If you love hip-hop, you love funk—even if you don’t realize it. The breakbeats that powered early rap tracks? Lifted straight from funk records. The thumping basslines, the swirling organs, the drums that hit like a gut punch? All funk DNA. Hip-hop was built on those grooves, and even in an era of digital production, that connection hasn’t faded.
From James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic, funk’s rhythms and textures have been the backbone of rap since the days when Kool Herc started looping breaks at Bronx block parties. And while sampling has kept those sounds alive, there’s also a new generation of funk bands making music that taps directly into that lineage—crafting break-heavy, raw, and deeply groove-centric tracks that feel tailor-made for hip-hop heads.
If you’re into beats that knock, basslines that feel like they’re moving the ground beneath you, and melodies that tell stories without words, these modern funk bands need to be on your radar.
El Michels Affair
It’s impossible to talk about funk for hip-hop heads without bringing up El Michels Affair. Led by Leon Michels, the band first grabbed attention with Enter the 37th Chamber, a full instrumental reimagining of Wu-Tang Clan classics, and their later works maintains a funk-fueled essence steeped in cinematic soul—rich horn stabs, rolling basslines, and beats that wouldn’t feel out of place on a RZA-produced record. They don’t just recreate hip-hop instrumentals; they play funk the way a beatmaker might, layering textures that feel both vintage and raw, like they were made to be sampled.
Karate Boogaloo
Melbourne is quietly becoming the epicenter for breakbeat-centric funk, and Karate Boogaloo is one of its most exciting exports. This quartet is known for taking funk from the past and mixing it with hip-hop from today, creating instrumental grooves that are both nostalgic and fresh. Their KB’s Mixtape series is a tribute to hip-hop’s sample culture, reinterpreting the original songs behind iconic rap beats. It’s a digger’s delight—part of the fun is recognizing the samples they cover. If you’re a fan of instrumental funk with a touch of hip-hop, Karate Boogaloo should be on your radar.
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band
Hailing from Hamburg, Germany, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are the masters of turning hip-hop classics into funky steel pan grooves. Their breakout moment came with a cover of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.,” which transformed the track’s iconic melody into a sun-soaked, island groove. Their 2021 album, Expansions, mixes original compositions with covers of hip-hop staples from J Dilla, Nas, and Jay-Z. BRSB’s knack for blending steel pan melodies with neck-snapping drums makes their music irresistible for any hip-hop head.
Nautilus
Japan’s Nautilus is the embodiment of modern “rare groove.” Fronted by drummer Toshiyuki Sasaki, this trio blends jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop with an intricate yet accessible style. Their cover-heavy discography pays homage to golden-era hip-hop samples, reimagining them with live instrumentation that feels both nostalgic and new. Their album Live at King Georg captures the raw energy of their European tour and showcases their deep connection to hip-hop-inspired grooves. If you’re into jazzy breaks and soulful funk, Nautilus is a name to remember.
The Pro-Teens
The Pro-Teens are an enigmatic outfit out of Melbourne who’ve perfected the art of lo-fi, sample-ready funk that sounds like it was dug straight out of a dusty crate. Cloaked in anonymity, their music is a masterclass in breakbeat-heavy grooves and cinematic moods, channeling the spirit of library music and dusty loops that would feel right at home in a Madlib set. Albums like their MF Doom homage MF Teen: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed are perfect gateways for hip-hop heads who appreciate raw, unpolished funk that’s begging to be looped.
13th Ward Social Club
Under the moniker 13th Ward Social Club, Providence-based artist Justin Catoni is a one-man sound orchestra drawing influences from European and African folk music while staying rooted in funk. His tracks are built around head-nodding percussion and vibrant melodies that resonate with hip-hop sensibilities. His reinterpretative album Gainsbourg: Volume One is a masterclass in flipping classic French compositions into funky, breakbeat-rich grooves. If you like your funk with a touch of worldly flair, 13th Ward Social Club delivers.
Whatitdo Archive Group
Emerging from the high deserts of Reno, Whatitdo Archive Group are a collective that digs deep into mid-century exotica and library music to create their own brand of funk. Their 2023 album, Palace Of A Thousand Sounds, feels like the soundtrack to a lost ’70s crime film, blending cinematic themes with heavy funk grooves and psychedelic flourishes. Their music is a paradise for crate-diggers and sample hunters, offering complex compositions that hip-hop producers could easily chop into beats.
Doctor Bionic
Cincinnati’s Doctor Bionic is a collective of studio players led by producer Grimez, known for his work with 50 Cent, Talib Kweli, and Kool Keith. Their sound is defined by hard-hitting drums, deep basslines, atmospheric organs, and sharp guitar riffs—all mixed with a lo-fi aura that feels tailor-made for hip-hop heads. Their instrumental pieces are intricate yet gritty, drawing comparisons to El Michels Affair and The Gaslamp Killer. Doctor Bionic’s music is a treasure trove of breakbeats waiting to be sampled.
The Diasonics
Hailing from Moscow, The Diasonics describe their sound as “Hussar Funk,” a unique blend of Soviet-era psychedelia, deep funk, and cinematic soul. Their music is deeply groove-centric, full of dusty breakbeats, reverb-drenched guitars, and haunting organ melodies that feel like they were lifted from a lost spy film soundtrack. Their 2022 album Origin of Forms is a cinematic funk masterpiece, fusing Eastern European melodies with heavy-hitting hip-hop rhythms. It’s the kind of atmospheric, headnodic funk that bridges the past and present, perfect for fans of both instrumental hip-hop and dusty, analog funk.
E. Lundquist
Eric Borders explores experimental funk under his alter ego, E. Lundquist. Drawing heavy influence from ’70s library music, his tracks are rich with blaxploitation funk, cinematic themes, and jazz fusion, giving his music a cinematic quality that resonates with fans of Madlib and J Dilla. His 2024 album, Art Between Minds, is an introspective journey through jazz-funk landscapes that feel both nostalgic and futuristic.
The Offline
Felix Müller’s project The Offline is the soundtrack to an imagined film set along the Atlantic coastline of France, blending cinematic soul, psychedelic funk, and retro grooves with modern hip-hop influences. His 2023 album, La Couleur de la Mer, feels like a daydream, filled with nostalgic melodies and atmospheric vibes. If you’re into cinematic funk that tells a story, The Offline is for you.
Sven Wunder
Swedish composer Sven Wunder is a musical alchemist, blending global sounds with jazz, funk, and hip-hop influences. His albums Eastern Flowers and Wabi Sabi draw from Anatolian and Japanese music traditions, respectively, creating soundscapes that are as cinematic as they are groovy. With tracks like “Hanami” being sampled by Detroit rapper Danny Brown, Sven Wunder’s music is proof that funk and hip-hop remain deeply intertwined.
Pu Poo Platter
Brooklyn’s Pu Poo Platter blend jazzy funk, soul, and ethereal vibes with heavy breakbeats and psychedelic undertones. Their 2023 album, A Chilling Winter Night, showcases intricate horn arrangements, lush keys, and rhythm sections that go hard. Their sound is sophisticated yet gritty, making them a standout in New York’s contemporary funk scene.
Ironsides
Bay Area’s The Ironsides craft cinematic funk that feels like the score to a lost Blaxploitation film. Their 2023 album, Changing Light, mixes psych-soul with orchestral arrangements and hip-hop-inspired beats, creating an expansive, emotional listening experience. Their music is lush and atmospheric, perfect for fans of cinematic funk with a modern twist.
Cinephonic
Canadian composer Pierre Chrétien’s project Cinephonic is a love letter to classic film scores, blending funk, psychedelic rock, and spiritual jazz. His 2023 album Visions feels like a journey through time, with baroque themes wrapped in soulful grooves and head-nodding beats. If you love lush orchestration and cinematic soundscapes, Cinephonic is a must-listen.
