The state of R&B music is a direct reflection of the state of Black America.
This article is part of a series in celebration of a new, dynamic voice in Black America: the NUBIANO Exchange. Brace yourself for the NUBIANO experience.…
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Article comments
26 - D Johnson
The comment about looking back 20 years is very true. I was a teen in the early 80's. We had music with much substance because they had BANDS. But even some of the bands with electronics used them tastefully. For example: S.O.S "Sands of Time" and Cameo's "Word Up" were all or mostly electronic. The difference is that the people selected to use electronic instruments had musical training and knew the basics of song form. In effect they could touch your soul and they were very much FUN. Hip-hoppers lack the ability to reach people in a deep way like that so they have attempted to compensate for their lack of musicianship by appealing to the lowest instincts of humans....sex, greed, flashiness. Sadly, many people growing up under hip-hop are being socialized to think this is good "music" because it is being played over and over to the masses. The music industry is exploiting our "herd instinct." It is the same herd instinct that will make us shocked if we see a lady walking up the street in her underwear, and call her "naked." At the same time a lady on the beach in a bathing suit is just as naked but we accept that. But back to the subject.... There were also lousy electronic artists and rappers in the 80's (particularly from the break dance era) like all of the lousy hip hop artists today. Now, 20+ years later, few people my age-40- want to go to an old school concert featuring the Fat Boys, Spider-D, L.A Dream Team, Secret Weapon, the Good Girls, & Run DMC. Every year recently, however, some groups from that era are selling out shows and having unprecedented recent success- New Edition, Midnight Star, Confunkshun, S.O.S., Teena Marie, Stephanie Mills, Frankie Beverly- and they haven't had an album on the charts in decades. Some may disagree but I believe that in spite of R. Kelly's 90's hype, Tony-Toni-Tone will be more popular in 20 years because they had less albums but more substance and musicianship. The difference is substance in the music and even though Beyonce can sing, her music has as much or less substance as the lousy 80's groups. When her good looks leave, her popularity will to unless she can find a niche with her voice. When the hip-hop generation matures, I doubt that they will be buying tickets to hear this foolishness 20 years from now.
27 - Good People
In regards to your article. Mr Kelly has not kill R and B. Old school R and B such as the Temptations, Marvin Gaye etc is another era.Everything changes and evolves sports,Technology etc. Everything change. The one constant is change in every genre of music,Rock,Metal,country talk about that evolution while you are attacking one individual. Please
28 - katlego
rnb is fading we all agree, bt u r blaming the wrong man. The R-ruh, is the only true rnb artist out there, remember chocolate factory? this is 2 me the best rnb album ever. just wait till he realeses "Makin babies" then u wil have ur rnb album.
29 - katlego
HUG THAT THUG DONT HATE ON HIM
30 - Arie
I agree with almost all of the author's comments as well as the commenter who mentioned 1987 as the turning point year - that seems about right to me. I graduated high school in 1980. I LOVED the R&B (and good Disco) of the late 70's and early 80's.
All this new stuff seems flat to me - no melody, nothing interesting - it certainly doesn't make me want to dance. Some commenters mentioned how good Beyonce's music is for clubs. Do people really wnat to dance to this flat stuff? I bet some Earth, Wind & Fire would make them REALLY want to move.
Why is it considered good or desirable to talk nasty over someone else's music (often a really good song from before 1987)?
31 - Laron
Peace Clayton,
Great post, you should call in on The Cyber Mix Tape Show and talk with us!
I will email you the particulars and stuff, hope you can make it!
Laron
32 - Vee
I agree with the author's comments on this issue. Just to put this out there I'm an African American female in my early 20's (the "Generation Y" generation). I grew up in a house-hold of older parents (my parents are 55+) so I had that older, more soulful influence in regards to music. And even though I listened to hip-hop and gansta rap every once in a while with my older cousins, there was a musical balance in our family that is SEVERELY LACKING in the young generation today.
To be the Devil's Advocate I will say that Usher, Beyonce, and R. Kelly are not totally to blame for the slow and painful death to R&B. However, they are greatly responsible for it. They are so influential to their listeners and their music should be just as influential. But then there's also the responsibility of the listener as well. When Beyonce sings a song in which every other line makes one who truly listens question her logic, what does that say about the listeners who recite her songs verbatim? Are they really listening to her words? Or is it the beat, or the so-called "instrumentals", or her voice that's so hypnotizing? Something has to be putting them in a trance that many of these teenagers can't separate fiction from reality. And yes I've read in different articles that Beyonce "on-stage" is not the same as Beyonce "off-stage" but for the most part her fans only see "on-stage" Beyonce scantily-clad, running and bouncing around the stage. That's not entertainment...that's a softer version of a physical trainer with way too much blonde weave, sparkles and stilettos, her aerobics class behind her and a catchy tune for them to stay on count while they do Pilates. Come on now Beyonce, you have a voice! I'll give that to you, so USE it. You're not like some of these female (and some male artists too) artists whose talentless sexy figures will hopefully stretch them out through the music industry until they--their bodies--are stretched out. I understand you're young and you have a body and as the saying goes "if you've got it flaunt it", but please stop to think about what the industry is saturated with. Everybody's flaunting it now. So what truly makes you any better or different than a Rihanna or Ciara? And I ask that question to them too. Unfortunately sex sells and that's what these little girls are buying. The problem is they don't see anything else, whether that's the media's fault, their parents' fault or a combination of both. Therefore, they buy the sex, they wear the sex, they flaunt the sex, and they don't know how to handle the sex and this vicious pattern is just perpetuated in the Black community. My only hope is that the music of our older generation doesn't die off with them, especially since babies are having babies and eventually Generations X,Y, and potentially Z, will all be one Generation XYZ. We all need to accept responsibility as role models for the younger generations, especially those so saturated in the media.
And then there's R. What is he doing? He used to make music that was uplifting, emotional, and sometimes a little sexual or risqué that made youth blush if they happened to sing the lyrics a little too loud in front of their parents. But what's with Trapped in the Closet Part 1 through infinity? Seriously!?! Was he simply just paying for legal bills? There was no point to it. And there seemed to be no end. I have not bought an R. Kelly CD since TP-2.com. In fact in the last year or so I thank God for the iPod. Now I don't have to listen to the incessant cookie-cutter artists on the radio unless I'm out somewhere or forget to burn myself a new Neo-soul or real R&B mix CD for my car. I definitely need to get one of those cars with the iPod integration. But let me stop going on tangents of my automobile dreams.
In general everyone (artists, listeners, parents, media) need to take responsibility for the "deceased" and the subsequent domino effect. But more than anything artists need to take a stand and make REAL R&B. Even if they drop in a few million dollars in sales. Regardless ythey're not living on the streets. What's truly worse a loss in pay or a loss in quality, music integrity and meaning?
33 - Joel Chanson
I am an aspiring artist and artists like Brian McKnight and (the old) R. Kelly used to be my influences. I HATE what R. Kelly has turned himself into. Mr. Clayton is completely right. R. Kelly drove R&B into a place where he can no longer bring it back. I stopped listening to the radio now because every song sounds the same. "Watch me as I count my money in my brand new car with all these women. Be careful though because if you look at me wrong I'll pull this gun out and kill you. Then, I might go rob your mother, **** your sister and smoke a blunt." Who wants to hear all that 24/7. Nowadays some R&B songs barely even have a melody. This is very reflctive of where our race is going as well. Think back a few decades about the ideals of blacks. They wanted to change the world. They demanded respect (In the right way) from whites. Now they just talk shit to eachother. I have been told so many times that I would be so successful in the music business. But I think to myself. They're not going to buy my music. It's too "old school". But I refuse to conform to this low quality music. Nowadays you dont even have to have a good voice (T-Pain). I will admit they are creative but can we be versatile please. I make some pretty good club joints but I specialize in "Real R&B". May I remind yall what R&B is short for. Rhythm & Blues. By definition that would be people like John Legend, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys, sometimes Beyonce, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton. These other arists are not R&B. They are a complete other genre. Pop, crunk & b, or whatever you want to call it. But it definitely aint R&B. T-Pain is NOT Rhythm & Blues. Usher... eh maybe. For the record I will say that Mario, Usher, Genuwine, Akon, and others have had their "R&B" moments. Because isnt balance the main issue here. Songs like "How Do I Breath", "Let It Burn", "Differences", and "Dont Matter" by these artists respectively, are what I would call R&B. All thats really changed is the beat, the technology used, the sounds, things like that. Thats really the way it should be. Think about it, how would emo rock be if they stopped being sad all the time. Let me remind you Rhythm & BLUES. BLUES=Heartfelt, Liberating, Emotions. Not flashy, not talkin shit, just appealing to your audiences emotions. One thing I would like to point out however is that alot of these mainstream "crappy" artists have made true R&B songs. You just dont hear them. If you listen to Ne-Yo's first album, I believe the 13th track is called "Time". This is a true R&B track. But it never became a single. In my opinion it was the best song on the CD but they didnt bother making it a single because it'd be a waste of money. It wouldnt have done as well as "Sexy Love". Still that could pass for an R&B song too if you tried hard enough. So I commend Ne-Yo for using the new technology and keeping true, somewhat, to R&B. To end this let me say WHAT THE HELL was R. Kelly thinking when he remixed "Same Girl". "Michael Jackson style! Snap your fingers, do ya step. You can do it all by yourself." What happened to the days when rappers (such as Jay-Z) would quote singers (Carl Thomas "And I wish I never met her at all"). Now the singers (R. Kelly) are trying to be like the rappers (Lil Jon "Snap ya fingers"). Something is horribly wrong here. And if anybody disagrees, I would love to have a battle of the wits so bring it. Maybe you'll convice me that I'm wrong but I doubt it. We NEED a balance here. Case Closed.
34 - Jake
I am not African-American, I am just a white boy, raised in the country. My step-father who rasied me was from the inner-city. He raised my brother, sister and I on R&B. The music has indeed gone down hill, and in a bad way. What happened to the likes of Boyz II Men, the ones who said "I'll make love to you, like you want me to"? Nowadays its not making love, its sex with "bitches", and it is disgusting. R&B used to be about love and showing emotion through sheer talent. I grew up on Boyz II Men, Babyface, Ginuwin, Jodeci, Maxwell, good R. Kelly, New Edition, LSG, Keith Sweat, and Dru Hill. Today we must rely on names such as Mario, Ne-yo, and Usher, who only at times show the true crooner. But that doesnt mean that no one is producing good R&B...Avant(especially), Anthony Hamilton, Tank, Eric Cire, and Musiq all produce quality music. But their sounds aren't getting played because of the moral standards of the day. Now, as I mentioned before, its not about love and emotion, its about getting paid and getting laid. This rockstar mentaility is so unfair not only to the fans, but to the artists. Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Aretha, Whitney,Boyz II Men, and the Temptations all have a place in history because they sang their music with their emotions and their soul. What kind of legacy is Usher going to leave behind, "Yeah"? Come on now ya'll...where is the love?
35 - Vincent
I am really upset that you did not mention John Legend when referring to contemporary R&B artists who are doing well at maintaining R&B and keeping it alive. He is preserving the Roots of R&B and soul music while creating new innovative music. He is a living Legend as a singer/songwriter/musician and deserves your respect and recognition. He has more class than any other R&B artist right now, and can perform live better that any other artist right now. John Legend keeps it all the way real.
36 - B-hard paper stacks
YO check it out! as an avid r&b purchaser/conisuier, in my heart of hearts it would be alie to say r&b is dead the industry,granted has changed since the influencail marivn gaye made "what's goin on" money was'nt a factor then but guess what it is now! and even though i love usher and beyonce the songs that they have made for radio are MADE FOR RADIO and are made to be appealing and bring in record buyers,on the flip side beyonce has increadible talent, and a even better voice and has plenty of r&b songs on her first album which seemed to go unoticed by our author here. and on that note Usher who was has had one of the greatest r&b albums of all time with conffesions should not be singled out in such a crude way. In addition r&b is far from dead with artist like brian Mckinght, tamia, tank, mario, usher, beyonce, and yes r.kelly it's true that his sytle has changed in the last few years but facts are facts. The state of r&b is not in any immediate danger, what is though is it's brother hip-hop!
37 - Adonis
Who do I consider to be TRUE R&B artists?
Tank, Jagged Edge, 112 (first album), Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, 702, Avant, Bobby Valentino, Carl Thomas, Co-Ed, Tony Toni Tone, Donell Jones, Dwele, Faith Evans, Floetry, Jon B., Kindred the Family Soul, Lauryn Hill, Mint Condition, Playa.
Most of them are endangered or extinct.
38 - Vincent Aguirre
I just have two words for you guys.
"John Legend"
39 - Dee
I'm just a white girl from Texas, but I love music with soul. I am tired of this shallow, sexualized, and materialistic music being passed off as R&B. I miss Brian McKnight, Boys II Men, etc. from back in the 90's, which is what I grew up on. I miss the singers that sing with conviction, and from a deep place within their soul...you know, the ones that make you feel what they feel. Alicia Keys is the only current popular artist I feel that has made music that will stand the test of time and be right along side songs like "Tracks of My Tears" or "Natural Woman" or "One Last Cry" Everything else topping the charts right now that's trying to pass as R&B is pretty forgettable in the grand scheme of things.
40 - Brittni
I really do agree with this whole article. I'm only nineteen years old but I know what real R&B sounds like and it's not the crap that's out now. I grew up with my mom playing music ranging from chaka khan to new edition and to this day I even listen to their music on my own. I always find myself saying that I miss the 90's mainly because I remember all of the hot r&b music that was out back then. Everyone had their own sound now everyone sounds the same. It kills me that artists like Tamia, Deborah Cox, and Toni Braxton can no longer sell albums like they used to because of all this stupidness that's out right now. Nowadays I only listen to the r&b that I know and love from back in the day because it all had meaning not just talking about patting somebody's weave and buying someone a "drank" its annoying if you ask me
41 - alex
I'm not going to defend either Usher/Beyonce because they have not stood the test of time yet.
Evolution is an evitable part of life.What does not change,grow or evolve eventually perishes. Marvin G revolutionised music. R.Kelly is the Marvin G of our 21st century.
The reason why Marvin's father mudered him was partly because of your same mind set.R Kelly cannot be blamed for the downsizing that has prevailed in R&B music.He is just so much of a geneus that he evolves with time...the evolving music industry bus.Quincy Jones,Teddy Reiley and Baby Face all crumbled under the bus race revolution.
If you don't believe me ask his peers Keith Sweat,Joe Thomas and Brain Mcknight?They will tell you that R Kelly has stood the test of time because of his ability to revamp himself.If you still don't believe me why don't you ask legends from old school such as Ronald Isley (whose career he ressureated)?The truth is that music like anything else has changed over time.This does not apply to music only for movies like the matrix differ vastly from Rambo or Terminator.Would you rather we were still watching black and white tv?You surely cannot tell me that Eminem sounds like Vanilla Ice either?What about Robbie Williams contrasted to Elvis presley?Surely there is change across every art form,genre or clour but not only in black's R & B music?
I always laugh when i hear people critizise artists who are doing their art for money.Excuse me but you people are centimentalists and naive to say the least.These artists do their art so that they can put food on the table but not sorely to entertain your souls.If you do not believe me then go and ask the Roots or Common.They held the same view before they realised that they were naive.
What is happening to Maxwell,Bilal and Erykah Badu?Surely those are the best artists of our time?Why do you think D'Angelo takes so long to produce an album?Ofcourse if i knew that most people don't care about the content in albums i would take long to revamp and reproduce myself if it was not that easy to compete with the likes of R Kelly.Or incidently you Happy people/you save me was R's worst selling album.You know why?Because it had no raunchy your 'booty is calling' lyrics..get the point?
The truth of the matter is that R Kelly is the Michael Jordan of R & B music.He is the Bob Marley,The Marvin Gaye and The James Brown of the 21st century.If there is one thing that he must be recommended for is"Being a music geneus of our time".Have you ever asked yourself this,"What would R & B be withput the "R"????
42 - Tweety
Any R&B fan who's seen all 12 parts of R Kelly's so called "hip-hopera" 'Trapped in the closet' should be very very worried. Painfully funny.
43 - bringbackmusic
First of all, people don't decide what they like anymore. The radio execs and record co. CEO do. The crap that is made nowadays is cheaper for the record companies than trynna make real music, and it's disposable so they saturate the airwaves with it. That's why everyone likes it in the firstplace. It's not that people wouldn't like music with substance anymore, but the record labels won't spend money on making real music. If the media forced real R&B down everyone's throat like this garbage, real R&B artists would fare just as well as Usher. But artists are manufactured now. They're not even really worthy of the title "artist" anymore. It pisses me off how young people nowadays (I'm young too, 23) think real music is stupid and that the radio crap is real music.
44 - Marcus
TIMBALAND is the root producer of this crisis.
The no-bass/techno/pop music he's "producing" is destroying the music we love.
R Kelly/ Beyonce/Usher just tried to follow the TIMBALAND sound.