Interviews Next Wave

TCR EXCLUSIVE: CONTAGEOUS FUNK TALKS “BY ANY MEANS”

CONTAGEOUS FUNK’s relentlessly entrepreneurial spirit drives his genre-blending, expertly-crafted rap and hip-hop tracks. The Nyack, New York native threw

By TCR Staff

December 5, 2024

TCR EXCLUSIVE: CONTAGEOUS FUNK TALKS “BY ANY MEANS”

CONTAGEOUS FUNK’s relentlessly entrepreneurial spirit drives his genre-blending, expertly-crafted rap and hip-hop tracks. The Nyack, New York native threw himself into the music scene at ten years old, becoming a local celebrity as a party DJ. But it wasn’t until 16 that he was drawn to explore music production, forming his rap group Ruff Edgz with neighborhood friends. Though they broke a deal with Atlantic, the young group could not juggle their education and touring and eventually dissolved. But Funk resolved to persevere in this industry, enrolling at the Institute of Audio Research in New York City, where he discovered his passion for audio engineering.

Taking a break to hone his craft, Funk began to embark on his entrepreneurial pursuits alongside releasing music, starting his own production company, Rocktown Entertainment, at just 19. Today, ambitious Funk is the CEO of Real Street Enterprises, an umbrella company comprising a publishing house, record label, and more, actualized from the visions of Funk and his cousin. If that wasn’t enough, Funk is back to share new music, planning to release a fresh album, “Vindicated” next year. Certainly, Funk’s immersion in the industry has provided him with an incredibly solid foundation to propel his authentic tracks to greatness. Combined with his never-give-up mindset and rap prowess, CONTAGEOUS FUNK delivers the ultimate musical experience.

“BY ANY MEANS” is what some might call a “hustler song,” embodying the spirit of hustle culture. In some ways, it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, Funk strives to turn the negative stereotypes of hustle culture on its head—celebrating those who work hard to turn their money into more money. However, it also highlights the struggle of working tirelessly just to get by, revolving everything around making money because one has no other choice. As a self-made entrepreneur, the story resonates with Funk deeply. “There’s no second chances, no time to slip,” sings Funk, “So by any means imma double up and flip.” The track carries Funk’s signature sound—perfectly balancing old-school funk rhythms with a bouncing trap beat and impressively fluid flow. Despite its complex commentary on grind culture, Funk orients listeners toward the positive—emphasizing one’s ability to take control of their destiny and empower oneself, just as Funk has done. Upon listening, audiences will be more than happy to turn up the volume and follow in Funk’s footsteps.

The “BY ANY MEANS” music video is quintessentially CONTAGEOUS FUNK. Shot in his hometown of Nyack, New York, this brainchild of director Andrew G and Funk infuses elements of his personality and upbringing into the story—showcasing his beginnings with local scenes. What better place to play with the idea of a money-making cycle than a laundromat? And no, this does not represent money laundering as the metaphor may suggest, but rather, it’s the epitome of entrepreneurialism. Funk throws his bills into the washer to reap more returns, hanging the hundreds individually with clothespins. But Funk also stresses the importance of enjoying the money one makes by infusing scenes of a neon-lit club throughout the video. Funk’s authenticity is evident in every frame as his gritty yet striking visuals reflect his unshakable drive for success and desire to embrace a “by any means necessary” mentality. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his life, CONTAGEOUS FUNK has been a consistent force of resilience simply by being himself, encouraging audiences to push through any obstacle they may face and work hard toward triumph.

Talk to us a little bit about your musical origins—what inspired you to start making music?

I was inspired to start making music at a very early age. my mother would always play music for me and by the time I was 3, I was able to play music myself. This led me to electronics and a curiosity of how music was made and from that point on I never looked backed.

The lyrics speak to never giving up even in the face of adversity. What themes or messages in the song resonate with you?

The whole idea of pursuing your aspirations, and overcoming any obstacles that come in your way. best stated in the intro line of the first verse “scratchin and i’m crawling till I rise up to the top” resonates a lot with me, basically you gotta keep going till the job is done nothings perfect and nothings handed to you, and quitting is not an option.

The music video was filmed in your hometown—talk to us a little bit about the filming and production process. What visuals stand out to you?

yes It was filmed in Nyack NY. By Andrew G of ECU films. It wasn’t an elaborate production , we basically wanted to keep it as Raw as possible with minimal extras, to try to convey the message and bring visuals to life that reflected my thoughts on the subject. The laundromat scene really stands out to me because it was a creative way of representing the subject of the means you need to get by on a daily basis.

How do you think the visual elements of the music video enhance or add to the meaning of the song?

it lets you see what i’m talking about with having to imagine. it lets you know that this is a hustlers song, and hustling is all about earning money, and cleaning money whether its positive or negative hustling is done with the same intention and that is to produce money.

What was the most rewarding part of bringing this story to life? Did you face any unexpected challenges along the way?

Seeing the video come to life was really rewarding, we were stomped on ideas at first, as far as how to visualize the topic,

But once we had the locations, the laundromat, and showbox idea we were off and running. It was gratifying to see what we had on paper come to life.

6What would you tell young, aspiring musical artists looking for advice? 7. In what ways do you think music can be a tool for healing or empowerment? Have you experienced that effect with this song?

I would tell young and aspiring artists that this is not an overnight success thing. Everybody’s path is different, some achieve their goals in a longer period of time then others, but you will never achieve it if you quit. If you truly have the talent, learn the business, know the ins and outs.

Music can be a tool of healing and empowerment by motivating and inspiring giving you that extra boost in confidence to tackle your obstacles, rallys you up emotionally or calms you down so you can zone in, music does all that.

I have felt the effects of this song before I wrote it, and when I listen to it it takes me back to the moment when I wrote as far as how I felt.

What is the next musical goal you hope to achieve? What can fans look forward to?

My goal is to spread my music to as many ears as possible, getting it out to the masses worldwide, and most certainly with live performances.

Having this new project done and ready for release is definitely a top priority, Fans can look out for a new video and single coming soon, as well as promotional freestyles and videos.