The picks of the year
Funky Amigos has produced and organized the Funky Awards gala, which has acknowledged the most important people in the scene annually between 1999 and 2015. Based on votes given by both public and a selected jury, the gala has awarded artists in several different categories, such as the album, artist, band, song and DJ of the year, which have varied more or less during the years.
The original name of the gala was Funky Awards until the name was changed in 2008 in order to reflect the whole black rhythm music scene besides only funk music. The gala has been celebrated on several different venues in Helsinki, including the Tavastia, Sokos Hotel Presidentti night club and the late VR warehouse complex, Mocambo and Virgin Oil Co. The gala hasn’t been organized since 2016 but might make a comeback in the future.
WINNERS (2000-2015)
Please find below all the winners of Funky Awards between years 2000 and 2015. The results of the first year the Funky Awards was organized in 1999 are unfortunately missing.
2015
Artist of the year: Paperi T
Band of the year: Gasellit
Album of the year: Yona – Naivi
Hip hop album of the year: Asa – Love
Debut album of the year: Paperi T – Malarian pelko
Song of the year: Asa feat. Anna Puu – Taulu
Music video of the year: Aivovuoto – Ai Wo Wu Show
Newcomer of the year: Biniyam
Club of the year: Afro Sunday
Club DJ of the year: GoodBlood
2014
Artist of the year: DJ Kridlokk
Band of the year: Atomirotta
Album of the year: Reino Nordin – Bongo Rock
Hip hop album of the year: Paleface – Luova tuho
Debut album of the year: Gettomasa & Ruuben – Vellamo LP
Song of the year: Atomirotta – Aurinkoon
Newcomer of the year: Pietarin Spektaakkeli
Club of the year: Kultabassokerho
Club DJ of the year: Herkules
Special prize for cultural activities:
The cultural activities of Tykki Productions in the Eastern Finland
2013
Artist of the year: Asa
Band of the year (live): Jätkäjätkät
Album of the year: Dalindèo – Kallio
Debut album of the year: Polarsoul – Pilvilinna
Song of the year: Polarsoul feat. Asa, Paperi T & Jodarok – Ei kompromisseja
Newcomer of the year Tuuttimörkö
Club of the year: Kultabassokerho
Club DJ of the year: Polarsoul
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Soul Kitchen Club (10th anniversary)
Soul Sides Club (10th anniversary)
The Save Radio Helsinki movement
2012
Artist of the year: Asa
Band of the year: Laineen Kasperi & Palava Kaupunki
Album of the year: Asa – Foetida / Use Your Illusion III
Debut album of the year: Gracias x JTT – Globe
Song of the year: Gracias x JTT – Night Shift
Newcomer of the year: Kuningasidea
The future prospect of the year*: Lina & The Double Tones
Club of the year: Kultabassokerho
Club DJ of the year: Polarsoul
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Bassoradio for going nationwide
Hukkatila non-profit association / the “summer camp” of Aspinniemi in Tampere
* = the winner of Hitlantis demo contest organized by Funky Amigos
2011
Artist of the year: Johanna Försti (Jo Stance)
Band of the year: Jätkäjätkät
Live show of the year: Jätkäjätkät
Album of the year: The Irrationals – Hold Your Horses
Song of the year: Gracias feat. Ekow – Mon€y
Newcomer of the year: Gracias
Club of the year: Balkan Fever
Club DJ of the year: J-Laini
Public’s favourite: Ruger Hauer
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Make Your Mark graffiti gallery in Suvilahti, Helsinki
2010
Artist of the year: Paleface
Band of the year: Jätkäjätkät
Album of the year: Paleface ‒ Helsinki – Shangri-La
Song of the year: Paleface ‒ Helsinki – Shangri-La
Newcomer of the year: Yona
Club of the year: Kuningassoundi
Club DJ of the year: Didier
Public’s favourite: SMC Skatemaniacs (SMC Lähiörotat)
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Alppipuiston kesä summer event series in Helsinki
Bass Camp youth project
The opening of Kalasatama graffiti wall
Documentary film Rock-Suomi: Kotipojat (Yle)
2009
Artist of the year: Timo Lassy
Band of the year: Asa & Jätkäjätkät
Album of the year: Auteur Jazz – Aphorisms
Song of the year: Villa Nah – Ways To Be
Club of the year: Komposti Reggae Sundays
Club DJ of the year: Polarsoul
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Lifesaver record shop
Timmion Records’ vinyl press
2008
Artist of the year: Asa
Band of the year: Asa & Jätkäjätkät
Album of the year: Asa – Loppuasukas
Song of the year Asa – Nää sanat ei tehny tätä laulua
Club of the year: Off The Hook
Club DJ of the year: Anonymous (Sampo Axelsson)
2007
Artist of the year: Stig Dogg
Band of the year: Aiyekooto & Afrobeat International
Album of the year: Tuomo – My Thing
Song of the year: Raappana – Maisema
Club of the year: Komposti Reggae Sundays
DJ of the year: Anonymous (Sampo Axelsson)
2006
Artist of the year Felix “Da Beatbox” Zenger
Band of the year: Kemmuru
Album of the year: Asa – Terveisiä kaaoksesta
Song of the year: The Valkyrians – Do You Really Wanna Know
Club of the year: Propleema (Joensuu)
DJ of the year: Fiskars
2005
Artist of the year: Nicole Willis
Band of the year: Eternal Erection
Album of the year: Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators – Keep Reachin’ Up
Song of the year: Q-Continuum – Spreadlove
Club of the year: Soul Kitchen
DJ(‘s) of the year: Komposti Sound
Special nominations for long-term activity in the scene:
Lil’ Tony
Kool Ski
2004
Artist of the year: Ruudolf
Band of the year: Uusi Fantasia
Album of the year: Ruudolf – Doupeimmat Jumala seivaa
Song of the year Quintessence – Think We Should
Club of the year: Bundolo
DJ of the year: Didier
2003
Artist of the year: Teppo “Teddy Rok” Mäkynen
Band of the year: Don Johnson Big Band
Album of the year: Calypso King & The Soul Investigators – Home Cooking
Song of the year: Giant Robot – Best Match ja Redrama – Hang It Up
Club of the year: Bundolo
DJ(‘s) of the year: Leftside Ensemble
Special prize as the Lover of the year:
Juho Juntunen
2002
Artist of the year: Kapteeni Ä-ni
Musician of the year: Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa
Album of the year: Nuspirit Helsinki – Nuspirit Helsinki
Club of the year: Wahoo!
DJ(‘s) of the year: Skillsters (Infekto & Okke)
Special prizes:
Award for life work: Eero Koivistoinen
Label of the year: Sähkö Records
2001
Artist of the year: Jimi Tenor
Band of the year: Calypso King & The Soul Investigators
Album of the year: Soul Captain Band – Jokaiselle tulta
Club of the year: Bundolo
DJ(‘s) of the year: Go-Go Antti & Groovy
Radio person of the year: DJ Bunuel / Fri Bas (Yle Extreme)
2000
Artist of the year: Kim “Kasio” Rantala
Band of the year: Cool Sheiks
Club of the year: Talkin’ All That
DJ(‘s) of the year: Didier & Anonymous (Worldwide)
Special prizes for cultural activities:
Harri Saksala & Groove FM radio station
The most awarded artists
The acknowledgment given by Funky Amigos in the Funky Awards reflect the history of black rhythm music in Finland during this millennium. It is easy to spot the most important actors of the scene in the winners with each one of them undisputedly earning the award they were granted.
If we look up for the most succesful artists, Finnish rapper Asa is superior to anyone as he has gained 15 wins on seven separate years as a solo artist as well as part of his Jätkäjätkät live band. Besides this he was featured once on a Song of the year with another artist. He has also gained three wins as Artist of the year, while Jätkäjätkät has been chosen as the Band of the Year six times altogether. Big up!
It is also worth noting how big hip hop has become among the winners and the candidates during the years. When you look at the last winners of Funky Awards, you will nearly find only hip hop or artists who are more or less associated with it. This reflects the current dominating status of hip hop in the black rhythm music scene of Finland today. For example, hip hop club Kultabassokerho won the Club of the year award three times in a row between 2012 and 2014. Besides this, it’s good to recognize that hip hop has been represented in the list of winners all the way since year 2000.
Back in the days, the winners were solely selected by the jury of experts. Thus the influence and importance of public votes has been increased more and more. The members of the jury have varied every year and have included both Funky Amigos actives as well as radio deejays, journalists and other people deeply in the local scene.