Tarek Funk is Syrian Palestinian multi-instrumentalist/emcee/band leader making Arabesque Afrobeat Funk Hip-Hop fusion music. Tarek Funk began his journey as an artist in 2009, and has independently toured Canada from coast to coast, performed in intimate DIY venues as well as large festivals, appeared on college radio charts with 3 LPs and 3 EPs, as well as a number of guest appearances on other artists’ tracks.
Tarek Funk makes liberation themed music with poetic conscious lyricism and powerful political messages. His background as a an improvisational jazz artist has compelled him towards creating Hip-Hop music with a live band element, slowly growing his sound into a unique expression that tastefully blends Arabic folk, Afrobeat, Funk, and experimental Jazz. His live band’s show packs a heavy punch as it balances Tarek’s crowd-control Master of Ceremony skills, with danceable grooves delivered by a virtuosic jazz-infused four piece band.
Tarek Funk has shared stages with world-class artists such as Femi Kuti, Yasiin Bey, Raekwon The Chef, Ikebe Shakedown, Bahamadia, C.L. Smooth, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, as well as Canadian talents such as The Souljazz Orchestra, Ahmed Moneka, Lemon Bucket Orchestra, Lee Reed, Kimmortal, and Shad to name a few.
Tarek Funk performs in multiple formats, including with a 4pc band, as an MC with a DJ, and as a solo MC/multi-instrument live looper, depending on the occasion. Tarek Funk is best described as one half James Brown, one half Black Thought, one half Fela Kuti, All halves enigma.
