What year did R&B fall off ?

[beejus]

It never did. Matter of fact, RnB was probably stronger in the 2000s/10s than in the 1980s/90s.

Really? Stronger in what way? To me it's not even close.

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Yeah, Disco was R&B to but i feel like when white guys like Bee Gees started making it people suddenly thought Disco wasn't R&B anymore cause they where white.

yup....disco is just uptempo R&B (funk and soul)

 

[MikeyC]

Really? Stronger in what way? To me it's not even close.

Less uniformity.

 

[daboywonder2002]

honestly i can't say. I don't have feel like searching the net for an exact year. I feel New jack swing and even Neo soul helped keep R and b afloat. But i think it's a combination of things. The beyonce takeover, hip hop dominance because labels stopped pushing r and b acts and focused on hip hop only.

 

[Wacky D]

It started dying precisely when Aaliyah died

Like a plane that stalled out.. It crashed when Neyo fell off

Aaliyah being made into some sort of goat r&b entity when she died, is one of the main reasons why the music is dumbed-down.
the next generation that came up being taught that she was some sort of all-time great, ended up being influenced by her. and this is what we get.
so yea, I agree with your statement for differing reasons.

we got a bunch of aaliyahs without r.kelly/timbo/missy. and a bunch of usher raymonds without Jermaine dupri & the laface stimulus.

 

[Jinx`]

Aaliyah being made into some sort of goat r&b entity when she died,

Yeah yeah yeah

We got it already

 

[Here Comes the Pain]

It died as soon as t-pain started diluting it with that auto tune mess. From there singing stopped being a major priority.

That's why you started seeing more r&b artists hop on the edm scene because the crooning wasn't selling like it used to.

 

[Screwface Exchange]

Ja Rule really isn't that bad. I think he had a great rapping voice.
Although his singing could get be very tiring.

No1 said he was bad.

But once rappers started singing rnb slowly started to fade.

Something doesn't have to be bad to end something.

 

[DJ Mart-Kos]

No1 said he was bad.

But once rappers started singing rnb slowly started to fade.

Something doesn't have to be bad to end something.

yeah, that's actually true.
Rappers felt like they didn't need the R&B singers anymore.

 

[GoldenGlove]

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Maybe, maybe not but when it comes to female artist they are more expensive.
The industry isn’t really making superstars like they use to. It’s not as lucrative

this is true, there are a lot of articles about how the industry is even failing to create pop stars...female pop stars especially.

i think that's going to be the reality across everything except sports. with social media, youtube and other direct channels for broadcast, and reality tv (why is this still a thing?) the ability to become a star is open to anyone. between that, and a more self-absorbed/delusions of grandeur generation, people being attracted to "authenticity" and wanting to be a part of making people into stars, you can't just sit an industry package out there and expect people to love it...unless you're post malone

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

lack of groups is also hurting r&b. the harmonizing, layered vocals, and variety that a set of group members can bring to songs is an important element. and even tho i listen to a lot of new r&b artists, and they make good music, i think we're missing "special" voices. there's this certain intonation that some of these younger artists sing in - khalid, sza, ari lennox...that can feel manufactured at times. there also aren't any big voices like whitney, mariah, luther, hell even early 90's k-ci.

 

[satam55]

I think folks in this thread are specifically talking about Contemporary R&B (Because that's what most of us grew up on) and NOT traditional Rhythm and blues/Soul/Funk.

The use of the term "contemporary r&b" is confusing.

"Contemporary" to whom? Usher and R. Kelly are not "contemporary" artists to someone born in 2002, who is now 16.

To that generation, they are what we used to refer to as "oldies" acts.

Nor would Usher and R. Kelly be considered "contemporary" to someone born in 1955. The contemporary music they grew up with would be Motown, Earth Wind & Fire, the Jackson Five, James Brown, Prince, Slave, P-Funk, Aretha.

Maybe the question is when did "non-rapper" black music for the 90s babies fall off?

I just use the Wikipedia definition because that makes sense. Basically late 80's-present R&B

Contemporary r&b is all R&B with a hiphop grounding. Basically most R&B since about 1985.

Contemporary R&B (also known as simply R&B), is a music genre that combines elements of pop, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, hip hop, gospel and electronic dance music.





while true contemp R&B is really meant to describe HipHop influenced R&B of the 80's to present



yes....that's what the term was mainly used for since the 80's




he's right



that was pre hiphop influence though

This.

I was gonna say 07 - Lloyd dropped streeet love, dream and neyo were still dropping fire...then it all went to shyt


But the past few years there has been some great r&b, unfortunately it's not given burn on mainstream radio or much promo. You gotta be tapped in or heavy with the exploration on streaming services or blogs.

Yeah, I pretty much keep up with current R&B by watching this every week:

THESE ARE THE OFFICIAL US R&B CHARTS.

✘ Description: This week's most popular current Hot R&B songs, ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen Music, sales data as compiled by Nielsen Music SoundScan and streaming activity data from online music sources tracked by Nielsen Music. Songs are defined as current if they are newly-released titles, or songs receiving widespread airplay and/or sales activity for the first time.

 

[MooseMouthMthafuga]

'06


That Jagged Edge "Jagged Edge" was the last R&B album I actually went out and bought.



I was going through a painful break.This song right here


Boy!

 

[Youseenmywork]

RnB is actually better than Hip hop right now. I can list artist that right now that is killing it. RnB is not dead it is more alive than nikka know.