Riffs and Runs: The Creation of Rhythm & Blues
Let's rewind in time.
Originating in the mid-20th century, Rhythm & Blues was created once African American families migrated into cities across the US. This industrial environment greeted the fast-paced reality of middle-class working citizens with busy, high-demanding, environments; this would become an influence to the RnB genre. Fast-forward to the 70s-80s era of music where the rap genre “Hip-Hop” would be introduced from DJs to rising rap groups. Sounds Of Life states that “The ‘new jack swing’ sub-genre, introduced by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle, originated from combining hip-hop productions with dance and the already established contemporary R&B sound (Alessi, Sec. 5.)” The up-tempo shift from the slow, seducing sounds of classic RnB would turn into samples and flips of classics with an up-tempo beat; the progressive 90s RnB era would be born.
Back to top
Live Instruments to Programming:
Evolution of 90s RnB
Went from the most hated to the most appreciated.
Rhythm and Blues replaced the term "race music", which originally came from within the black community, but was deemed offensive in the postwar world. “The term ‘rhythm and blues’ was used by Billboard in its chart listings from June 1949 until August 1969, when its "Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles" chart was renamed as "Best Selling Soul Singles (National R&B Hall of Fame, Par. 4.)" RnB started off as a place for African Americans to express the hardships they faced merely from existing in a predominantly white-ran world. As America sought reform in equal rights amongst all people, so did the content of music changed. Songs went from the visual-depicting croons of Nina Simone to the fantasy and overwhelming love ballads of 90s quartets, and solo artists alike.
90s RnB is regarded as the Golden Age of RnB with the introductions of men and women RnB groups such as Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Bell Biv DeVoe, to TLC, SWV, and Xscape to name a few who populated in the early 90s. In the middle to late 90s, rap label icons such as Sean Combs (P. Diddy (Bad Boy Records)), Suge Knight (Death Row Records), and Jermaine Dupri (So So Def Records) would introduce the world to hip-hop influenced groups such as Dru Hill, 112, Jagged Edge, Total, Destiny’s Child, and Brownstone, to name a few. Speedy productions dominantly ran by Timbaland, Darkchild, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Babyface, Quincy Jones, Bryan Michael-Cox, Marvin Winans, The Neptunes (+more) would dominate the melodical airwaves of the 90s, bringing an up-tempo to RnB with increased drama, eliminating the use of real instruments and using beat machines with synth plug-ins. This was the time of RnB where people began to experiment in heed to the futuristic sounds perceived to be brought in by 2000. Little did they know, this 10 year-span would be the contribution to the farewell of “real” RnB.
Back to top
Here's an interview with Jodeci after the release of their debut album in 1991! Check this out!
Artists YOU should look out for in 2025!
Though the 90s era of RnB has been encapsulated in time, there are many artists who capture the authenticity of the 90s that don’t sound outdated. We’ve made researching new sounds easy for you by compiling a list of artists that are singing their way into the mainstream spotlight!
Here’s a List of 20 RnB Artists That We Know You’ll Love:
Leon Thomas
Phabo
Destin Conrad
October London
Dylan Sinclair
Clairo
Trez
4batz
Chase Shakur
N3WYRKLA
Foushee (Warning: Page flashes you)
Rayvn Lanae
Amaria
Zae France
Elijah Blake
Essosa
Jean Deaux
WANMOR
Tone Stith
Arin Ray
+MORE Artist- There are many artists on the rise for RnB! Plenty that we didn’t mention; comment them below!
