funks

Funks is the plural form of funk and may refer to multiple uses of the word. In colloquial English, a funk is a temporary state of mood or mental condition marked by low energy, sadness, or lack of motivation. People often say they are “in a funk” or that someone is “in funks” to describe several periods of such mood. The term can also be used more broadly to describe a general atmosphere of gloom or stagnation, sometimes in a workplace or creative project.

In music, funk is a distinct genre that emerged in the mid-1960s among African American artists, blending soul, R&B, and jazz with a strong rhythmic groove and prominent bass. The genre emphasizes the groove on the first beat and relies on tight interaction between drums, bass, guitar, and horn sections. Notable pioneers include James Brown, who helped define the quintessential funk groove, and Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, and later artists such as Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Funk has given rise to subgenres such as funk rock and electro-funk, and it has heavily influenced disco, hip-hop, and modern electronic music. Tracks or performances within the genre might be referred to as funk songs or simply as funk releases; the plural funks in this sense would indicate several funk pieces.

Culturally, funk’s emphasis on groove and rhythm helped shape dance music in the 1970s and beyond and continues to influence a wide range of genres. Its legacy is evident in sampling practices and in the persistent appeal of funk-influenced sounds in contemporary music.