Luisa Bernardino

The original feel of R&B music is slowly being lost to pop- like beats and rhythms.

Whether it is singing in the rain, crying over your ex-husband, or a story time with Whitney Houston, R&B’s most nostalgic and favored aspects have slowly faded with the new generation changing the game. Nowadays, you can clearly hear where R&B meets pop, alternative rock, and everything in between.

Music has evolved over the years, especially Rhythm & Blues it has had a drastic change. Pop, Rock, and other genres have always been integrated into R&B music. However, recently the lines have been blurred as to what counts as “Rhythm and Blues.”

Artists such as Doja Cat and Steve Lacy, who are both well-known for their intricate music style, have been categorized as R&B artists when that is a little far from their “sound.” They are both known for experimenting with different genres of music, however, they would still be categorized into only R&B when nominated for awards.

According to an article by Essence, “‘Bad Habit’ is classified as R&B/Soul, but for keen-eared listeners, it is strongly reminiscent of a mid-90s grunge ballad or an early aughts alternative rock jam.”

A lot of R&B music does not primarily stay within that one genre anymore. Many artists now are more likely to test out new sub-genres of R&B and it seems like that is all everyone wants to do.

Newer artists tend to foster the same ideas, just with different execution. Contemporary R&B has been becoming increasingly popular. Musicians like Willow Smith, are recognized for their unique sound. With songs like “Time Machine” and “Wait a Minute!” that reach outside of the standard of R&B.

It is not like integrating alternative music into soul has not been done before. But it is the way modern R&B artists are not afraid to go a little outside of what they are used to.

Some may call it revolutionary, others may call it disrespectful toward the Greats. Either way, there is such an overwhelming amount of subgenres to R&B that exist currently. But do these new artists know how to delve into the passions of blues and soul with their music like their elder kin?

“What y’know ‘bout this?” is a question that most of us have heard at least once from our parents or the aunties and uncles who have the better music taste. Older generations have been blessed to have lived during the golden age of R&B, during the late 80s and 90s. This was when Hip-hop began to be woven into rhythm and blues, giving a fresh, new sound to the music scene.

Mary J. “Queen of Hip-hop Soul” Blige was one of the first artists in the 90s to switch it up in the studio with her second album, My Life. Incorporating hip-hop with traditional R&B soul expanded the variety of what would become popularized. She is considered one of the veterans of 90’s R&B.

Artists like Blige, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys would have hits that chart every week, as well as popular groups such as SWV, Mint Condition, and Boyz II Men, contributing to the uprise in rhythm and blues in the 90s

This period of R&B also knew how to experiment with their sound, however, compared to the newer generation of musicians, 80s-90s and most of the early 2000s R&B sound stayed true to the blues roots.

R&B is not dead. Over the years it has only changed drastically because music is supposed to evolve. We may not be in the ‘golden era’ anymore, but we still have highly talented artists who honor that era. However, no matter how many times newer artists make music influenced by R&B legends, they won’t be able to reach that same level of soul.

Unless Bruno Mars drops new music.