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.
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.
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.
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.
by twistedbabydoll September 21, 2009
R & B...Many people think its stupid I dont. It relaxes me, its something i can listen to without getting a headache or hearing to many "words". I love r&b, because its usually slow and many can relate to it in real life. It has a nice beat, and many types of music orginated from it.
by vikki702 April 19, 2006
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!
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.
by R Jackson January 6, 2006
Guy 1: Man I just ran out of R & B
Guy 2: What?..like usher and neyo?
Guy 1: No fuck boy, Reefer and Beer!
Guy 2: What?..like usher and neyo?
Guy 1: No fuck boy, Reefer and Beer!
by Fuzzy Nut January 15, 2009
by *yawn* July 10, 2004
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.
by allthenamesaretaken January 23, 2005
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.
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.
by aguynamedandy August 9, 2005