Rhythm and blues: Encyclopedia II - Rhythm and blues - Contemporary R&B subgenres

Rhythm and blues - Contemporary R&B subgenres

These are the major subgenres of contemporary R&B, roughly in chronological order of popularity.

Rhythm and blues - Quiet storm

Quiet storm is a broad category of R&B and jazz-based music that is mellow, laid-back and often romantic. Its name comes from an innovative radio show that originated at WHUR at Howard University in the mid-1970s, named after Smokey Robinson's hit 1975 single and album Quiet Storm. Unlike contemporary R&B, quiet storm shows little influence from hip-hop, and generally plays to the urban adult contemporary crowd. The genre achieved great mainstream success during the 1980s with artists like Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, and Sade. Among other notable quiet storm musicians are Lionel Richie, Gerald Levert, Joe, and Brian McKnight.

Rhythm and blues - New Jack Swing

A fusion of hip-hop music and R&B, new jack swing was distinguished by significant use of rapped choruses or bridges and prominent use of drum machines such as the Roland TR-808. Teddy Riley and his group Guy are credited with being the inventor of the genre; other notable figures include Bobby Brown, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jodeci, and Boyz II Men. A female alternative, New Jill Swing, was championed by acts such as Janet Jackson, Shanice, TLC, and SWV.

Rhythm and blues - Hip-hop soul

Essentially new jack swing for the 1990s, hip-hop soul took the style further towards a pure hip-hop sound, usually accompanied by a nervy, gangsta rap-esque image. Among its most notable figures were Montell Jordan, BLACKstreet, Groove Theory, and the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul", Mary J. Blige. Note that despite the use of the term "soul" in the genre's name, it is actually a subgenre of R&B, not soul music (a genre which died out in the early 1980s.)

Rhythm and blues - Neo soul

Neo soul blends a hip-hop influenced R&B sound with the classic soul of the 1970s. True neo soul is characterized by an earthy feel, accented by soul-styled harmonies, and accompanied by alternative hip hop beats. It generally has a much less mainstream sound than general R&B music. Some artists of this genre include Tony! Toni! Toné!, Angie Stone, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Jill Scott. The genre is most noted for the inclusion of Alicia Keys onto its roster, although some question her inclusion, as they feel her version of neo soul has been "dumbed down" for mass consumption.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Contemporary R&B subgenres", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki