All you youngsters, let it be known that R&B died on YOUR watch

[kevm3]

I'm sure there is a ton of undiscovered talent, but the industry isn't putting those acts out like that. The industry isn't really interested in putting out the most talented musicians, but are more interested in putting out an entertainment package. Nowadays, it's kind of like the difference between something mass produced in a factory and something being made by hand. Most people don't even have a signature sound in the mainstream anymore because they are getting hits from all these different 'megaproducers'.

Something you have to respect about R. Kelly is that he's actually a musician. You hear his cds and they have a cohesive sound/concept because he can actually make the instrumetals as opposed to having to go get 'hot beats' from 7 or 8 different sources and having the sound of the cd go all over the place.

 

[Insensitive]

Nah, while I dont agree that 12 Play is the GOAt r&B album, or even anywhere close to it...from start to end it might not even be in my top 3 R. Kelly albums, BUT it's not the beginning of the end.

But R. Kelly did contribute to the beginning of the end with TP2.....as great as that album was, it started the whole R&B thug-sing-talk/rap movement, which everyone else copied afterwards.

And black people DO have creative outlets, maybe now more than ever with the ease of making music on computers......they just have no role models anymore. When every song is made using 1 or 2 notes on a keyboard or arpegiattors, it doesnt foster or encourage great muscianship like we used to have.

And the younger gens brains have been trained to find anything slow, or without a super reptitive chorus to be "boring".

Dont get me wrong, I like & can appreciate even ignorant ass rap like 2Chainz, it's not what I'm limited to.

Yeah let's totally disregard the collapse of musical programs in inner city schools or the budget cuts that lead to a nation wide dismantling of musical programs.

Sh1t the reason we even have Hip Hop now is because cats couldn't afford instruments or their schools didn't have adequate musical programs (or any at all....)

It somewhat has something to do with the prevalence of Hip Hop and it's inherent simplicity but it's also go to do with a great deal of those kids who would be playing instruments or learning music not having any such way to do those very things.

I also wouldn't say making music is "easy" on computers, it still takes skill and polish to make great music.

 

[Mowgli]

They left the church and lost the soul. They replaced it with demonic soul with is artificial which is why these nikkas need autotune and their life performances are a joke. Charm is deceit and the devil is a liar.

 

[N.Y. State of Mind]

when i said creative outlet i meant a music genre where black people can bust out some instruments and compose (no sampling), there should be a genre for black people thats completely different from rap... it still can "hip hop"

and yes the sing/rap movement definitely hurt black music, young black kids now days give the look when they hear some extreme soulful voice on black radio, white people have taken the soul these days

the sing/rap movement was welcomed because it gave nikkas comfort that they can do that too, as opposed to the extreme soulful singing we're known for, thats a gifted talent

sometimes i feel that we african americans are a defeated group of people

edited

Jazz fits the bill

 

[JoelB]

[ame]http://youtu.be/8dM5QYdTo08[/ame]

 

[Homeboy Runny-Ray]

Usher disappoints me. The nikka has old 50 million albums, probably has a ton of money and has completely abandoned R&B when HE's the main one who could do whatever and be successful. He didnt need to go techno pop route. It's cool in spaces, I'm all for artistry, but to completely abandon R&B is lame.

yes he did need to go the pop/techno route. usher was just a packaged product from LaFace that was only as good as the people around him. hes really not much better than your average commercial r&b singer today aside from the fact that he can put on a good show.

his sales dropped drastically when he stopped working with jermaine dupri(edit: and also, jam & lewis as you said earlier.). and they over-promoted the hell out of his chit too.

the pop chit is his way of survival. imagine him making adult contemporary albums without a big machine behind him. he would fade away with the quickness. hes not built like that. i think that people like usher, aalyiah, etc being boosted up as greats to the masses played a major part in the eventual destruction of mainstream r&b as well. so now, you got the new singers coming out that dont know any better because of this.

im more dissappointed in chris brown actually. but then again, hes in like his mid-20s and his 1st taste of r&b was probably an usher album or something.........theres no excuse for all the corny pop chit that chris brown does tho. i believe he went for the crossover before he got in trouble for giving ole girl the beats so you cant use that as an excuse.

 

[Homeboy Runny-Ray]

i saw a thread on here about r.kelly discography and people were saying 12 play was the greatest R&B cd

i wasnt really talking about on the-coli though, ive heard 12 Play get the GOAT title in plenty of convos

its one of the greatest in my opinion.

@ whoever said the uptempos were trash. "summer bunnies" & "homie lover friend" were wavier than a muthasucka.

 

[Jone2three45]

R. Kelly is a true musician,
But that n1gga made an album called,
Double Up,
Well in his 40's.
Still,
Rather have that mess then what is out now.
Miguel is nice, but that is as far as it goes as far as new R&B acts,
Don't really see any others acts that are worth it.
Today music is more about universal pop appeal,
What has been said years ago,
Is true,
Still today,
Once you go pop,
Say goodbye to your soul.
Just ask Usher.

 

[Jone2three45]

Man what happened to RnB GROUPS?

Jodeci, Blackstreet, 112 and H-town were all groups. Main problem now is corporations got a hold of everything.

Hip-Hop,
Is what happen.
Ask Chris Brown.

 

[Jone2three45]

"How y'all gonna stand by and let our music turn into pop/techno/ cornball/a** music."- Erykah Badu.

When she say this breh!?
I loved Baduizm,
But after her and her sister got bucket naked for the white guys,
I no longer believed in her sister soulja/ bohemian steeze.

 

[Xtraz2]

Omarion got tha game on lock right now

 

[Tom]

modern Rnb music sounds like techno/house nowadays

 

[NoMoreWhiteWoman2020]

Lil wayne how to love was a goat rnb song
But seriously i think we were just spoiled from the 60's to confessions; also there is a lack of soul amongst black people even now; most singers grew up singing in the church which is not as wide spread anymore. I agree the subtlety has partially ruined it and it is just too vulgar now. Just looking at beyonce shyt, ego dance for you and more songs are just too raunchy


Trey and brown are both trying to channel kellys early career, but cant.

60-70's had great rnb, but the 80's? My favorite time. Not going to utube link the vids but off the top of the head,
Isleys
rene n angela
art of noise
Phyllis hyman
mike jack
Prince
Debarge fam
Fat lufa vandross -if this world were mine
teddy p
coked up marvin gayes last stand
patti labelle still got a crush on her
nicole ritchies dad
Anita baker
Rick james n teena marie
Dennis edwards dont look any further

 

[Baracka Flocka Flame]

THANK YOU PRETTY RAHEEM

 

[Wild self]

Quality r and b is a lost art for the youngins. Ever since the autotunes and techno invaded around 2006, it has not Been the same since. Kids today didn't grow up in church and they hate anything that is slow paced in this energy drinks/ popping pills era. If you introduced them some Marvin gaye or Al Green these kids think that you have no "swag."