Modern LA funk begins with the fragmentation of the genre into post-disco, boogie and electro in the early 1980s. Artists like Prince, Afrika Bambaataa and Egyptian Lover were pioneers of this spare, futuristic sound, using Linn drum machines and OB-X synths to replace traditional R&B band instruments. Those breakthroughs form the basis of modern funk’s musical style. But it also wouldn’t exist without the first two or three waves of local gangsta rap. That era of hip-hop, running from roughly 1987-96, liberally sampled from many of the earlier funk songs, repurposing them as beats. This plays out in the surreally threatening and criminal minded lyrics of some of the modern musicians, particularly Zackey Force Funk.
With the sound rooted in ‘80s funk and in the spirit of ‘90s gangsta rap, the current wave is irreverently and affectionately nostalgic. Many of the modern artists grew up in those decades and their music evokes memories of an idyllic Los Angeles – barbecues, lowriders, house parties, the club. Local Black and Chicano culture are at its core. This means the barebones songs of key artists XL Middleton or Zackey Force Funk (record collectors and DJs themselves) can feel like VHS tapes that have been erased too many times. It’s retrofuturism set to music – reminiscing about what was once forward-looking art.
The borders of this music are fluid, and this is still a thriving community. Not every artist lives in LA – Throwback Zack is from San Diego, for instance – but the city is unmistakably its symbolic and spiritual center. Early recordings by artists/producers like DaM-Funk and Eddy Funkster from the late 2000s defined the modern LA funk sound. More recent efforts from Lineas and Moniquea have expanded the palette and nostalgia with the warm and earthy textures of classic soul. The current wave of artists in Los Angeles is small, insular, and constantly shifting into new combinations of projects and groups, but the commitment to the timeless appeal of the 808 bass drum and getting bodies moving always stays the same.