funk
what it is
Funk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord, distinguishing it from R&B and soul songs centered around chord progressions.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make funk a playlist
turn these 40 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is funk?
Funk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord, distinguishing it from R&B and soul songs centered around chord progressions.
What are good funk albums to start with?
Try Mothership Connection by Parliament, Wild Cherry by Wild Cherry, The Meters by The Meters, and Fancy Footwork by Chromeo.
Who are some women making funk?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/funk/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making funk, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20