London based Freestyle Records is one of the best funk and soul labels in the world. I like to think of them as a new-school version of Stax Records. Set up in late 2003 by the Jazz Cafe’s Adrian Gibson, Freestyle Records has rapidly amassed an impressive catalog of well-known musicians. Some of their featured artists include Fred Wesley, Me’shell Ndegeochello, Soulive, Chali 2Na (Jurassic 5) and Michael Franti (Spearhead).

If you dig deeper into their catalog you can find some serious Meters-style funk and Afrobeat music. My favorites are The Apples, The Bamboos, Lack Of Afro, Speedometer, Cookin’ On 3 Burners and Manteca. They have another fifty or so artists that I’m still exploring. Simply put, Freestyle has a treasure chest of funk.

The Bamboos

MP3: Lack of Afro – Mongrel Strut
MP3: Cookin’ On 3 Burners – Mango Skin
MP3: The Bamboos – Voodoo Doll
MP3: Manteca – Afro Funky
MP3: Speedometer – Meter’s Running
MP3: The Apples – Run This Town

The Apples

Download:
Lack of Afro – Press On (iTunes)
The Bamboos – Step It Up (iTunes)
Manteca – Ritmo y Sabor (iTunes)
Speedometer – Four Flights Up (iTunes)
The Apples – Buzzin' About (iTunes)
Cookin' On 3 Burners – Baked, Broiled and Fried (iTunes)

Freestyle Records Myspace Page (Click Here)

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