As the rap group Whodini once stated, “Funk ain’t nothin’ but a four letter word that’s often said but seldom heard!” Damon Riddick, better known as Dam-Funk, has built a carrier around his fervent belief that what the world needs now is funk, sweet funk. And to accomplish that goal, he’s become a one-man funk factory. His 2009 full-length debut, Toeeachizown, was a 24-song double album, which lead to a release of earlier unreleased material (Adolescent Funk), followed by a collaborative album with Slave’s Steve Arrington (Higher) and a side project with Snoop Dogg (7 Days Of Funk.) He’s also worked as a remixer and put out a variety of singles, yet somehow he still has enough left in the tank for his official full-length follow-up, the 20-track Invite the Light (Stones Throw Records).

For the uninitiated, Dam-Funk doesn’t traffic in the type of guitar- and bass-heavy workouts that are typically attributed as the foundations of funk. Translation: if you’re looking for George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic style of funk, keep moving. Instead, Dam-Funk is much more a practitioner of the West Coast electro variety (more keyboards, more drum machines, just as funky), which is fitting given his time as a session musician for West Coast rappers during the G-Funk era. However, he’s well versed on all manners of funk as seen by his tapping of Junie Morrison, who played with both The Ohio Players and P-Funk, and The Sylers’ Leon Sylers III, who produced a laundry list of R&B acts in the early ‘80s. There’s also a fair amount of channeling early Prince and the Minneapolis Sound. In fact, there are even a number of songs where Riddick could be mistaken for Morris Day.

Dam-Funk is an undeniable product of his influences, and you’d think it would be a detraction to be able to spot the influences in such an overt way. But on Invite the Light, he finds a way to make it feel fresh. It’s even more notable because so many of the songs are extended workouts, as opposed to concise songs. It’s like he decided to let the tape roll and vamp out. If the funk is about getting deep into the groove, then Dam-Funk is in up to his neck. Plus, he’s a strong enough presence to make his guests (Q-Tip, Kid Sister, Joi, Ariel Pink, Nite Jewel, Jody Watley, etc.) seem like the most natural and logical extended musical family. He also switches hats from lover man to everyman and from futurist to motivational speaker. It should feel disjointed, but there’s never a misstep. Invite the Light is expansive, but tightly focused, something that in less capable hands would have deflated like a fallen souffle. Dam-Funk may not be able to save the world with his funk, but he’s damn sure making a good effort.