As African American populations increased due to the Great Migration, R&B music groups blossomed across urban centers like New York City, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles in the 1940s. Influenced by blues and Black church music traditions, these musicians introduced new songs and styles with electric guitars and double basses in these cities.
Origins
R&B music first emerged among African American artists during the 1940s, often being compared with rock and roll since they both emerged around this same period and share many roots. R&B derives its name from its dependence on four-beat measures or bars as well as melodies and lyrics; its blues component refers to emotions expressed through song.
Early R&B artists found much of their influence from gospel and African American church music, specifically African-American church hymns. Vocalists would sing in groups of three or more using distinctive harmonies and falsetto singing techniques reminiscent of gospel groups such as the Drifters and Platters; this style became known as doo-wop (pronounced doo-woop).
Motown Atlantic Records and Stax Records helped popularize R&B during the 1950s. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye achieved tremendous success during this era; their music combined elements of rock n roll with more complex lyrics and messages.
As the genre grew in popularity, a distinct sound known as soul emerged that was not overtly political but did provide an outlet across racial divisions in America. Black artists during this time set the foundation for civil rights activism and ethnic awareness decades later.
Contemporary R&B has continued to change and adapt over time with new styles and influences, giving rise to crossover stars such as Rihanna and Bruno Mars who use their fame to keep R&B alive by incorporating elements of hip-hop and other modern genres; some critics, however, contend that too much genre blending has resulted in contemporary R&B lacking authenticity.
Funk and disco have had an influential role in shaping R&B music’s development as it has evolved; these genres bring a softer rhythmic style into R&B songs, eventually giving birth to neo-soul – which features smooth melodies with live instrumentation as popularized by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and D’Angelo.
Styles
As R&B musicians expanded, they took influence from different styles. Louis Jordan was one of the earliest examples, blending boogie-woogie bass lines, shuffle rhythms and short horn patterns or riffs into an unforgettable sound that communicated emotion to his audience through African American vernacular, humor and call-and-response sections; this style served as the foundation for many later R&B hits.
R&B genre was revolutionized during the 1950s and 60s when artists like The Drifters and Platters made waves with sounds utilizing harmonies and falsetto singing, coinciding with social changes that led to greater urbanization of African Americans, particularly in the South. Together with rock’n roll’s rising popularity this resulted in what is now considered contemporary R&B.
R&B’s early iterations also helped shape other genres such as rock ‘n roll, jazz and hip hop music. R&B lyrical themes often reflected African American cultural pain and aspirations as they experienced three significant historical processes: Great Migration from rural Southern communities to urban centers; Civil Rights movement development; and the integration of African American music into popular American genres such as rock ‘n roll.
Over time, artists have experimented with R&B music’s sound. TLC and Destiny’s Child have become iconic groups known for their success during the ’90s and 2000s, while other acts like Mary J. Blige and Usher helped birth contemporary R&B, which draws influence from hip hop, funk, disco and other forms of modern music.
Today’s modern RnB scene is defined by young innovators redefining it through crossover fusions and diverse musical influences, with artists like Snoh Aalegra and GIVEON pushing beyond what has previously defined contemporary RnB genre. But some critics feel as the genre has expanded that its organic roots may have been lost as passion and vulnerability are lacking from today’s scene.
Influencers
R&B music genre was established through group performances. Beginning with doo-wop groups of the 1950s to funk and disco bands of the 1980s, this genre was defined by vocal styles like harmonies and falsetto singing to express feelings and emotions through music. R&B songs generally possess smooth rhythms with heavy syncopation as their musical foundation. Instrumentation includes pianos, guitars, basses, drums and keyboards with some more contemporary forms incorporating synthesizers.
R&B music has inspired numerous iconic artists, from Boyz II Men and Michael Jackson to Boyz III Men, The Supremes and Lauryn Hill – who all achieved chart success thanks to smooth harmonies and soul ballads – to hip hop soul pioneered by Lauryn Hill as part of Hip Hop Soul (hence its name), which combined elements of both genres into one seamless production style; additional artists contributing modern R&B include Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and Bilal among others.
Contemporary R&B, made famous by artists like Chris Brown, SZA and Ella Mai, is a mainstream genre that addresses love, success and happiness themes. R&B also boasts strong cultural roots within black culture while simultaneously addressing important social issues such as racism and gender inequality; leading to its increased popularity among younger generations.
Although its rhythm and instrumentation has changed throughout time, R&B remains true to its roots and the message it presents remains the same. Contemporary R&B often tackles complex subjects such as sexuality, spirituality and mental illness while many R&B artists are known for being social activists; some even founding non-profit organizations themselves.
For those wishing to gain insight into the current state of R&B music, there are various websites which provide news and information regarding its evolution. Global Money World’s R&B section showcases new releases as well as artist spotlights, providing essential perspectives from across various perspectives that makes Global Money World an indispensable source of knowledge on R&B.
Crossovers
In the 1960s, R&B became known as soul music; artists such as Aretha Franklin and Motown’s Marvin Gaye helped it reach white audiences, eventually sparking rock ‘n’ roll as an offshoot of R&B. Over time however, R&B has evolved even further, drawing inspiration from genres such as funk and disco to broaden its appeal further still.
R&B remains popular across multiple audiences due to crossover fusions and young innovators, yet many critics contend that contemporary R&B relies too heavily on technology and can become overproduced to the point of homogeneity. Furthermore, some argue it has not been welcoming to female artists within its confines.