George Clinton Praises "This is the Textbook of Funk"! "The Ultimate Guide to FUNK" to be Published on August 4th

DU BOOKS, the publishing division of Disk Union Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Representative Director: Masahiko Hirohata), will publish "The Ultimate Guide to FUNK" on August 4, 2026 (Tue).

In 2025, Sly Stone, the innovator of funk, and D'Angelo, who pioneered neo-soul and carried on the spirit of funk to the modern era, both passed away. These events have provided a significant opportunity to reflect on the progression of funk music and its legacy.

Much of the groove that underpins contemporary popular music, from hip-hop, R&B, neo-soul, and modern jazz to pop, is connected to the vast wellspring of funk. However, considering its immense influence, there is a scarcity of resources that systematically explain the history and scope of funk.

This book is a disc guide that delves into the history of funk with an unprecedented volume of 1,552 entries.

Chapter 1, "The Innovators of Funk," explains the innovations and representative works of four pioneers who forged the path of funk history: James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, George Clinton/P-Funk, and Prince. It clarifies the lineage that forms the core of funk music.

Chapter 2, "1960s-1970s," covers the birth and golden age of funk against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power. It introduces legendary bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Ohio Players, Kool & The Gang, The Meters, and War, while also tracing the expansion of funk worldwide to Europe, Africa, Brazil, and Japan.

Chapter 3, "1980s," addresses the transitional period marked by the disco boom and digitalization. While large bands faced a downturn, it provides an overview of the emergence of new grooves, including new forms of funk pioneered by Prince, Rick James, and Zapp/Roger, as well as go-go, new jack swing, and hip-hop.

Chapter 4, "1990s-2000s," examines funk as it evolved alongside the development of hip-hop and R&B. It introduces diverse scenes such as G-funk, Southern rap, neo-soul, acid jazz, and deep funk, which evolved into new expressions while inheriting the legacy of the 70s. It captures the dynamic movement of funk's descendants.

Chapter 5, "2010s-2020s," considers funk in an era where it is less visible, with eclecticism transcending eras and genres becoming the norm. Through Vulfpeck, Dâm-Funk, Tuxedo, DJ Harrison, Thundercat, and Bruno Mars, it deciphers how funk continues to evolve within contemporary popular music.

The book exhaustively covers seminal and classic albums that built the golden age, while also thoroughly introducing hidden gems and obscure rare records. It spans the evolution of important artists' works, the spread to related genres like jazz-funk and hip-hop, and from pre-funk of the 60s to the latest forms. The four-panel comic strips about funk by Fukkin' JAY, known for his manga about James Brown, are also not to be missed.

The cover illustration is by Teruhiko Yumura, familiar to black music fans for "The Encyclopedia of Sweet Soul." The obi features a comment from George Clinton, a pivotal figure in funk history: "This is the textbook of funk!"

Major retailers include Disk Union, Tower Records, HMV, Amazon, Rakuten Books, and bookstores nationwide. This is the definitive guide for every household.

Contents

Foreword: Let's Embark on an Endless Journey of Funk Exploration!

Chapter 1: Funky President -- The Innovators of Funk James Brown -- The Origin and Apex who Created Funk Music Itself [Album Guide] James Brown Sly Stone -- A Unique Genius Who Oscillated Between a Communal Band Image and Intimate DIY Funk [Album Guide] Sly Stone George Clinton/P-Funk -- A Bizarre Collective That Built a Vast Empire with Parliament and Funkadelic as Twin Pillars [Album Guide] Parliament/Funkadelic Prince -- A Solitary Musician Who Continuously Shaped Abundant Ideas at an Astonishing Pace [Album Guide] Prince [Manga] "The Birth of Funk," "Sly & The Family Business"

Chapter 2: One Nation Under A Groove -- 1960s-1970s

[Album Guide] 1960s-1970s [Manga] "Retirement Announcement," "Name Change"

Chapter 3: Computer Love -- 1980s

[Album Guide] 1980s [Manga] "Dianjerou Chinese Restaurant in Town," "Snack Erika"

Chapter 4: Rhymin' On The Funk -- 1990s-2000s

[Album Guide] 1990s-2000s [Manga] "24K Magic," "Funky President"

Chapter 5: It Gets Funkier -- 2010s-2020s [Album Guide] 2010s-2020s

Author Introductions Index

Distinguished Contributors FUNK OF AGES, Abokado, Saki Katayama, Hozumi Kaneko, Yu Kurosu, Akira Kobuchi, Minoru Komakin, Eisuke Sato, Fukkin' JAY, Ryosuke Suzuki, Affi Takahashi, Dr. Funkshitelu, Shindo Torii, Shinpei Nitta, Daiki Yamamoto, Shogo Yokoyama

Supervisor's Profile *Radio, TV, and media appearances are highly welcome! FUNK OF AGES Born in 1973. Struck by "Lovesexy" in 9th grade and baptized by P-Funk in 11th grade. Launched the disc review site "FUNK OF AGES" in 2014. Never imagined that an ordinary person unrelated to the industry would end up supervising a funk disc guide book... https://blackfunk.blog.jp/

"Book Information" Title: The Ultimate Guide to FUNK Subtitle: From James Brown, Sly Stone, George Clinton/P-Funk, Prince to D'Angelo, Bruno Mars, Vulfpeck Supervision: FUNK OF AGES, diskunion Cover Illustration: Teruhiko Yumura Chapter Opening Illustrations: Fukkin' JAY Design: Kazuhiro Morita Specifications: A5 / Paperback / 368 pages Price: ¥2,700 + tax ISBN: 978-4-86647-269-0 Release Date: August 4, 2026 Publisher: Disk Union Co., Ltd. Distributor: DU BOOKS Product Page: https://diskunion.net/dubooks/ct/detail/1009251289 (*Images and text may be freely reprinted)