R&B
Rhythm and Blues music, or R&B music, was originally termed "race music" and basically included any form of music intended for black audiences. A combination of jazz, gospel, and blues, the term "R&B" was originally coined in the late
1940’s in the United States to be used as a less offensive marketing term. While R&B music has evolved over the years to spawn contemporary genres of R&B sounds, the original genre focused on boogie rhythms and included such famous acts as
Bo Diddley and
Chuck Berry. The end of World War II produced a surprising call for race music, and the R&B music genre took off as a result. Today’s contemporary R&B music has a distinctly different sound than its forebears, focusing on pop beats and culture rather than the blues, gospel and jazz sounds of previous generations (though those elements are still sometimes present). In the late 1940’s and into
the fifties, R&B groups consisted of brass instruments and
woodwinds, as well as drums, piano and vocals. These elements were common in jazz bands, but R&B musicians produced a heavier sound with a steady beat. As the fifties progressed, the genre became notable for its sexually suggestive lyrics and provocative dancing associated with it.
R&B
by Kyle 230 on Jul 28, 2009 06:29:01
Like all genres of music, it used to be a pretty decent genre of music. It actually have some heart and soul into it and it was about problems you can relate to. And it also had an actually blues influence in it with the
improvisation on the piano and some jazz and gospel influences as well.
Now R&B is this over saturated stuff that only have about 3 artists that matter -
t pain,
akon, and the dream and they sing about the same thing.
Example:
R&B music back then: Oh baby I really shouldn't up broke with you, I suffered the consequences. I am feeling so bad and I am feeling full of regrets.
R&B now - Shawty damn she's fly, damn she's hot, I wanna fuck her all night long
AYYYYYY
Decent current R&B - Mariah Carey,
Amerie,
Charlie Wilson, etc.
R&B
by Mr. British on Jul 19, 2006 03:50:21
Rhythm & Blues, a music genre originating in the late 40's.
Today's popular music, like
Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey, is actually NOT R&B. It's hip-hop and some
nuthead decided to call it R&B. The real R&B artists are very annoyed by this.
Example:
What they call R&B today has nothing to do with original R&B, it's just
pop music, says
Irma Thomas, legendary R&B singer.
R&B
by twistedbabydoll on Sep 21, 2009 13:24:41
R&B is the genre for music that combined elements of blues with jazz or soul. Abbr. for "Rhythm & Blues".
Before R&B was commercialized and mixed with hip-hop, it was music of the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers,
Phyllis Hyman, Minnie
Rippington, and more current examples India Arie, Jill Scott, Maxwell, etc. Modern R&B like Jill Scott and Maxwell is usually called "Neo-Soul" which is considered a bastardized term for R&B. Honestly, many artists considered neo-soul (i.e. Dwele,
Musiq Soulchild) are actually real modern R&B.
While authentic R&B contains deep lyrics, especially Afrocentric experiences of love, relationships, cultures, politics, etc, mainstream "R&B" tends to focus on sappy love themes, sex, and hip-hop lifestyles.
Example:
Maxwell, Dwele,
Musiq, and India.
Arie are real examples of modern R&B.
Alicia Keys, Bobby Valentino, Mariah Carey, and
Keyshia Cole are NOT authentic modern versions of R&B but instead commercialized types of R&B/hip-hop made to please the mainstream palate.
R&B
by R Jackson on Jan 06, 2006 09:51:31
In broad terms, the R&B genre, as with any genre of music, is a set of
elemental ideas pertaining to culture,
instrumentation, melody and groove, that show it to be an expression
in its own right. R&B could be basically described as soulful. However, artists of a particular genre have their own unique style or way of expressing these ideas, and contemporary R&B artists incorporate elements or collaborate with artists from different genres such as Hip Hop. And why not? Genres such as pop, urban, R&B, Hip Hop or Funk are all related by that superordinate element... popular!
Example:
Alicia Keys is an
R&B artist who combines elements from the Soul genre into her style to emphasis the emotion she feels when she performs.
The Alicia Keys style would have matured through the process of
improvisation, which is commonly used by R&B artists, either whilst performing or during songwriting.
R&B
by allthenamesaretaken on Jan 24, 2005 01:04:05
To
put it simply, its
the black man's emo music. Take usher for instance, hes always bitchin about some lost girlfriend. Now take
yellowcard, they bitch about some lost girlfriend too. Now, it all makes sense doesnt it? Its just taht this emo doesnt have guitars, usually.
R&B
by aguynamedandy on Aug 10, 2005 04:06:37
R&B is a form of music that is closely related to pop, rap, and
hip-hop. R&B is similar to rap except that instead of rapping, there is singing. But there is
a beat in the back. Many times will an R&B siinger feature a rapper/hip-hop artist, and vice-versa. R&B can be relaxing, or sometimes it can be
party music. It is a very nice form of music.
Example:
R. Kelly is a very popular R&B singer, that has often been
featured in many rap songs, and he has featured many
rappers as well.