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100 Greatest Funk Artists

Criteria: These Funk Music Recording Artists are ranked based on popularity, impact, and influence, with an emphasis on the world of funk music. Though not all of these artists are strictly funk, if any artist had a significant amount of important funk songs, they are factored here into the rankings.

Last Updated: 2009-09-05
Greatest Funk Artists
  1. James Brown
  2. Sly & The Family Stone
  3. George Clinton / Parliament-Funkadelic
  4. Earth, Wind, & Fire
  5. Curtis Mayfield
  6. Stevie Wonder
  7. Isley Brothers
  8. Kool & The Gang
  9. Rick James
10. Isaac Hayes
11. Zapp & Roger
12. War
13. Ohio Players
14. Meters
15. Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
16. Temptations
17. Prince
18. Gap Band
19. Cameo
20. Average White Band
21. Fred Wesley / The JBs
22. Dyke & The Blazers
23. Bloodstone
24. Marvin Gaye
25. Rufus / Chaka Khan
26. Blackbyrds
27. Gil Scott-Heron
28. B.T. Express
29. Slave
30. Tower of Power
31. Con Funk Shun
32. Brass Construction
33. Bar-Kays
34. Brick
35. Brothers Johnson
36. Bootsy Collins / Bootsy's Rubber Band
37. Booker T. & The MG's
38. Rufus Thomas
39. Joe Tex
40. Bill Withers
41. Billy Preston
42. Cymande
43. Fela Kuti
44. Lyn Collins
45. Bobby Byrd
46. Commodores
47. Fatback / Fatback Band
48. Mandrill
49. Graham Central Station
50. Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
51. The Time
52. Maze (feat. Frankie Beverly)
53. Eddie Kendricks
54. Jimmy Castor Bunch
55. Jackson 5 / Jacksons / Michael Jackson
56. Willie Hutch
57. Emotions
58. Johnny "Guitar" Watson
59. Betty Davis
60. Trouble Funk
61. Rose Royce
62. Teena Marie
63. Midnight Star
64. S.O.S. Band
65. Gwen McCrae
66. Dazz Band
67. Klymaxx
68. Mary Jane Girls
69. Ready For the World
70. Lakeside
71. Hot Chocolate
72. New Birth
73. Mtume
74. Bohannon / Hamilton Bohannon
75. Yarbrough & Peoples
76. Jones Girls
77. Neville Brothers
78. Marva Whitney
79. Shalamar
80. Skyy
81. Mass Production
82. Lafayette Afro Rock Band
83. Funk Inc.
84. Tony! Toni! Tone!
85. L.T.D.
86. Shuggie Otis
87. Aretha Franklin
88. Al Green
89. Undisputed Truth
90. T-Connection
91. Instant Funk
92. People's Choice
93. Chocolate Milk
94. Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
95. Brecker Brothers
96. Melvin Van Peebles
97. Material
98. Jean Knight
99. Bobby Womack
100. Heatwave
James Brown
James Brown
Sly Stone
Sly Stone
George Clinton, Parliament
George Clinton
Rick James
Rick James

TOP 5 NEO FUNK ROCK/METAL BANDS
TOP 5 G-FUNK ARTISTS
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Rage Against the Machine
3. Faith No More
4. Living Colour
5. Jane's Addiction
1. Dr. Dre
2. 2Pac
3. Snoop Dogg
4. Ice Cube
5. Warren G.
TOP 5 ACID JAZZ ARTISTS
TOP 5 ELECTRO-FUNK ARTISTS
1. Jamiroquai
2. Brand New Heavies
3. Incognito
4. Galliano
5. James Taylor Quartet
1. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
2. Newcleus
3. Man Parrish
4. Mantronix
5. Jonzun Crew
TOP 5 SAMPLED DISCO ARTISTS
TOP 10 ESSENTIALLY JAZZ ARTISTS IN JAZZ-FUNK
*these artists had some funky records
1. Chic
2. KC & The Sunshine Band
3. Barry White/Love Unlimited Orchestra
4. O'Jays
5. M.F.S.B.
1. Miles Davis
2. Herbie Hancock
3. Bob James
4. Roy Ayers
5. Tom Browne
6. Donald Byrd
7. Grover Washington, Jr.
8. George Benson
9. Quincy Jones
10. Crusaders
OTHER NOTEWORTHY FUNK-INCLINED ARTISTS
The Clash
Digital Underground
ESG
Janet Jackson
Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Mother's Finest
Talking Heads


Please, Please, Please - James Brown





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