Browsing Tag

Hip Hop Funk

Forest Funk exhilarated hip-hop in his funked-up reggae mash-up, Run It

Posted on 18 April 2023

Augsburg, Germany DJ and producer, Forrest Funk, stayed true to his moniker in his latest cross-genre mash-up of hip-hop, funk, and reggae, Run It. The stylishly energised amalgamated ensemble of funked-up progressions exhibits his unparalleled reverent approach to celebrating the diversity of the roots of urban sounds. Yet, perceptibly, there is plenty more to the producer’s modus operandi than keeping a fixed gaze on the past; he is bringing in the future of funk with his own authentically funked flair that is as moody as it is euphoric.

After touring the German gig circuit and rubbing shoulders while sharing stages with the likes of Jayl Funk, Lack Jemmon, Quincy Jointz, Dj Maxxx, Nobody’s Face, Djane Jo-C, XRated, Dj Sticky, Len Beam and many more, he’s turning his attention to enlivening the airwaves – there’s no denying that his approach is highly efficacious.

Run It was officially released on April 7; delve into the groove pockets on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Joesix’s ‘Beauty Queen’ – funky uplifting soulful Hip Hop at its best

Posted on 24 December 2020

At 31, UK-based artist Joesix is already a pretty established name on the North East hip hop scene; now back with his latest single ‘Beauty Queen’, Joe’s mixing up old-school soul, Motown, and funk with R&B and Hip Hop to produce a single that crosses artificial boundaries and give us something with true dance credentials.

Upbeat, funky, soulful, and exciting, ‘Beauty Queen’ blends Nile Rodgers-style funk guitar with Motown Hammond organ parts and a proper, early hip hop scene rapped vocal that’s reminiscent of Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash, and the Furious Five. That said, it’s a fiendishly modern track, all the while nodding back to its roots in 80’s breakdance and Hip Hop; handclaps, gated kick drum and snare, and genuine flow. You can easily imagine ‘Beauty Queen’ on prime time Eighties Top Of The Pops just as smoothly as you can at Jazz Café or Concrete; it’s groovy, it’s timeless, it’s got style and class, and it’s insanely danceable.

Check out ‘Beauty Queen’ on Spotify, and follow Joesix on Facebook or Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Turner Brothers’ new single is seriously on the ‘Money’

Posted on 23 December 2020

When seventies-style funk/electro-pop meets modern hip hop and ska, you’ve pretty much got The Turner Brothers. With new single ‘Money’, we get exactly that; serious soul-funk groove and hip hop vocals on the verses, jangly off-beat guitar and hip-swinging bass goodness spliced seamlessly into horn-section stabs and ska-funk choruses. It’s a brilliant track, the chorus catchier than those annoying little grass seeds that stick in your clothes and refuse to let go. And that’s pretty catchy.

There’s a mixture of the nutty boys and the 2Tone scene in there with nods to Madness and the Specials, mixed with jazzy soul/funk like Jamiroquai or the Brand New Heavies, but the Turner Brothers – a ten-piece line-up, no less, fronted by brothers (the clue’s in the name) Pat and Tony Turner – have taken elements of all their influences and seriously mixed them up, coming out with a sound all of their own.

On ‘Money’, it really does hook, the brass section adding little frissons of excitement atop the hip hop funk, and it really isn’t relinquishing its hold any time soon. ‘Money’ really is a serious ear-worm party-tune, and in 2020 that’s really no bad thing at all.

See the video for ‘Money’, and follow the Turner Brothers, on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes.