The Groove

The greatest funk artists of all time

49 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Prince

United States of America · 1958–2016 · funk

23.372

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

Bruno Mars

United States of America · 1985– · pop 0.772

26 The Used

United States of America · 2001– · rock 0.691

Janelle Monáe

United States of America · 1985– · pop 0.683

28 N*E*R*D

United States of America · 2001– · rock 0.621

David Bowie

United Kingdom · 1947–2016 · rock 0.615

30 CAKE

United States of America · 1992– · rock 0.586

31 Harry Styles

United Kingdom · 1994– · pop 0.567

32 Bill Withers

United States of America · 1938–2020 · soul 0.560

Coldplay

United Kingdom · 1996– · alternative rock 0.557

Talking Heads

United States of America · 1974–1991 · new wave 0.518

35 Say What?

United Kingdom · 2005– · funk 0.492

Gorillaz

United Kingdom · 1999– · electronic 0.428

37 Fatboy Slim

United Kingdom · 1963– · big beat 0.392

38 The Isley Brothers

United States of America · 1954– · soul 0.356

39 Al Green

United States of America · 1946– · soul 0.354

40 Paul Simon

United States of America · 1941– · pop 0.326

41 D’Angelo

United States of America · 1974–2025 · neo soul 0.300

Massive Attack

United Kingdom · 1987– · trip hop 0.289

Brian Eno

United Kingdom · 1948– · ambient 0.273

44 David Byrne

United States of America · 1952– · art rock 0.273

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

United Kingdom · 1966–1969 · blues rock 0.242

Toto

United States of America · 1977– · rock 0.234

47 Mr. Bungle

United States of America · 1985– · experimental rock 0.210

Beck

United States of America · 1970– · alternative rock 0.200