Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Funk rock1984

Second genre

Rap rock1986

Head to headFunk rock vs Rap rock
Funk rock: heaviness 5, melody 7, speed 6. Rap rock: heaviness 6, melody 6, speed 6.Heaviness5 / 6Melody7 / 6Speed6 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Rap rock puts an actual rapper over rock instrumentation. Funk rock keeps a singer and takes the rhythmic vocabulary rather than the vocal one.

Rap rock is rapped where funk rock is sung cleanly, at much the same pace, around 90 to 130 bpm. To hear the difference, play Red Hot Chili Peppers next to Run-DMC & Aerosmith. Rap rock grew out of funk rock, two years later.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Funk rock5
Rap rock6
+1
Speed
Funk rock6
Rap rock6
level
Melody
Funk rock7
Rap rock6
−1

Funk rock

1984 · California, USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Funk rock

In short

Slap bass and funk grooves under rock guitars. Rap rock, and through it nu metal, start here.

How it sounds

  • Slap bass or a very prominent bass tone as the lead instrument.
  • Funk-style guitar with ninth chords and wah-wah, alternating with heavy riffs.
  • Syncopated groove and drums full of ghost notes.

Key acts

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Faith No More
  • Living Colour

Start here

The pickFaith No More - Angel Dust. An album that deliberately sabotages its own success.

Full page →

Rap rock

1986 · New York, USA

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Funk rock › Rap rock

In short

Rapped vocals over rock riffs. The Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaboration opened the door; Rage turned it into a political weapon.

How it sounds

  • Rapped verses over guitar riffs, with drums borrowed from breakbeats.
  • DJ scratching or samples built into the arrangement.
  • Groove on the downbeat, built for movement rather than speed.

Key acts

  • Run-DMC & Aerosmith
  • Beastie Boys
  • Rage Against the Machine

Start here

The pickRage Against the Machine - the debut. No synths and no samples, just four people.

Full page →