Page 14 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

Will Smith
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Funk was born out of a combination
of jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues,
three styles of music with roots in
African-American communities. Funk
music is usually raucous, with a heavy
bass line and brassy horn section. Some
specialized funk includes rock-and-roll
guitar licks. Among the most popular
funk artists at the time, and some of
Smith’s favorites, were the Bar-Kays and
Parliament/Funkadelic. Funk reached
its peak of popularity in the early and
mid-1970s.
Funk Music