We Want the Funk

A high-energy journey through the rebellious roots and infectious rhythms of funk—a genre born from Black creativity that reshaped music forever.

Born from the polyrhythmic pulse of Afrobeat, the soul-drenched roots of gospel and R&B, the swagger of early jazz, funk music rose as a revolutionary force in sound. Fuelled by James Brown’s explosive energy, electrified by George Clinton’s intergalactic Parliament-Funkadelic, and driven by Fela Kuti’s Afrobeats, funk carved out a space that was defiant, ecstatic, and deeply rooted in Black identity. This is the story of how funk rewired popular music—one syncopated step at a time.

Directors Stanley Nelson and Nicole London bring a fun, high-energy vibe to this deep dive into a genre that was created to make you groove. Along the way, iconic artists past and present—like James Brown, George Clinton, David Bowie, Questlove, David Byrne, and more—share personal stories and insights on funk’s lasting legacy. We Want the Funk is a celebration of rhythm, rebellion, and the irresistible power of the funk.