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Women of Funk: Essential Albums You Need to Hear

Funk isn’t just a man’s game. Since the beloved genre’s beginnings, women have been trailblazing a path through it, and breaking barriers in the process.

By Brandon Ousley

Celebrating the Women of Funk, featuring Betty Davis, Labelle, Chaka Khan, and more

Funk music is too often viewed as a male-dominant genre. Read any famous music publication or ask a random music fan about all-time funk greats, they’d likely point to obvious male figures, like James Brown, George Clinton, Sly Stone, and Prince. Even some hardcore funk aficionados sideline women, going as far as to reduce their contributions to model album sleeves. It’s a terrible oversight, as a bevy of female artist pushed the envelope right at funk music’s height. 

Little ink has been spilled on the vital work of James Brown’s female protégés Vicki Anderson, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney, and Yvonne Fair. Similarly, the short-lived female trio, Little Sister, which was overseen by Sly Stone and led by his younger sister, Vet Stewart, remains overlooked, despite churchy, rhythmic-based goldmines like “You’re the One” and their cover of “Somebody’s Watching’ You.” When it comes to George Clinton’s ParliamentFunkadelic collective, female funk offshoots like Brides of Funkenstein and Parlet amassed strong cult followings in their prime, but their work doesn’t get the recognition of their flagship brothers. 

Yet, there have been a few women who haven’t fallen through the cracks. Chaka Khan, whose fiery, versatile voice spans her decorated six-year career, remains one of the most recognizable and enduring titans of the game. Another is the late Betty Davis, whose pioneering work has now become reappraised as funk-rock benchmarks and her openly sexual lyrics helped shatter the genre’s double standard. 

From Labelle’s daring feminist and political romps to Janelle Monáe’s genre-bending sci-fi sagas, plenty of ladies — past, present, and future — have torn the roof off as hard as the men, bringing their own idiosyncrasies, energy, and fierceness to the forefront. Here are 20 essential albums that honor their towering musical contributions.


Lyn Collins

Think (About It) (1972)


Labelle

Pressure Cookin’ (1973)


Vicki Anderson

Mother Popcorn (Vicki Anderson Anthology) (2004)


Betty Davis

They Say I’m Different (1974)


Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan

Rufusized (1974)


Millie Jackson

Caught Up (1974)


Yvonne Fair

The Bitch Is Black (1975)


The Pointer Sisters

Steppin’ (1975)


Mother’s Finest

Another Mother Further (1977)


Brides Of Funkenstein

Funk Or Walk (1978)


Patrice Rushen

Pizzazz (1979)


Parlet

Invansion Of The Booty Snatchers (1979)


Teena Marie

Irons In The Fire (1980)


Vanity 6

Vanity 6 (1982)


Sheila E.

In The Glamorous Life (1984)


Klymaxx

Meeting In The Ladies Room (1984)


Me’Shell NdegéOcello

Peace Beyond Passion (1996)


Erykah Badu

Worldwide Underground (2003)


Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Naturally (2005)


Janelle Monáe

The Electric Lady (2013)


Brandon Ousley (he/him) is a music journalist, writer, and editor from Chicago. So far, he’s penned for publications like Bandcamp Daily, The Coda Collection, Albumism, and Discogs, specializing in soul, jazz, funk, and more. When he’s not writing, he’s at a record shop somewhere, or praising Stevie Wonder’s genius on X.   

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