The Funk Movement

Rabaka explores funk as a distinct multiform of music, aesthetics, politics, social vision, and cultural rebellion that has been remixed, and continues to influence contemporary Black popular music and Black popular culture, especially rap music and the Hip Hop Movement.

‘Embark on an exhilarating journey of Funk music, politics, and culture that places men and women alike at the heart of Funk history, revealing the roots, aesthetics, decolonization, and depoliticization of the revolutionary genre. Brace yourself for a captivating exploration where every page and chapter explores the dynamic connection between lived experiences, narratives, accounts, lyrics, and innuendos that characterize this nonconforming genre, Funk. The evolving ties to historical movements, previous genres, and Hip Hop vividly portray how Funk transcends sound to become a powerful force in shaping collective history. “Indeed, a fuller and funkier picture of Funk is brought into being” with compelling stories of music as a means of empowerment.’

Ruth Opara, Columbia University, New York

‘Dr. Reiland Rabaka has made a phenomenal contribution to the study of Black music and, by extension, Black Power. Funk is more than a genre. This study explores funk as sonic aesthetic, and movement within a movement.’

Scot Brown, UCLA

Reiland Rabaka is Founder and Director of the Center for African & African American Studies and Professor of African, African American, and Caribbean Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.