Nu-funk
Encyclopedia
Nu funk, sometimes known as 'Ghetto Funk' is a contemporary form of the 1970s musical genre funk
.
Since mid-1990s and further into 2000s, a number of new bands have emerged that played original compositions intended to imitate the sound of 1970's deep funk
bands. The concept usually includes using vintage musical instruments and recording equipment, as well as distribution via analogue record discs. However, an updated tighter sound is not uncommon as well. Stylistically, nu funk is somewhat close to jam bands.
Nu-funk originated in Brooklyn
in the 1980s. The music was slow, riff-oriented and danceable. Listeners would often dance and "jive" during the riffs.
Unlike original funk that was primarily US-based, nu funk is a worldwide phenomenon. Most notable bands such as The Quantic Soul Orchestra
and The New Mastersounds
come from the UK. Other countries are also well represented with bands like The Poets of Rhythm from Germany
and The Bamboos
from Australia
. Since the late 2000s however, the Nu-Funk sound has adapted influences from Hip-Hop, Funky Breaks, Dubstep
and Big Beat
and became a more diverse sample-based form of music but keeping with the funk motif. This style of Nu-Funk has been popularised by the likes of Featurecast and A Skillz
, and is usually played around 100-120 BPM. A notable label of this kind of Nu-Funk is the GoodGroove Records label in Bath, UK.
):
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, 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...
.
Since mid-1990s and further into 2000s, a number of new bands have emerged that played original compositions intended to imitate the sound of 1970's deep funk
Deep Funk
Deep Funk is a genre of funk music which, unlike traditional mainstream funk, has a more soulful, rawer, grittier, and "heavier" sound. The term "deep funk" is also the name of the scene of collectors, DJ's, and musicians who are into deep funk as a genre....
bands. The concept usually includes using vintage musical instruments and recording equipment, as well as distribution via analogue record discs. However, an updated tighter sound is not uncommon as well. Stylistically, nu funk is somewhat close to jam bands.
Nu-funk originated in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in the 1980s. The music was slow, riff-oriented and danceable. Listeners would often dance and "jive" during the riffs.
Unlike original funk that was primarily US-based, nu funk is a worldwide phenomenon. Most notable bands such as The Quantic Soul Orchestra
The Quantic Soul Orchestra
The Quantic Soul Orchestra is a live band project of musician and DJ, Will Holland. Holland has recorded under several names, most notably Quantic....
and The New Mastersounds
The New Mastersounds
The New Mastersounds are a four-piece funk band based in Leeds, England.In the late 1990s, guitarist and producer Eddie Roberts was running a club night in Leeds called "The Cooker." When The Cooker moved into a new venue with a second floor in 1999, there was space and the opportunity to put a...
come from the UK. Other countries are also well represented with bands like The Poets of Rhythm from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and The Bamboos
The Bamboos (funk band)
The Bamboos are a Soul band from Australia.-Biography:The Bamboos were formed in 2000 in Melbourne Australia by NZ-born guitarist Lance Ferguson. The initial line-up consisted of Ferguson, Ben Grayson on Hammond Organ, Stuart Speed on Bass and Scott Lambie on Drums...
from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Since the late 2000s however, the Nu-Funk sound has adapted influences from Hip-Hop, Funky Breaks, Dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
and Big Beat
Big beat
Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...
and became a more diverse sample-based form of music but keeping with the funk motif. This style of Nu-Funk has been popularised by the likes of Featurecast and A Skillz
A Skillz
A.Skillz is an English breakbeat, big beat, and dance musician.He has worked across the UK at FabricLive, Spectrum, Chew The Fat, Supercharged, The Boutique and Sugarbeat as well as gigs around the world at major events, festivals and music industry parties such as The Hit Factory , WMC and Field...
, and is usually played around 100-120 BPM. A notable label of this kind of Nu-Funk is the GoodGroove Records label in Bath, UK.
Nu funk artists
In addition to the new wave of funk revivalists, music critics had cited other artists as having nu-funk sound (most of whom are usually classified as acid jazzAcid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
):
- Tom Tom ClubTom Tom ClubTom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:...
- Groove ArmadaGroove ArmadaGroove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
- BrainticketBrainticketBrainticket is a little-known experimental krautrock band.-History:Brainticket originally formed in 1968, consisting of members of Belgian, Swiss, and German descent...
- Artists on the compilation album Free the Funk Vol. 3
- Urban Divide
- Cantaloop
- Kraak & SmaakKraak & SmaakKraak & Smaak are a musical producer trio from the town of Leiden, the Netherlands consisting of Oscar de Jong, Mark Kneppers and Wim Plug.-Biography:...
- Rory Hoy
- Diazpora
- Matty Blades
- A-SkillzA SkillzA.Skillz is an English breakbeat, big beat, and dance musician.He has worked across the UK at FabricLive, Spectrum, Chew The Fat, Supercharged, The Boutique and Sugarbeat as well as gigs around the world at major events, festivals and music industry parties such as The Hit Factory , WMC and Field...
- Featurecast
- FunkMoguls
- Audited Beats
- StickyBuds
- Qdup Foundation
- Mick & Marc
- Hayz
- DJ Kid Stretch
- DJ Wood
- Basement Freaks
- QuasamodoQuasamodoQuasamodo is a composer, lyricist and producer born in Wimbledon, UK in 1978. In 2007 he released his first album "Truth Be Told" under the alias Quasamodo through Timewarp Music...
- Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
- Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop
- All Good Funk Alliance
- Smoove & Turrell
- Warson
- Badboe
- BMDBMDBMD can refer to several things:* BMD - Polish music producer, DJ and party promoter* Britainy Maria Dye* BMD * BMD Big Medium Drink...
- Pimpsoul
- MustBeat Crew
Notable Labels
- Tru:Funk
- Boogie Boutique Records
- GoodGroove Records
- Bombstrikes
- Jalapeño Records
- Wack Records
- The Brotherhood of Beats
- BigM
- Pig Balls Records
- Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
- Bombastic Jam
- Funk Weapons
External links
- http://www.nufunk.net/
- http://www.ghettofunk.co.uk/
- http://www.nufunk.ca
- http://www.nufunk.pl
- http://freebreaksblog.com/tag/nufunkroundup