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Minneapolis sound

The Minneapolis sound is a subgenre of funk rock with elements of new wave and synth-pop, that was pioneered by Minneapolis, Minnesota-based musicians Prince and André Cymone in the late 1970s.[1] Its popularity was given a boost throughout the 1980s by Prince and groups he organized or produced, including the Time, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Sheila E., the Family, and the offshoots from his band the Revolution, Wendy & Lisa and Brownmark. After leaving the Time, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Morris Day, and Jesse Johnson all moved on to successful careers. Minnesota acts indirectly associated with or not associated with Prince also utilized this musical style, including Ta Mara & the Seen, Mazarati and the Jets.

Minneapolis Sound

Late 1970s, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Dance-pop

According to the Rolling Stone Album Guide, "the Minneapolis sound... loomed over mid-'80s R&B and pop, not to mention the next two decades' worth of electro, house, and techno."[2]


Those inspired by the style were not necessarily from Minnesota. While some artists who came from Minnesota were influenced by Prince's work, others came from elsewhere, such as Flint, Michigan's Ready for the World.

generally replace horn sections of trumpets and saxophones, and are used more as accent than as fill or background.

Synthesizers

The rhythm is often faster and less than traditional funk, and owes much to new wave music.

syncopated

Guitars, while usually playing "clean" for parts, are frequently much louder and more aggressively processed during solos than in most traditional funk.

rhythm

The "bottom" of the sound is less -heavy than traditional funk; drums and keyboards fill more of the "bottom".

bass

The are more highly processed than in traditional funk, and on recordings are often replaced with a drum machine.

drums

While the "Minneapolis sound" is a form of funk, it has some distinguishing characteristics:

Twin Cities hip hop

Music of Minnesota

Henderson, Alex. . Allmusic. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011.

"The Minneapolis Sound"

Ohmes, Jeremy (June 4, 2009). . PopMatters.

"The Minneapolis Sound"

Rashad Shabazz, . The Conversation, January 27, 2020.

How Minneapolis made Prince