what exactly makes music “funk”, or “funk-y”?

Question

I was showing a musician friend of mine some songs I’m listening to, and he told me: you like funk music.
I do have an idea of what kind of music is funk, and I have heard of James Brown before. However, I couldn’t say what the distinguishing features of funk music are. I have no background in music or musical theory at all.

So – what exactly defines funk music?

In: Other

Answer 1

An aside but an interesting one, funk has become a catch-all term in a lot of ways. Baile funk, often just referred to as funk in Brazil, is nothing like funk music, same with future funk and same with UK funky, and even funky house.