Death+of+R&B

= = **Death of Rhythm and Blues ** Back to Home Back to Culture

If one was to listen to Rhythm and Blues music modern day, they would say it is catchy and has a fun feel to it depending on the various R&B artists to pick from. R&B is a term that describes a variety of styles of music including rock & roll, soul, funk, and currently "contemporary" R&B. There may be many arguments against this claim due to different people having different opinions. The genre of Rhythm and Blues still currently exists, but the original concept and feel that the soul music produced to its listeners is "dead" due to its new renovation and the birth of new artists. Often when hearing someone saying "R&B is dead," it is more than likely someone who has lived through the late 80's, 90's, and early 2000's music era.

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= = **R&B Era**  Rhythm and Blues, also known as modern day R&B, has been around since the end of World War II, which was 1941-45. The term arose in the 40's basically to describe African-American music, which previously was marketed as "race music." When Rhythm and Blues was first being invented, the style and tempo happened to be more on the slow side. Rhythm and Blues in the 90’s and 2000’s talk about love, between partners, friends, and loved ones. Songs such as “My Boo,” “U Got It Bad,” and “There Goes My Baby” by Usher Raymond are good examples. The messages from these songs explained the love that was in the air. In the song “My Boo,” Usher talks about having a girl that he loves and they have had history with each other since they were young. Their love story started when they were young and he even gave her her first kiss. Alicia Keys is featured in the song and she talks about spending the rest of her life with him and she knew that after their first kiss. R&B songs nowadays are not as common to be heartfelt and genuine talking about love and relationships. During the R&B era, songs tended to talk more sexually also and about making love with your partner. Songs from Usher such as “Trading Places” and “Nice and Slow” sends a sexual message to a female. “Trading Places” talks about how the male and female role is going to be switched for the night. She is the one who is going to go pick him up for a dinner and then take him back to her place after. Instead of him being on top that night, he is on the bottom. The voice that the song is sang with is soft and sexual, which gives off a calm vibe. The song “Nice and Slow” also explains sexual intercourse as being “nice and slow.” Sexual intercourse was described to be more about making love and being passionate instead of just plain sex and it being an action.

**Why is R&B "Dead?"**  There is no romance in music anymore. Relationships back in the 90's could be imagined to be more genuine and the partners cared about one another more, but as society changes music can do the same. Living in this culture, it seems like people are constantly playing games in relationships. It is as if someone’s happiness, love, and compassion cannot be taken seriously. The current trending topic is heartbrokenness and unhappiness and trying to overcome all of those things. If you were to look on social media, there is constantly someone tweeting or posting about their past relationships and experiences or wanting to be treated right. Society might have influenced music and the music may also influence society.

 Songs on today's urban radio playlists are drained of romance, tenderness and seduction. It is not just about the rise of hardcore hip-hop or rappers who denigrate women. Something else also happened: African American people along with today’s society became more narcissistic, and so did the love songs. There had been a lot of songs written about the narcissism of young Americans. They do not want to pay their dues. They are self-absorbed - tweeting, texting, posting on social media - and they are constantly immersed in their private worlds. This self-absorption has seeped into contemporary black love songs. Songs talk about just messing around with females and using them for sexual intercourse. It is all fun and games, but at the end of the day people still want to be loved and not just called when they are in “need.” That can lead to feeling less of themselves.

Although the genre of music of R&B still does exists modern day... It will never be the same.

**Mentioned Works/ References** 1. Aaliyah. Aaliyah.Blackground Records. 7 July, 2001 2. Ginuwine. 100% Ginuwine. 550 Music - Epic Records. 16 March, 1999. 3. Houston, Whitney. "I'm Every Woman." The Bodyguard. Arista Records. 1992. 4. Kelly, R. Black Panties. RCA Records. 6 December, 2013. 5. Mendelson, Aaron. American R & B : Gospel Grooves, Funky Drummers, and Soul Power. Twenty-First Century Books, 2013. American Music Milestones. 6. Raymond, Usher. Confessions. Arista Records. 23 March, 2004. 7. TLC. "No Scrubs." FanMail. 1999.