Funky/London/UK House
xlr8r funky / funkstep b.s.
This is Brandon Ivers, the guy that wrote the XLR8R article...
Tim, I'm bummed you didn't like the piece because I respect your opinion quite a bit. However, in my defense, I logged over 16 hours of phone interviews with producers and DJs for this piece, not to mention a ton of email interviews and overall obsessing that took me into as close a place of authority as I was able to get.
In my mind, the whole point of the XLR8R piece was to illustrate, in the words of the DJs/producers themselves, how funky fits into the hardcore continuum. And while XLR8R sensationalized my intent by putting "Funkstep?" on the cover, I tried to show the name was basically a joke to begin with--I even said as much in the article.
Anyway, if you want to call bullshit on me or the assertions I made, go right ahead, but know that my points didn't come from outright ignorance. I buy these records, too. And I went about as deep as I could go without totally alienating my audience.
This is Brandon Ivers, the guy that wrote the XLR8R article...
Tim, I'm bummed you didn't like the piece because I respect your opinion quite a bit. However, in my defense, I logged over 16 hours of phone interviews with producers and DJs for this piece, not to mention a ton of email interviews and overall obsessing that took me into as close a place of authority as I was able to get.
In my mind, the whole point of the XLR8R piece was to illustrate, in the words of the DJs/producers themselves, how funky fits into the hardcore continuum. And while XLR8R sensationalized my intent by putting "Funkstep?" on the cover, I tried to show the name was basically a joke to begin with--I even said as much in the article.
Anyway, if you want to call bullshit on me or the assertions I made, go right ahead, but know that my points didn't come from outright ignorance. I buy these records, too. And I went about as deep as I could go without totally alienating my audience.
nomos
Administrator
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Brandon, I think the article came across as pretty clearly well-researched, I just think the dichotomies the article sets up aren't true to how the scene actually works, where people play tunes that fall into any and often all three of the "categories" (house tracks / skank tracks / funkstep) and don't draw any distinctions.
The Marcus Nasty Subjam set posted above provides a good example of this. Remove the vocals and MCs and you could probably pass it off as a "funkstep" set... but why would anyone want to do that?
In this regard, "funkstep" as a genre idea is a "funky-minus" proposition rather than a "funky-plus" proposition - in most ways "funkstep" tunes (e.g. a tune like Scratcha's "Soule Power") are basically where the scene is at anyway on a groove level, but in order to qualify as funkstep they must come minus MCs and vocals and any decent hooks or hint of cheese or rave or sex (and without a MC toasting on top of course).
Ultimately, what gets my back up is less the article itself, and more how it feeds into a kind of readymade narrative whereby lots of funky house skeptics can convince themselves that the only "experimental" (and hence worthy) funky is that which is already getting a sort of post-dubstep seal of approval. It's the - what'd i'd call - "boomkatization" of critical (and ultimately popular) receptions to funky that I can't help but react to.
Of course a lot of this is me getting defensive about an article calling the time of death (IMO way prematurely) for a scene that I'm so emotionally invested in.
The Marcus Nasty Subjam set posted above provides a good example of this. Remove the vocals and MCs and you could probably pass it off as a "funkstep" set... but why would anyone want to do that?
In this regard, "funkstep" as a genre idea is a "funky-minus" proposition rather than a "funky-plus" proposition - in most ways "funkstep" tunes (e.g. a tune like Scratcha's "Soule Power") are basically where the scene is at anyway on a groove level, but in order to qualify as funkstep they must come minus MCs and vocals and any decent hooks or hint of cheese or rave or sex (and without a MC toasting on top of course).
Ultimately, what gets my back up is less the article itself, and more how it feeds into a kind of readymade narrative whereby lots of funky house skeptics can convince themselves that the only "experimental" (and hence worthy) funky is that which is already getting a sort of post-dubstep seal of approval. It's the - what'd i'd call - "boomkatization" of critical (and ultimately popular) receptions to funky that I can't help but react to.
Of course a lot of this is me getting defensive about an article calling the time of death (IMO way prematurely) for a scene that I'm so emotionally invested in.
Tentative Andy
I'm in the Meal Deal
^^ Tim I feel what you're saying there, in the interests of fairness I'll have to track down the original article though.
But what I really wanted to say is, even though it's been a wee while since I've heard him on a set, I'm very pleased that Rankin is starting to get some respect/love from a lot of people. There's a real knack to being a good specialist hosting MC, and he seems to have pretty much nailed it.
But what I really wanted to say is, even though it's been a wee while since I've heard him on a set, I'm very pleased that Rankin is starting to get some respect/love from a lot of people. There's a real knack to being a good specialist hosting MC, and he seems to have pretty much nailed it.
Tentative Andy
I'm in the Meal Deal
Tbh I think what I like about him is that he lacks any of the smugness I sometimes feel from other MCs like Viper or Versatile. He's very charming. :slanted:
benjybars
village elder.
he sounds soo rubbish on radio sometimes tho.. other times he smacks it.
favourite funky bars - "ladies, if you're lookin buff, come and have a drink, come and have a puff"
Grievous Angel
Beast of Burden
I do not play or make funkstep.
that's not a diss to xlr8r or anything, but i really hate that term.
that's not a diss to xlr8r or anything, but i really hate that term.
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reynolds is right in his latest post although you can hear his brain creaking as it conflicts with the ideology.... as he realises the music is better and more exciting and sexy than the ideology he lets ride him which would usually have him choose the stuff that falls neatly into place, but really isn't very sexy or exciting.
anyway we need to move on now we've garnered funkstep is a joke, haven't xlr8r covered crazy cousins b4? you know its just an angle a guess at a readership plus boomkat putting funky/dubstep is just a way of organising their database to sell shit to people, they have dubstep / grime as well drone / metal too probably, there is always juno they have garage / funky i think so you can use that if it fits better. thats the problem with editorial i guess.
anyway we need to move on now we've garnered funkstep is a joke, haven't xlr8r covered crazy cousins b4? you know its just an angle a guess at a readership plus boomkat putting funky/dubstep is just a way of organising their database to sell shit to people, they have dubstep / grime as well drone / metal too probably, there is always juno they have garage / funky i think so you can use that if it fits better. thats the problem with editorial i guess.
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Algierstwin
Well-known member
marcus on the 16th of september. . . who is guesting? or standing in from him?
mak?
mak?
Slothrop
Tight but Polite
It does kind of seem like a shame that the dubstep / funky crossover mostly involves chucking out all the cheesy, fun elements of the music though. It's definitely a positive influence but I kind of hoped it might displace some of the "serious eyes-down music for serious eyes-down people" vibe as well as just being a useful rhythmic kick up the arse.
It's still an exciting development, but every time I hear a comment like "some of this funky stuff is alright once you get rid of the gay vocals and the cheesy stuff," part of me dies...
It's still an exciting development, but every time I hear a comment like "some of this funky stuff is alright once you get rid of the gay vocals and the cheesy stuff," part of me dies...
Algierstwin
Well-known member
it's alll about the balance. you can play skanks and soulful house and tribal rollers and whatever you please as long as the set keeps on moving in the right direction -