill
147. (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going To Go
Curtis Mayfield
148. Street Life
Crusaders
149. Rock Creek Park
Blackbyrds
150. Running Away
Roy Ayers
151. God Made Me Funky
Headhunters
152. The Message
Cymande
153. Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got, To Get What She Wants)
James Brown
154. I Can't Get Next To You
Temptations
155. Escape-ism
James Brown
156. Funky Nassau
Beginning of the End
157. Summer Madness
Kool & The Gang
158. Backstrokin'
Fatback
159. Funky President (People It's Bad)
James Brown
160. Why Can't We Be Friends?
War
161. Birdland
Weather Report
162. Yes We Can Can
Pointer Sisters
163. I Can Understand It
New Birth
164. The World is a Ghetto
War
165. Supernatural Thing Part I
Ben E. King
166. N.T. Parts I and II
Kool & The Gang
167. Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
James Brown
168. (I Wanna) Testify
Parliaments
169. Everybody is a Star
Sly & The Family Stone
170. The Breakdown Part I
Rufus Thomas
171. Sing a Simple Song
Sly & The Family Stone
172. The Ghetto
Donny Hathaway
173. Mary Jane
Rick James
174. Machine Gun
Commodores
175. Joy and Pain
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
176. Funky Sensation
Gwen McCrae
177. Movin'
Brass Construction
178. I Want To Be Your Man
Roger
179. We Got the Funk
Positive Force
180. Impeach the President
Honey Drippers
181. Ashley's Roachclip
Soul Searchers
182. Dance to the Drummer's Beat
Herman Kelly
183. Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother For Me)
James Brown
184. Always There
Ronnie Laws
185. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This?
Idris Muhammad
186. To Prove My Love
Ned Doheny
187. I Thought It Was You
Herbie Hancock
188. Right Off
Miles Davis
189. Love Will Bring Us Back Together
Roy Ayers
190. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Gil Scott-Heron
191. Whistle Bump
Deodato
192. Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)
Lee Dorsey
193. Superman Lover
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
194. I Get Lifted
George McCrae
195. Dukey Stick
George Duke
196. If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up
Betty Davis
197. Burning Spear
S.O.U.L.
198. Action Speaks Louder Than Words
Chocolate Milk
199. Soul Power '74
Maceo Parker
200. Zombie
Fela Kuti
Fred Wesley & The JBs
102. Tramp
Otis & Carla
103. Get Out of My Life, Woman
Lee Dorsey
104. Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Parliament
105. Up for the Down Stroke
Parliament
106. Soul Finger
Bar-Kays
107. The Horse
Cliff Nobles & Co.
108. Memphis Soul Stew
King Curtis & The Kingpins
109. Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man
Dyke & The Blazers
110. I Gotcha
Joe Tex
111. Smiling Faces Sometimes
Undisputed Truth
112. Outa-Space
Billy Preston
113. Be Thankful for What You've Got
William DeVaughn
114. Pusherman
Curtis Mayfield
115. I Know You Got Soul
Bobby Byrd
116. Drop the Bomb
Trouble Funk
117. Get Up Offa That Thing
James Brown
118. Bootzilla
Bootsy's Rubber Band
119. Jungle Love
The Time
120. A Love Bizarre
Sheila E. & Prince
121. (Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again
L.T.D.
122. Scorpio
Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
123. Too Hot to Stop
Bar-Kays
124. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
Indeep
125. She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)
Carl Carlton
126. Serpentine Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
127. Slippin' Into Darkness
War
128. Brother's Gonna Work It Out
Willie Hutch
129. Across 110th Street
Bobby Womack & Peace
130. The Bottle
Gil Scott-Heron
131. Jungle Fever
Chakachas
132. The Funky Worm
Ohio Players
133. You Haven't Done Nothin'
Stevie Wonder
134. Don't Stop the Music
Yarbough & Peoples
135. Holy Ghost
Bar-Kays
136. Cosmic Slop
Funkadelic
137. Pass the Peas
Fred Wesley & The JBs
138. Ffun
Con Funk Shun
139. Expansions
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
140. (Fallin' Like) Dominoes
Donald Byrd
141. Juicy Fruit
Mtume
142. All Night Long
Mary Jane Girls
143. Strawberry Letter 23
The Brothers Johnson
144. Candy
Cameo
145. Take Me To the Mardi Gras
Bob James
146. Fencewalk
Mandrill
147. (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going To Go
Curtis Mayfield
148. Street Life
Crusaders
149. Rock Creek Park
Blackbyrds
150. Running Away
Roy Ayers
151. God Made Me Funky
Headhunters
152. The Message
Cymande
153. Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got, To Get What She Wants)
James Brown
154. I Can't Get Next To You
Temptations
155. Escape-ism
James Brown
156. Funky Nassau
Beginning of the End
157. Summer Madness
Kool & The Gang
158. Backstrokin'
Fatback
159. Funky President (People It's Bad)
James Brown
160. Why Can't We Be Friends?
War
161. Birdland
Weather Report
162. Yes We Can Can
Pointer Sisters
163. I Can Understand It
New Birth
164. The World is a Ghetto
War
165. Supernatural Thing Part I
Ben E. King
166. N.T. Parts I and II
Kool & The Gang
167. Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
James Brown
168. (I Wanna) Testify
Parliaments
169. Everybody is a Star
Sly & The Family Stone
170. The Breakdown Part I
Rufus Thomas
171. Sing a Simple Song
Sly & The Family Stone
172. The Ghetto
Donny Hathaway
173. Mary Jane
Rick James
174. Machine Gun
Commodores
175. Joy and Pain
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
176. Funky Sensation
Gwen McCrae
177. Movin'
Brass Construction
178. I Want To Be Your Man
Roger
179. We Got the Funk
Positive Force
180. Impeach the President
Honey Drippers
181. Ashley's Roachclip
Soul Searchers
182. Dance to the Drummer's Beat
Herman Kelly
183. Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother For Me)
James Brown
184. Always There
Ronnie Laws
185. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This?
Idris Muhammad
186. To Prove My Love
Ned Doheny
187. I Thought It Was You
Herbie Hancock
188. Right Off
Miles Davis
189. Love Will Bring Us Back Together
Roy Ayers
190. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Gil Scott-Heron
191. Whistle Bump
Deodato
192. Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)
Lee Dorsey
193. Superman Lover
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
194. I Get Lifted
George McCrae
195. Dukey Stick
George Duke
196. If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up
Betty Davis
197. Burning Spear
S.O.U.L.
198. Action Speaks Louder Than Words
Chocolate Milk
199. Soul Power '74
Maceo Parker
200. Zombie
Fela Kuti
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James Brown Sly Stone |
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George Clinton Rick James |
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Honerable Mentions
*Proto-Funk
Limbo Jimbo
James Brown
Think
James Brown
Testify Part I
Isley Brothers
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MGs
Land of 1,000 Dances
Wilson Pickett
Limbo Jimbo
James Brown
Think
James Brown
Testify Part I
Isley Brothers
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MGs
Land of 1,000 Dances
Wilson Pickett
10 Post Disco Funk Songs
1. Double Dutch Bus
Frankie Smith
2. In My House
Mary Jane Girls
3. Candy Girl
New Edition
4. Rumours
Timex Social Club
5. Pull Up to the Bumper
Grace Jones
6. Jump to It
Aretha Franklin
7. When I Think of You
Janet Jackson
8. Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Vaughn Mason & Crew
9. Get Down Saturday Night
Oliver Cheatham
10. Somebody Else's Guy
Jocelyn Brown
Frankie Smith
2. In My House
Mary Jane Girls
3. Candy Girl
New Edition
4. Rumours
Timex Social Club
5. Pull Up to the Bumper
Grace Jones
6. Jump to It
Aretha Franklin
7. When I Think of You
Janet Jackson
8. Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Vaughn Mason & Crew
9. Get Down Saturday Night
Oliver Cheatham
10. Somebody Else's Guy
Jocelyn Brown
Top 15 G-Funk Songs
(early 90s gangster West Coast Hip Hop)
1. Nuthin' But a G-Thang
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
2. California Love
2Pac and Dr. Dre
3. Regulate
Warren G. and Nate Dogg
4. It Was a Good Day
Ice Cube
5. Keep Ya Head Up
2Pac
6. Gin and Juice
Snoop Doggy Dogg
7. What's My Name?
Snoop Doggy Dogg
8. Funkdafied
Da Brat
9. Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
10. Thuggish Ruggish Bone
Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony
11. Me Against the World
2Pac
12. Let Me Ride
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
13. Deep Cover
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
14. This DJ
Warren G.
15. Black Superman
Above the Law
1. Nuthin' But a G-Thang
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
2. California Love
2Pac and Dr. Dre
3. Regulate
Warren G. and Nate Dogg
4. It Was a Good Day
Ice Cube
5. Keep Ya Head Up
2Pac
6. Gin and Juice
Snoop Doggy Dogg
7. What's My Name?
Snoop Doggy Dogg
8. Funkdafied
Da Brat
9. Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
10. Thuggish Ruggish Bone
Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony
11. Me Against the World
2Pac
12. Let Me Ride
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
13. Deep Cover
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
14. This DJ
Warren G.
15. Black Superman
Above the Law
Influential Disco Songs in Funk
Soul Makossa
Manu DiBango
Good Times
Chic
Let's Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire
I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More, Baby
Barry White
Manu DiBango
Good Times
Chic
Let's Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire
I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More, Baby
Barry White
Top 5 Electro-Funk Songs
(ranked in terms of influence on funk music as a whole)
1. The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2. Planet Rock
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
3. White Lines (Don't Do It)
Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel
4. Looking for the Perfect Beat
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
5. Jam On It
Newcleus
1. The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
2. Planet Rock
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
3. White Lines (Don't Do It)
Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel
4. Looking for the Perfect Beat
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
5. Jam On It
Newcleus
Top 6 New School Funk Songs
1. Give it Away
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Epic
Faith No More
3. Gett Off
Prince & The New Power Generation
4. Cult of Personality
Living Colour
5. Freddie's Dead
Fishbone
6. Renegades of Funk
Rage Against the Machine
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Epic
Faith No More
3. Gett Off
Prince & The New Power Generation
4. Cult of Personality
Living Colour
5. Freddie's Dead
Fishbone
6. Renegades of Funk
Rage Against the Machine
Edited By: Jeff B.
Last Updated: 2008-08-07Background: Funk music is sometimes overlooked and usually lumped with disco music. However, funk music has its own style and culture and was here before disco's birth, born in the mid-1960s by James Brown. Funk music is usually heavily syncopated with polyrhythmic rhythms, horn and percussive sections, and features the guitar. Funk music is known for its breaks (making it a sample pool for much of hip hop and electronic dance music) and obscure classics known as "rare grooves". Important pioneers include James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, The Meters, and Dyke & The Blazers.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, some disco and funk music shared blurred lines. This list excludes purely disco records and includes funky psychedelic soul, go-go, Afro-beat via Fela Kuti,and jazz funk. The latter subgenres that spun off from funk (such as electro funk and G-funk) are given their own sidebar lists.