Contemporary R&B
In 1973, Marvin Gaye released the album What's Going On. This record introduced jazz influences that loosened the rigid structures of earlier rhythm and blues. Geoffrey Himes spoke in 1989 about how progressive soul expanded musical boundaries in ways never equaled since. Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder led this movement alongside Gaye. Norman Whitfield produced at Motown to set soul vocals against strong backbeats and orchestral sounds. These thick textures created a new foundation for future artists.
The disco era ended in the late 1970s when Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones added electronic elements to their sound. Their 1979 album Off the Wall broke disco wide open into a new world where the beat was undeniable but not the primary focus. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described it as part of a colorful tapestry of lush ballads and strings. Janet Jackson followed with Control in 1986. She and her producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis crafted a new sound fusing funk rhythms with heavy synthesizers and percussion. Richard J. Ripani noted that this success led to the incorporation of rap sensibilities over the next few years. Teddy Riley began producing recordings that included hip hop influences in that same year. Critics called this combination new jack swing.
Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack sold over 45 million copies worldwide in 1992. It became the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Janet Jackson released her self-titled fifth studio album in 1993 after signing a multimillion-dollar contract with Virgin Records. That record sold over 14 million copies globally. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 number one hits together. Their collaboration One Sweet Day became the longest-running number one hit in Hot 100 history. Carey also released a remix of Fantasy in 1995 featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard. This format was unheard of at that point.
The late 1990s saw neo soul arise by adding 1970s soul influences to the hip-hop soul blend. Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell led this movement. Hill and Missy Elliott further blurred lines between R&B and hip hop by recording both styles. The Grammy Awards enacted Best R&B Album starting in 1995. Boyz II Men won the first award for their album II. TLC won in 1996 for CrazySexyCool. Tony Rich took the prize in 1997 for Words. Erykah Badu won in 1998 for Baduizm. Lauryn Hill claimed it in 1999 for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Aaliyah dropped her debut album in 1994 and released One In A Million in 1996 with sounds produced by Missy Elliot and Timbaland. Billboard magazine ranked Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson as the most successful artists of the 1990s.
Music critic Robert Christgau wrote in 2003 that modern R&B was about texture, mood, feel, vocal and instrumental and rhythmic elements smooshed together. Electronic influences and machine-made instruments began dominating the genre in the 2010s. Auto-Tune and new computerized synths gave R&B a more futuristic feel while still attempting to incorporate common themes like love and heartbreak. Apple Music defined electro-R&B as existing at the intersection of R&B and electronic music. This style creates abstract hip-hop blending the moodier end of electro with minimal beats.
Specialized songwriting teams emerged during this period. Bryan-Michael Cox co-wrote Usher's Burn and Confessions Part II in 2005. He also worked on Mariah Carey's Shake It Off and Don't Forget About Us in 2006. Keri Hilson co-wrote songs for Mary J. Blige, Omarion, and Ciara throughout 2006. Rico Love contributed to Usher's Throwback and Pleasure P's Boyfriend #2. The-Dream wrote Rihanna's Umbrella in 2007 and J. Holiday's Bed. Ne-Yo penned Mario's Let Me Love You and Beyoncé's Irreplaceable. These writers shaped the sound of the decade through consistent collaboration.
Usher's OMG and DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love embraced EDM-oriented styles in the early 2010s. Chris Brown followed suit with Yeah 3x while keeping R&B's original feel. Miguel, John Legend, and Jeremih became popular in mainstream hip hop for collaborations with rappers like Wale, Rick Ross, and J. Cole. Trap music maintained a strong presence on charts with Beyoncé's Drunk in Love and Flawless. Bryson Tiller released his debut studio album Trapsoul which blended trap elements into R&B. Mary J. Blige added Thick of It to this evolving landscape.
Latin R&B gained ground since artists began mixing trap with that sound in the middle of the 2010s. Spanish-language singles by Alex Rose, Rauw Alejandro, and Paloma Mami borrowed shrewdly from R&B to captivate global audiences. Sech's Otro Trago and Alex Rose's Toda made the genre popular across Latin America. Alternative R&B emerged as a subgenre characterized by experimental production and introspective lyrics. SZA, Victoria Monet, Frank Ocean, and The Weeknd bridged mainstream R&B with alternative styles. They introduced ethereal soundscapes and unconventional storytelling to broader audiences.
Streaming platforms and social media transformed distribution and listener engagement for contemporary R&B. TikTok and Spotify amplified the reach of songs like SZA's Snooze and Daniel Caesar's Best Part featuring H.E.R. Viral moments catapulted these tracks into global hits. The mid-2000s saw new acts emerge including Ashanti, Keyshia Cole, and Akon. Ashanti's eponymous debut topped both US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Chris Brown released his self-titled album in 2005 which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. His Run It! peaked atop multiple charts.
Usher held the top spot as Billboard's number one Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. He accumulated seven number-one singles totaling 42 weeks at the top. Alicia Keys ranked fifth on Billboard Artist of the Decade list. Her song No One ranks number six on the Billboard Hot 100 songs of the decade. Beyoncé was named the most successful female act of the 2000s by Billboard. In 2004 all twelve songs topping the Billboard Hot 100 were African-American recording artists accounting for 80% of number-one R&B hits that year.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Marvin Gaye release the album What's Going On?
Marvin Gaye released the album What's Going On in 1973. This record introduced jazz influences that loosened the rigid structures of earlier rhythm and blues.
Who produced the new jack swing sound in 1986?
Teddy Riley began producing recordings that included hip hop influences in 1986 to create what critics called new jack swing. Janet Jackson followed with Control in 1986 alongside producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who crafted a new sound fusing funk rhythms with heavy synthesizers and percussion.
Which soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack of all time?
Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack sold over 45 million copies worldwide in 1992 to become the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 number one hits together including One Sweet Day which became the longest-running number one hit in Hot 100 history.
What year did the Grammy Awards enact Best R&B Album starting in 1995?
The Grammy Awards enacted Best R&B Album starting in 1995 when Boyz II Men won the first award for their album II. TLC won in 1996 for CrazySexyCool, Tony Rich took the prize in 1997 for Words, Erykah Badu won in 1998 for Baduizm, and Lauryn Hill claimed it in 1999 for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
How did electronic influences change modern R&B in the 2010s?
Electronic influences and machine-made instruments began dominating the genre in the 2010s with Auto-Tune and new computerized synths giving R&B a more futuristic feel. Apple Music defined electro-R&B as existing at the intersection of R&B and electronic music while creating abstract hip-hop blending the moodier end of electro with minimal beats.