Editing Funk (section)

=== 1980s synth-funk ===
{{See also|Electro music}}

In the 1980s, largely as a reaction against what was seen as the over-indulgence of [[disco]], many of the core elements that formed the foundation of the P-Funk formula began to be usurped by [[Electronic musical instrument|electronic instruments]], [[drum machine]]s and [[synthesizer]]s. Horn sections of saxophones and trumpets were replaced by [[Synthesizer|synth]] [[Electronic keyboard|keyboards]], and the horns that remained were given simplified lines, and few horn solos were given to soloists. The classic electric keyboards of funk, like the [[Hammond B3]] organ, the Hohner [[Clavinet]] and/or the [[Rhodes piano|Fender Rhodes piano]], began to be replaced by the new [[digital synthesizer]]s such as the [[Yamaha DX7]] and microprocessor-controlled [[analog synthesizer]]s like the [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet-5]] and [[Oberheim OB-X]]. Electronic [[drum machines]] such as the [[Roland TR-808]], [[Linn LM-1]], and [[Oberheim DMX]] began to replace the "[[funky drummer]]s" of the past, and the [[Slapping (music)|slap]] and pop style of bass playing were often replaced by synth keyboard basslines. Lyrics of funk songs began to change from suggestive [[double entendre]]s to more graphic and sexually explicit content.

Influenced by [[Kraftwerk]] and [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], American hip hop DJ [[Afrika Bambaataa]] developed electro-funk, a minimalist machine-driven style of funk with his single "[[Planet Rock (song)|Planet Rock]]" in 1982.<ref name="Planet Rock">Planet Rock – The Album (Liner notes). Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force. Tommy Boy Records. 1986. TBLP 1007.</ref><ref name="wire_1996">{{citation|title=A-Z Of Electro|work=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]|issue=145|date=March 1996|first=David|last=Toop|url=http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/210/|access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> Also known simply as electro, this style of funk was driven by synthesizers and the electronic rhythm of the [[TR-808]] drum machine. The single "[[Renegades of Funk]]" followed in 1983.<ref name="Planet Rock" /> Michael Jackson was also influenced by electro-funk.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dayal|first=Gheeta|title=Yellow Magic Orchestra|url=http://www.theoriginalsoundtrack.com/blog/archives/00000615.htm|work=Groove|publisher=The Original Soundtrack|access-date=June 17, 2011|date=July 7, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002224518/http://www.theoriginalsoundtrack.com/blog/archives/00000615.htm|archive-date=October 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 1980s, techno-funk music used the TR-808 programmable drum machine,<ref name="cbc_808">{{cite news|title=Slaves to the rhythm: Kanye West is the latest to pay tribute to a classic drum machine|date=November 28, 2008|first=Jason|last=Anderson|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/slaves-to-the-rhythm-1.771508|access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> while Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra influenced electro-funk artists such as Afrika Bambaataa and [[Mantronix]].<ref name="wire_1996"/><ref>{{citation |title=Kurtis Mantronik Interview |work=Hip Hop Storage |date=July 2002 |url=http://www.cheebadesign.com/legends/articleX.html |access-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524234641/http://www.cheebadesign.com/legends/articleX.html |archive-date=May 24, 2011 }}</ref>

[[Rick James]] was the first funk musician of the 1980s to assume the funk mantle dominated by P-Funk in the 1970s. His 1981 album ''[[Street Songs (album)|Street Songs]]'', with the singles "Give It to Me Baby" and "[[Super Freak]]", resulted in James becoming a star, and paved the way for the future direction of explicitness in funk.

[[File:Prince by jimieye.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Prince (musician)|Prince]] was an influential multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, singer and songwriter.]]

Prince formed [[The Time (band)|the Time]], originally conceived as an opening act for him and based on his "[[Minneapolis sound]]", a hybrid mixture of funk, [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Pop music|pop]] and [[New wave music|new wave]]. Eventually, the band went on to define their own style of stripped-down funk based on tight musicianship and sexual themes.

Similar to Prince, other bands emerged during the P-Funk era and began to incorporate uninhibited sexuality, dance-oriented themes, [[synthesizer]]s and other electronic technologies to continue to craft funk hits. These included [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]], [[Zapp (band)|Zapp]], the [[Gap Band]], the [[Bar-Kays]], and the [[Dazz Band]], who all found their biggest hits in the early 1980s. By the latter half of the 1980s, pure funk had lost its commercial impact; however, pop artists from [[Michael Jackson]] to Culture Club often used funk beats.