There are NO Iconic Singers in this Era.

[Amo Husserl]

@Amo Husserl Thank you for your input but I wasnt asking for a reason. I know all of this. It was just an observation to vent my frustration.

Hot air won't fix the problem, especially if you know about all this. What's the solution? We know the problem.

 

[Tribal Outkast]

Ari has to tools to be great but she crazy and want to be ratchet. Imma still marry her though

She’s had a great career to me. She definitely should be up there. The cussing and other stuff is extra at times, but this is what’s hot in the era we are in


This is a quality remake of a classic song. People don’t seem to care too much though. I bet a singer in another era would’ve had a number 1 with it

 

[The Connoisseurs]

The singers that could’ve been iconic are not followed. It’s the fans fault

This is a big statement .. is it though ?

You have to name example because to me it could only two answers ; either these artists suck at making songs or they got blackballed in a prior era where it was easy to backball artists.

 

[NZA]

the noname people sing better now, but they are now vocal acrobats for social media and not real recording artists. the recording artists are celebrities and reality stars first and musicians second. this is happening all over the place - if you lean heavy toward talent and not so much into image, you are probably a battle rapper or youtube guitar expert

there is a disconnect between getting the talent to the industry where they can work with professionals to make great songs and develop stage presence.

 

[The God Poster]

I know this is random but that thread about the current state of Hip Hop really got me dissecting the current state of R&B. I was just thinking about how through each decade, the 60s, 70s, 80s and even the 90s and early 00s, we had legendary and iconic voices. One of a kind vocal ability.

Think about the 1960s. Think about all of the iconic voices we had in black music and R&B during that time. David Ruffin, Smokey Robinson, a young Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding.

The 70s was a fukking bloodbath. The greatest decade of black voices in history and it will never be close. Barry White, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Peabo Bryson, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Ojays. fukking INSANE. And I omitted ALOT of people. Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Isley Bros, Al Green, Spinners, Emotions, LTD, Frankie Beverly!
GOT DAMN IT. SHYT MAKING MY dikk HARD

I could go on and on with this shyt. The 70s were CRAZY. I can't imagine being bombarded with such soul moving music every hour of every day back then. Shyt was unbelievable.


The 80s: Adult MJ, Whitney, Luther, Prince, Chaka Khan, Donna Summers, Anita Baker, Stephanie Mills, Janet.

The 90s legendary voices: R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Mariah, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, Babyface, Mary J, Lauryn Hill, Brian McKnight, Gerald LeVert.

00s - D'Angelo, Jill Scott, India Ari, Musiq Soulchild, Usher, Beyonce, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Jamie Foxx, Jazmine Sullivan

Current Era: HER, I guess Chris Brown? Ariana Grande? Does she even have an R&B song?

I may be missing a few icons here and there but I was coming straight off top. Notice the disparity in vocal talent the closer we get to the current era. Each decade had MULTIPLE all time voices. Voices where if you hear them on a radio, you'd immediately know who it was. Legendary voices and ability. Undeniable talent.

It's discouraging seeing that this current era (2020-Present) has not delivered one voice that would go down among the greats.

I rate myself a solid 7 on a vocal ability scale and I know if you were to put me up against any of these new nikkas (Giveon, Bryson Tiller, Weeknd, Khalid, Daniel Ceasar, Brent Faiyaz) in a straight raw singing comp, no autotune, no microphone. I'm bodying every single one. Only nikka I respect is Lucky Daye. He got skills.

This shyt breaks my heart that we don't have any iconic voices in this generation.

Wild you’d include Chris in current era but not 00’s?

Also put some respect on Daniel voice. Was just listening to him & man can sing.

Lloyd had potential as his voice imo is unique

 

[Tribal Outkast]

This is a big statement .. is it though ?

You have to name example because to me it could only two answers ; either these artists suck at making songs or they got blackballed in a prior era where it was easy to backball artists.

I’ll throw a couple out there.

Cleo Sol
Jillian Hervey(Lion Babe) her mom is iconic
Ari
H.E.R.
Masego
Devin Morrison
Lucky Daye

There’s plenty other examples. I’m not saying they all could’ve been iconic but one or a couple could’ve. People be out here struggling to find singers to prop up when there’s a whole talent pool to pick from. It is what it is though

 

[Hathaway]

Wild you’d include Chris in current era but not 00’s?

Also put some respect on Daniel voice. Was just listening to him & man can sing.

Lloyd had potential as his voice imo is unique

Chris could fit into both because he's still relevant. He just had a hit too.

Daniel, nah.. He straight.

 

[Amo Husserl]

Double edge sword, eliminating the gate keeping brought us iconic material but it also allowed trash to pass.

I’ll take the great with the worst …

It was only a double-edged sword to the ones who benefitted, they were working with the labels to put the music out. We were just consumers.

The costs of eliminating gate keepers has now outweighed most previous benefits.
​

Let's not act like the music charting for the last fifteen years has been an overall benefit to our image.

 

[Kliq_Souf]

CB is more 00s than Jaz Sullivan

 

[RennisDeynolds]

I wouldn’t say there’s none.

You mentioned The Weeknd but I think he’s pretty talented and iconic. Same with Chris Brown.

Not a big fan of Drake or Rihanna but they’re definitely iconic.

Bruno Mars is also very talented.

I think my generation just has less, because everyone is lazy and does the same shyt.

Rihanna is no wear close to being a good singer. She's an iconic "artist" and figure these days but her live singing is doo doo stinky.


Drake another "iconic" artist and figure who can't sing without autotune.


Bhris Brown and Weeknd voices are not like that. They have good songs I guess but their VOICES are not it

 

[The Connoisseurs]

There’s plenty other examples. I’m not saying they all could’ve been iconic but one or a couple could’ve. People be out here struggling to find singers to prop up when there’s a whole talent pool to pick from. It is what it is though

I feel that. I think that’s a case of label politics, priorities budgets and brand managing. only so much artists you can focus on but at the end of the day music cuts the red tape.

was only a double-edged sword to the ones who benefitted, they were working with the labels to put the music out. We were just consumers.

The costs of eliminating gate keepers has now outweighed most previous benefits.
​

Let's not act like the music charting for the last fifteen years has been an overall benefit to our image.

These labels and gate keepers were recreating Big Macs and it got tiring, Prince was ahead of his time with the things he was doing and telling us but we ain’t pay attention.

As far as your second statement
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art ?
We have to step it up on both sides

 

[skylove4]

I know this is random but that thread about the current state of Hip Hop really got me dissecting the current state of R&B. I was just thinking about how through each decade, the 60s, 70s, 80s and even the 90s and early 00s, we had legendary and iconic voices. One of a kind vocal ability.

Think about the 1960s. Think about all of the iconic voices we had in black music and R&B during that time. David Ruffin, Smokey Robinson, a young Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding.

The 70s was a fukking bloodbath. The greatest decade of black voices in history and it will never be close. Barry White, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Peabo Bryson, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Ojays. fukking INSANE. And I omitted ALOT of people. Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Isley Bros, Al Green, Spinners, Emotions, LTD, Frankie Beverly!
GOT DAMN IT. SHYT MAKING MY dikk HARD

I could go on and on with this shyt. The 70s were CRAZY. I can't imagine being bombarded with such soul moving music every hour of every day back then. Shyt was unbelievable.


The 80s: Adult MJ, Whitney, Luther, Prince, Chaka Khan, Donna Summers, Anita Baker, Stephanie Mills, Janet.

The 90s legendary voices: R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Mariah, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, Babyface, Mary J, Lauryn Hill, Brian McKnight, Gerald LeVert.

00s - D'Angelo, Jill Scott, India Ari, Musiq Soulchild, Usher, Beyonce, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Jamie Foxx, Jazmine Sullivan

Current Era: HER, I guess Chris Brown? Ariana Grande? Does she even have an R&B song?

I may be missing a few icons here and there but I was coming straight off top. Notice the disparity in vocal talent the closer we get to the current era. Each decade had MULTIPLE all time voices. Voices where if you hear them on a radio, you'd immediately know who it was. Legendary voices and ability. Undeniable talent.

It's discouraging seeing that this current era (2020-Present) has not delivered one voice that would go down among the greats.

I rate myself a solid 7 on a vocal ability scale and I know if you were to put me up against any of these new nikkas (Giveon, Bryson Tiller, Weeknd, Khalid, Daniel Ceasar, Brent Faiyaz) in a straight raw singing comp, no autotune, no microphone. I'm bodying every single one. Only nikka I respect is Lucky Daye. He got skills.

This shyt breaks my heart that we don't have any iconic voices in this generation.

How ole are you bruh. Maybe music has just passed you by I’m in my mid 30’s and it’s passed me by and I’m ok with that, we don’t create the culture anymore. Just open Spotify and beat your meat to yours hearts content to all those singers that “got you hard”

 

[Hathaway]

CB is more 00s than Jaz Sullivan

CB debut in 05, Jaz in 08.

 

[Buddy]

Anderson Paak & Ari Lennox are "iconic" like in my opinion meaning they could easily be 1960's singers. Their voices are amazing to me. They would fit right in with icons of the past.

The only thing about those 2 is that they are a product of modern-day ratchetness meaning their music unfortunately has lots of vulgarity and profanity making it hard for me to listen to.

I'm at a point where I prefer my music profanity free and it's a darn shame that those 2 have so much cursing in their music.

Breh… you’re cussing in the middle of complaining about cussing


Mainstream music has moved away from ballads @Hathaway

 

[Hathaway]

How ole are you bruh. Maybe music has just passed you by I’m in my mid 30’s and it’s passed me by and I’m ok with that, we don’t create the culture anymore. Just open Spotify and beat your meat to yours hearts content to all those singers that “got you hard”

I just turned 33 breh.
I can't accept that. We can still make a difference!