In the 1990s, R&B underwent a dramatic transformation, merging elements from hip hop, pop, dance music and New Jack Swing with classic genres such as Neo Soul. Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men became major mainstream stars during this decade with powerhouse ballads taking top spots on charts around the world.
SWV
During the ’90s, R&B underwent a profound change when artists integrated hip hop and dance music elements into their sound, creating the recognizable 90s R&B sound that became beloved globally. Furthermore, this decade witnessed the emergence of female groups such as SWV, Destiny’s Child, and TLC that quickly rose to international fame with hit singles that charted for months at a time.
This year marks a new chapter in the life of iconic R&B group SWV as their reunion album Co-Sign Music is released. Formed in 1992, SWV went on to release four albums and amass an impressive list of hits still played today; their breakthrough hit album It’s About Time marked their breakthrough and catapulted them onto fame; including songs such as “Weak” and “Rain.”
After their band broke up in 1998, its members each embarked on solo careers – Coko went on to release a gospel album while Taj released multiple R&B solo albums and Lelee made guest appearances in shows such as Family Matters. Bravo limited series SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B provides an amazing glimpse back into this legacy while exploring its influence over modern music.
Hip hop’s rise was due to its rebellious spirit, with many rappers adapting their musical styles and collaborating with artists incorporating hip hop influences. This led to R&B artists adopting some hip hop influences into their productions and even working alongside rappers – leading to an emerging subgenre known as New Jack Swing that united hip hop with classic R&B; this laid the groundwork for today’s contemporary R&B and brought about artists like Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign, and Dreezy among many others.
SWV made their mark on music with their debut album released in 1992 and numerous hits that peaked at number one of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. One of their most iconic tracks, Weak by Brian Alexander Morgan was written and produced for Chante Moore as Brian’s lead single off It’s About Time album.
Montell Jordan
In the 90s, R&B groups like Jodeci dominated radio airwaves. Today’s contemporary artists often draw influence from this decade – including Frank Ocean and Anderson Paak who seem particularly inspired by its sounds.
One of the defining characteristics of 1990s R&B music was its unique blend of genres. Artists in this era utilized influences from hip-hop, jazz and funk in order to forge their unique styles – giving rise to subgenres such as alternative and progressive R&B. D’Angelo was among these pioneering artists, helping to pioneer what would later be dubbed as the Neo Soul sound.
One aspect of 90s RnB music that stood out was its use of synthesizers and computer-driven drum machines, leading to an innovative production style unlike anything heard prior. This led to lush background harmonies featuring numerous instruments. Mary J Blige and Lauryn Hill both adopted more mature sounds during this decade.
Hip-hop had an immense effect on music during the ’90s. R&B artists adopted hip-hop techniques in order to appeal to younger audiences – this trend was further cemented with Ginuwine and Destiny’s Child’s success. Additionally, rappers had an even stronger impact on R&B sounds during this decade, including using samplers and incorporating rapping into songs.
Even as new trends emerged in R&B, the ’90s remained a period of great creativity for musicians. Classic albums from Donell Jones, TLC, Bell Biv Devoe Gloria Gaynor En Vogue and Chaka Khan emerged during this decade.
Today, RnB remains an influential genre of music. Thanks to the Internet and YouTube, people from around the globe can now listen to this genre from all corners. Additionally, there are numerous rnb remixes which may even outshone original tracks! RnB popularity has only increased over time; we can expect this trend to continue into the foreseeable future.
En Vogue
En Vogue was an iconic female R&B vocal group, pioneered by their harmonized harmonies and stage presence that set the standard for future girl groups such as TLC and Destiny’s Child. En Vogue made history as one of the most successful R&B bands ever with hit records such as “Hold On,” My Lovin (You’ll Never Get It), and Giving Him Something He Can Feel; just some of their many classic hits include them!
Hold On” was one of En Vogue’s signature songs, mixing soulful melodies with hip-hop beats for an exciting and catchy song that highlighted self-improvement and personal development through lyrics that encouraged young women to stay true to themselves and feel confident about who they were as individuals. En Vogue pioneered R&B music while encouraging its listeners to stay true to themselves while being true to themselves and remain confident.
While their earlier albums were major successes, their second one marked an even greater leap forward. Hit singles such as “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” helped take it to number 1 on Billboard charts; additionally it contained other hits including uplifting ballads such as “Hold On” and “Free Your Mind.”
En Vogue may have fallen out of the limelight in recent years, but their members remain very much alive and kicking. After taking a short hiatus they returned with the album EV3 which showcased a more mature sound; and continue touring live and performing alongside numerous lineup changes over time.
Early in the 1990s, rap-R&B collaborations were an innovative trend. Hip-hop artists would guest on R&B tracks featuring hip hop vocalists while singers had to compete against aggressive MC rapping from other artists. Kima, Keisha, and Pam of Sisters with Voices out of New Jersey successfully blended R&B and hip-hop influences on their hit, “No One Like You”. Their talent clearly shone through on this track!
Brandy & Monica
Brandy and Monica were two successful teenage Black singers who formed a lasting friendship during their illustrious careers. Both became well-known for their R&B ballads that captured teen romance and heartbreak perfectly, their duet “The Boy Is Mine” becoming the hottest song of summer 1992 and sparking rumors of rivalry; propelling both women into mainstream arena. Over time they would go on to release multiple hit singles including 1992 debut album Waiting to Exhale that established quiet storm movement paving the way for future female vocal powerhouses like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to emerge.
In the 1990s, Babyface led an explosion of feminist R&B with singers like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, TLC and Patti Labelle embracing it as an instrument for empowerment. This movement was further supported by soundtracks to popular movies like Moesha and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air featuring talented vocalists.
By the end of the decade, hip-hop had made inroads onto R&B music scenes with Lil Kim and Foxy Brown breaking through boys club boundaries with aggressive, sexualized femme-fatale rap. Meanwhile, R&B divas such as Smooth (the 1990s equivalent of LL Cool J), Adina Howard and Michigan-born Joya began creating hardcore, raunch-pop sounds.
These artists helped usher in a new era of crossover R&B music, with many songs that fused genres such as pop, dance, and hip-hop. Today, young artists like SZA have continued the legacy by adding elements from trap rap and indie into their work; breaking new ground while building upon traditional R&B traditions while adding their own forward-looking takes to R&B music’s history. Modern R&B may not adhere as tightly to tradition but still gives listeners an emotional connection with its songs.