Riddim Box: Excursions in the UK Funky Underground

2010 was the peak of “UK funky.” The rowdily joyful sound crammed influences from US and South African house, dancehall, soca, Afrobeats and grime into its grooves and could be heard blasting out of every other cars in British cities, especially London. The Soul Jazz label and compiler Kris Jones followed the Box of Dub dubstep series with this, focusing on the mainly instrumental side of funky without losing any of that rowdiness. Older heads from UK garage scene (MJ Cole, Sunshine) fit alongside funky scene powerhouses (Donae’o, Hard House Banton) and general outsiders (Altered Natives, Kode9), all united by a delight in total dance energy and window-rattling bass.