While it does share such elements as a broken drum beat, a quick listen reveals a slower tempo than the standard breakbeat track, with a more aggressive style than nu – funk. In addition to the in your face basslines it’s famous for, Ghetto Funk also utilizes well known riffs and timeless vocals from a variety of past hits and, as you can hear, often provides a very upbeat vibe throughout.
After witnessing the potential that Ghetto Funk was capable of, Will Streetwise and Slim Goodgroove (of Goodgroove Records) joined forces and in late 2009, launched the now infamous blog at ghettofunk.co.uk to help connect artists with this new form of bass filled funk. A year later, a subsequent record label under the same name was formed and the sound quickly began to pick up steam around the world – especially in Canada. And while Ghetto Funk has a loyal following from coast to coast in the land of ice and snow, it definitely makes its second home in the province of British Columbia.
As Ghetto Funk spread around the globe, the sound was infecting dance floors and ear drums alike right here in BC. In Kelowna, Stickybuds was fresh off his fabled partnership with JPOD and began to focus his efforts more on the bass fueled funk we know him for today. Meanwhile, the Funkee Wadd was busy establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the Island and helped bring Victoria to the attention of the Ghetto Funk family. Even in recent years the call of beautiful BC was too much for some to resist, as Australia’s Slynk moved his funkedelic efforts to Vancouver.
While the funky breaks may not have as much pull south of the border, it hasn’t stopped DJs and producers in the US from flirting with their own spin on the sound. In Miami, Danish born BadboE established Breakbeat Paradise Recordings to help the sound grow along the east coast. While in Colorado, Bobby C Sound TV has proven that you don’t have to play what’s popular to be popular on the decks – if it sounds good, people will like it.
https://soundcloud.com/bobby-c-sound-tv/shut-em-down-bobby-c-sound-tv
Today the likes of Father Funk, JFB, and WBBL are on the front lines of the sound, while behind the scenes the Ghetto Funk crew has grown into a handpicked family of elite artists helping one another to further develop their skills and talents. And while we could go on and on and on (and on) about breaks as a whole, what you just read briefly sums up what the Ghetto Funk brand is all about – celebrating feel good vibes with the ones you love, and paying respects to the ones who did it first.
Sound like something you might be interested in? Our friends in BC can receive their dose of funky feelings as label manager Sammy Senior is set to tour the province in March! But just in case driving to remote areas of a mountainous landscape in the middle of winter isn’t your thing, then tune your ears into the series of podcasts released by DJ Roast Beatz, the latest recruit of the Ghetto Funk family.
Are you a fan of Ghetto Funk? How do you feel it represents EDM as a whole? Share your opinions on Facebook & Twitter or get the conversation started below!
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts!
Part man, part buffalo, part maple syrup. Pretty much the Canadian version of Grizzly Adams.
