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Artists like Thundercat — and the music that made them

Neo-Soul/Jazz-Fusion · 2008-present
Virtuoso bassist blending jazz fusion with hip-hop and electronic soul
Stephen Lee Bruner, known as Thundercat, is a Grammy-winning bassist whose technical mastery and genre-fluid approach has made him one of modern music's most sought-after collaborators. His work spans from Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' to his own psychedelic soul albums, establishing him as a bridge between jazz tradition and contemporary R&B.
Essential tracks
Them Changes
Dragonball Durag
Black Qualls
Did you know
He's named after the 1980s cartoon ThunderCats and often wears cat ears during performances
He played bass on Kendrick Lamar's entire 'To Pimp a Butterfly' album at just 29 years old
Despite his serious musical credentials, he's obsessed with anime and video games, often incorporating these themes into his work
“Virtuosic bass wizardry meets anime-obsessed vulnerability in cosmic grooves.”
2
generations
of influence
Influence tree
Trace Thundercat's roots back through history
Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.
Thundercat
2008-present
Jaco Pastorius
1970s-1980s
cited
Prince
1978-2016
cited
Flying Lotus
2006-present
cited
Stanley Clarke
1970s-present
cited
George Clinton
1970s-1980s
sonic
Herbie Hancock
1960s-present
sonic
Miles Davis
1945-1991
movement
Larry Graham
1960s-present
movement
↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.
What makes the sound
Sonic elements
Six-string bass virtuosity
Falsetto vocals with vulnerable lyrics
Jazz-fusion harmonic complexity
Anime and pop culture references
Start with these tracks
Them Changes
Dragonball Durag
Show You the Way
Black Qualls
If you like Thundercat, try these
D'Angelo
Masters intricate neo-soul arrangements with deep groove consciousness.
1990s · Neo-Soul
Kamasi Washington
Shares spiritual jazz sensibilities and contemporary LA scene connections.
2010s · Spiritual Jazz
FKA twigs
Blends ethereal vocals with experimental electronic-soul hybrid production.
2010s · Art Pop
Anderson .Paak
Combines retro-futuristic soul with hip-hop influenced rhythmic complexity.
2010s · Neo-Soul
Hiatus Kaiyote
Delivers intricate bass work within genre-bending neo-soul compositions.
2010s · Neo-Soul
Robert Glasper
Bridges jazz tradition with contemporary hip-hop and R&B innovation.
2000s · Contemporary Jazz
About this page

Music like Thundercat — Stephen Lee Bruner, known as Thundercat, is a Grammy-winning bassist whose technical mastery and genre-fluid approach has made him one of modern music's most sought-after collaborators. His work spans from Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' to his own psychedelic soul albums, establishing him as a bridge between jazz tradition and contemporary R&B.

Artists like Thundercat today include D'Angelo, Kamasi Washington, FKA twigs, Anderson .Paak. If you enjoy Thundercat, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Thundercat and songs like Thundercat are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.