R&B music draws its inspiration from black urban experiences and issues, offering lyrics ranging from love songs to social commentaries.
Though this genre shares many similar elements with rock and roll, R&B artists have developed its own distinct sound. Modern R&B musicians utilize various styles and instruments to craft their distinctive sounds.
History
R&B (rhythm and blues) music genre was first developed during the 1940s. It draws its inspiration from gospel, jazz and blues music genres; its development coincided with segregation laws within the US; many of its pioneering artists were black; these pioneering artists included pianists, vocal harmonies with doo-wop style vocal harmonies as well as rhythm and horn sections. R&B continues to change today and continue developing over time.
R&B music earned its name due to its dependence on rhythmic four-beat measures or bars with an often downbeat. Over time, soul and funk music also fell under this classification; by the 1970s a hybrid form called contemporary R&B had emerged that combined elements from disco/funk with pop and hip hop influences; its popularity remains unwavering to this day.
Modern R&B music resembles pop music more closely, drawing inspiration from rock, electronic dance and rap music. Many contemporary R&B performers mix singing and rapping into their performances – Usher, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey are among some of the most well-known modern R&B artists.
Rhythm and blues music has played an instrumental role in American history for generations. It has helped define our cultural landscape while being used as an avenue for political and social reform. R&B music appeals to an extremely broad audience from various walks of life and continues to shape American society today. R&B holds both rich legacy as well as future potential as it continuously changes over time while remaining an influential aspect of American culture.
Styles
R&B music, also known as rhythm and blues (R&B), encompasses an eclectic genre with multiple variations. Modern R&B can include influences such as hip-hop, electronic dance music, rock and country. Pop artists such as Drake or Rihanna could also be considered R&B musicians. R&B music draws upon jazz, gospel and blues roots for inspiration, while drawing elements of these styles together with African American culture and urban beats to create its signature sound. R&B developed from Black Americans migrating from rural areas into larger urban centers during the Great Migration. Black artists began composing new styles of music that did not quite fall under either blues or gospel categories, including jazz, funk and soul influences. One characteristic that helped define R&B was vocal harmony stacking: what musician-writer Stuart Goosman termed as “group harmony.”
Though R&B instruments have evolved through time, its core style remains. Some R&B artists, like Alicia Keys, still prefer an acoustic piano while others integrate keyboards and software loops. Some notable vocal virtuosos such as Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey have even combined R&B with elements of funk and disco music into their sound.
As R&B began influencing other genres, regional variations arose. One such variation – which bridges blues with R&B – emerged in New Orleans and was popularized by artists such as Professor Longhair and Fats Domino; it features rolling piano notes in accordance with 12-bar form of blues songs while including elements of jazz and rock and roll.
As R&B has progressed over time, its evolution has resulted in various styles such as ska and rap emerging as subgenres of R&B music. While some styles remain true to its roots, others have taken off in entirely separate directions – regardless of these changes in style, modern R&B remains one of the most beloved genres worldwide.
Influences
R&B music has long been associated with soul singers such as Sam Cooke, Etta James, and The O’Jays; however, its influence can extend far beyond this genre. In the 1980s artists like Teddy Riley experimented with R&B by adding hip hop rhythm and synthesizers from other music styles for new sounds known as New Jack Swing that helped launch careers of Bell Biv DeVoe, Keith Sweat and Jodeci.
In the 1970s, African rhythms were integrated into R&B music by artists like Isaac Hayes and Al Green, leading to its evolution into funk and disco music – offshoots of R&B. Later in the decade, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani popularized R&B-influenced pop (now commonly referred to as “dirty pop”) featuring recordings combining elements of hip hop with traditional R&B sounding records in order to form modern R&B.
Contemporary R&B has continuously evolved as tastes shift over the decades. In the 2010s, acts such as Frank Ocean, The Weeknd and Miguel introduced more experimental electronic sounds into R&B music genre. This created a new wave of artists who blurred classic R&B with dance, alternative rock and rap styles.
R&B music draws its lyrics from Black culture and influences them heavily, from early tracks that explored social issues to later songs about romance and love; these topics remain central to R&B today, though contemporary tracks tend toward more personal topics. Furthermore, soul, jazz and funk styles have emerged from its genre’s traditions.
Arrangements
Arranging is the art of orchestrating all the different parts of your song together to form its final product. R&B arrangements tend to vary greatly, yet vocals should always take priority when trying to express emotion through song. This is especially important when seeking to convey a specific message or emotion with it.
Another element of RNB music that stands out is melody, an integral component of all songs. The best melodies tend to be catchy and memorable whether vocal or instrumental; additionally they typically contain a climax that provides listeners with an overall sense of fulfillment.
Rhythm and blues is an expansive genre that blends elements of pop, rock, funk, hip hop, electronic dance music and electronic dance music seamlessly. Originating in postwar black communities but now part of mainstream art culture.
Lyrics
R&B lyrics can be heartfelt and emotive, often touching upon themes such as love, relationships, heartbreak and segregation that African American artists faced in their lives. Additionally, R&B lyrics have often dealt with social justice issues faced by these musicians during their career.
Some songs can even be politically-charged, like Marvin Gaye’s 1971 hit “What’s Going On”, which focused on police brutality and general miscarriages of social justice. This song demonstrated R&B’s crossover into soul music as it became one of its top hits both on Hot R&B Singles chart and Billboard Hot 100 list.
Boyz II Men’s classic ballad “End of the Road” explores love and romance through lyrics that highlight real love as something rare that should be treasured while it lasts. This song serves as a poignant reminder that life doesn’t last forever – we should cherish what little time we have with those we care for now!
K-Ci & JoJo’s “What You Need” is one of the most iconic love songs in R&B music, celebrating finding someone you have been waiting for your entire life and realizing they are it. Sung with such emotion that it is impossible not to feel it too.
Other popular R&B songs include Mariah Carey’s sensuous slow jam “Fantasy,” which samples Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love.” With tight soul production and sampling Tom Tom Club’s song as its source material, Mariah Carey created an R&B classic with this tune.