RESEARCH IN GENRE (R&B)

Geeta Gohil

R&B

Contemporary R&B or simply known as R&B is a music genre that has a

combination or elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, hip-hop and dance.

The R&B abbreviation originated from the traditional rhythm and blues music,

the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African-American music

origination after the decline of Funk and Disco in the 80’s.

The style of the music has a polished record production style, drum-machine-

backed rhythms, and smooth vocal arrangements.

R&B acts such as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Michael

Jackson and Toni Braxton are some of the best-selling music artists of all time.

R&B

According to Billboard magazine, the most commercially

successful R&B acts of the decade were Usher, Justin Timberlake,

Chris Brown, Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey,

Rihanna, Trey Songz, Ray J and Ne-Yo. Other recording artists

today have combined traditional R&B with elements with various

pop styles, such as contemporary pop, pop rock, dance-pop, and

electro-pop, to create a lighter and more international sound.

Artists like Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild and Raheem

DeVaughn and Marion Plard tended to keep to old styles of soul.

R&B

R&B was an African-American urban sound that evolved from blues and jazz. In the

late 1940′s R&B was described as rocking and jazz based with a heavy and insistent

beat. R&B was becoming popular because of it dance ability. By 1949 the term had

replaced Billboard’s category Harlem Hit Parade. The lyrics of R&B were about

everyday life.

By the 1950′s R&B was starting to define the sound of Rock n Roll but by the 1960′s

rhythm and blues would include soul music. In the seventies disco was added to the

R&B category as was funk. By the 1980′s R&B was defining music that included soul,

funk, rock n roll and pop music.

By the 90′s, Classic-Soul and vocal harmonies were being popularized by Mariah

Carey, TLC, R. Kelly, and Boyz II Men. Going into the 21st century R&B would include

New Jack Swing, Hip-hop, Neo-Soul, pop and funk., also known as Contemporary R&B.