Radio2Funky

Radio2Funky is Leicester's Black music and arts station, with roots in the city's independent record-shop and underground music culture. It began as an internet station in 2012 after the founder of 2Funky Records sought to create a new outlet for music losing space on local airwaves. Local DJs and presenters helped shape a service connecting established musical traditions with emerging performers.

Soul, reggae, R&B, hip-hop, drum and bass and UK garage form important parts of the station's musical remit. Older records sit alongside current releases, while artist interviews, music news and information about cultural events add context to the selections. Spoken output also addresses lifestyle and community issues, placing the music within the experiences of the audience rather than treating it as an isolated playlist.

DJ 745 brings a reggae selector's knowledge to roots, revival and dub. Wayne C McDonald combines recent R&B releases with older favourites, while Rachel Rodriguez presents house music. I-mitri draws on involvement in Leicester's sound-system scene dating back to 2001, with experience as a singer, producer and selector. The variety gives different strands of Black music their own informed voices.

Georgia Chazal contributes new music and conversation, and Mahmood Reza brings a different kind of expertise through discussion relevant to creative businesses and the arts. His background includes work as an adviser, trustee and volunteer. Across these programmes, Radio2Funky connects musical discovery with the people who produce, perform and organise culture in Leicester. Its origins in a specialist record shop remain visible in the attention given to styles that benefit from knowledgeable selection and dedicated airtime.