Minneapolis sound

Identifying characteristics#

While the Minneapolis sound incorporates many of funk’s quintessential elements, it bears several distinguishing characteristics: * Synthesizers generally replace horn sections of trumpets and saxophones, and are used more as accent than as fill or background. * The rhythm is often faster and generally less syncopated than traditional funk, owing much to new wave music. At the same time, dominant rhythm lines are often accented with repeating percussive fills at fixed intervals, often courtesy a Linn or other drum machine. * Lead guitar is frequently much louder and more aggressively processed during solos than in most traditional funk, while a wah-wah effect is heavily relied upon for rhythm guitar accompaniments. * Compositions often incorporate orchestral string arrangements, adding a symphonic pathos. * The “bottom” of the sound is less bass-heavy than traditional funk; drums and keyboards fill more of the “bottom”.

See also#

• Twin Cities hip-hop
• Music of Minnesota

External links#

• Rashad Shabazz, How Minneapolis made Prince. The Conversation, January 27, 2020.