Zapp

About

Zapp: The vocoder-drenched funk futurists who warped the '80s. Zapp didn't just play funk; they sculpted it, forging a sonic landscape of talk boxes, rubbery basslines, and infectious grooves that continue to reverberate through hip-hop and electronic music today. Formed in Dayton, Ohio, by brothers Roger and Lester Troutman, Zapp's sound was a potent cocktail of Parliament-Funkadelic's psychedelic experimentation, Sly & the Family Stone's socially conscious funk, and Kraftwerk's electronic precision. Their self-titled debut album in 1980, featuring the monster hit "More Bounce to the Ounce," launched them into the stratosphere. Roger's signature talk box vocals became their instantly recognizable trademark, adding a robotic soulfulness to their sound. While "More Bounce" remains their most iconic track, albums like *Zapp II* and *Zapp III* solidified their influence, consistently delivering forward-thinking funk anthems. Though tragedy struck with the deaths of Roger and Larry Troutman in 1999, Zapp's legacy endures. Their music has been sampled by everyone from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, ensuring their enduring impact on contemporary music. The band, led by surviving members, continues to tour, keeping the funk alive and reminding audiences of Zapp's indelible mark on the musical landscape.