Interview: B-Funk Shares Insights on His Musical Journey

Thank you for speaking with us at African Hype. What’s the first thing you hope new listeners feel when listening to your music?

Thank you for having me. The first thing I hope the listeners feel is the stories that I tell. I mean, not every song is not gonna have a story, but the majority of them are. Then, I would like them to analyze the lyrics. There’s a lot of wittiness and funny lines that I say.

Congratulations on your new album “Cosmos” What was the inspiration behind it?

Thank you. It’s a legendary project for sure. I wouldn’t consider it new. It released in November of last year, so I wouldn’t consider it new. The inspiration for Cosmos was space. The universe. See, I’m into planets, stars, science, etc. Cosmos is the final part in a trilogy of projects.

What has your musical journey been like? Run us through your story.

I was born in Los Angeles California. My parents would throw these house parties and play music from Cameo, Zapp And Roger, S.O.S Band, etc. I just love that sound. It was pure Funk to me you feel me? In 2006, I moved to North Carolina. I was introduced to an audio program called “Fruity Loops”. I wasn’t, fully, interested at the time because I wanted to concentrate on schoolwork. Two years later, I ended up getting a laptop with Fruity Loops on it and I played around with it everyday. One day after school, I was on Fruity Loops and I told myself “Imma take this serious”. It’s been like that ever since. That’s as far as beats and instrumentals go. Fast forward to the end of 2012. I had graduated highschool. My mom knew I was making beats and she bought me an MXL 990. That’s the microphone that I still use now. Now I can put vocals over my instrumentals and things like that. People, often, get it confused when it comes to my music. They label me as a rapper when, in fact, rap is only about 5% of what I do when it comes to music. I just do what I feel. If I feel like rapping, I’m gonna rap. Singing? I’m gonna sing. If I feel like a track doesn’t need to have vocals, it won’t. Feel me? Now, I’m concentrating more on the business side of things. Marketing. Promotion. Those kinds of things. I’m always working on new tracks though. Learning new things everyday too.

Who are your main musical influences?

Too many too name. Zapp and Roger, Cameo, S.O.S Band, Ice Cube, E40, Too Short, Boosie Badazz, Dam-Funk. A whole lot more for real.

If you didn’t like music what would you like to do?

Nothing. Music is my life.

Do you have any dream collaborations? Who are they?

I wanted to collaborate with Roger Troutman and Nipsey Hussle, but they unfortunately passed. Rest in peace to those legends. I want to collaborate with Dam-Funk, Too Short, Ice Cube, E40, Boosie, and Yhung T.O for sure.

What’s your motto or the advice you live by?

Listen, always learn something, be loyal, protect yourself, and keep going.

For our final question, is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to everyone who supports me. Even the haters and stalkers. Shoutout to my sister KARMAA. Y’all go run her up. Shoutout to Dasmonique. Shoutout to Hooda over on War Stories Radio Live. Keep supporting me and stay tapped in. Be on the lookout for more things to come.

Follow B-Funk on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to get more updates about his upcoming projects about his upcoming music.