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.