R&B is dead.

Bomby · 11-10-2006, 09:09 PM

No, seriously.

R&B used to be its own music, with wonderful subgenres like soul and funk, but it has now basically basically merged with pop rap, emulating everything about it except with singing instead of rapping. Back in the 1960's and 70's, you had artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Curtis Mayfield - people who made and performed truly soulful music, expressing the most amazing amounts of emotion. Compare today's popular artists of R&B - Usher, Ciara, etc. - to the veterans, and it's just no comparison.

Of course, not all cross-mixing of R&B and hip hop has been bad. Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and TLC all made music that was hip hop influenced but still distinctly R&B. Aaliyah and Ginuwine both made music that treaded the line between hip hop and r&b even more, but their music was so avant-garde and original you had to respect what they made.

But now, it's gone way too far. Damn near every contemporary R&B single has a rapper on it, every singer is relying on hip hop producers, there are no more live backing bands, hell, new R&B music is sampling old R&B music. The singers are judged less and less by their singing or the quality of their music but instead by their dancing. A conversation about R&B might go as follows:

Me: Ciara really can't sing very well.
Typical R&B fan: Yeah but she is such a talented dancer, of all the R&B singers, she's the best dancer.
Me: Okay, but I'm talking about her music. I mean, she's nowhere near the level of a Mary J. or a Faith Evans.
TRF: Faith Evans? Eww, she's old and she does drugs. Who would want to listen to her?
Me: Come on, people didn't stop listening to Aretha Franklin because she's overweight.
TRF: Who's Aretha Franklin?

And so on.

The lyrics have just become so crass and tasteless, too. Seriously, compare "Dip it Low" or "What You Gonna Do with that Booty?" to something like "Come Live With Me Angel." It's nowhere close.

Blah, I could go on, but there's only a few other people on VGF who will actually care enough to reply.

***CaptHayfever*** · 11-10-2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Who's Aretha Franklin?

You did just make up that conversation, right? No one actually ever said that to you, right? Please tell me I'm right.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Bomby · 11-10-2006, 09:36 PM

^ You're right, but I did get "Who's Marvin Gaye?" once.

Everybody Nose · 11-10-2006, 09:49 PM

I also got a "Who's Luther Vandross?"

And I slapped the taste out of his mouth.

One resurgance of R&B I'm naming, Governer, keep tabs on him. He's under T.I's label, but did all of the production and whatnot himself.

Pure soul.

Does anyone else love those 7-8 minute songs where they just blow on and on and on? Never Wanna Leave is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time, next up would be You Be Alright (by Musiq Soulchild).

Bomby · 11-10-2006, 10:10 PM

I need to hear Governor.

There have been a few good artists to emerge in the past few years, Anthony Hamilton and Cody ChesnuTT coming to mind first, although ChesnuTT is more Rock n' Soul than R&B. Like Dre mentioned, Musiq Soulchild is damn good. Alicia Keys is good. But really, the neo-Soul movement was the last time there was just a lot of amazing R&B music coming out.

That being said, I can't wait for D'Angelo's new album. Hopefully it's coming out early next year.

Koga · 11-11-2006, 11:18 AM

^^ you mean like Papa was a Rolling Stone? I actually don't like long songs that go on and on in the same way. I like it when they change a lot and build to a climax like for example Stairway to Heaven.

I'm not a fan of R&B, neither old nor contemporary. I do like a couple of songs, but as a genre, it's not really my cup of tea.

***CaptHayfever*** · 11-11-2006, 01:42 PM

You guys may laugh at me for this, but Joss Stone's still shilling successful soul songs.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

BrandonTragedy · 11-11-2006, 05:50 PM

Thank god it's dead.

DEATHSCYTHE!

Mikhail Gorbachev · 11-11-2006, 06:04 PM

Yeah, thank god. Thank god a once great genre has become crap.
Death, the garbage you listen to, (rock music masquerading as 'goth') is dead and has always been dead.

Bomby · 11-11-2006, 06:30 PM

Death, grow the f**k up. Learn to appreciate or at least respect genres of music that are outside of your tiny little box of what your friends and MTV tell you is "cool." I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of country, but you don't see me waving a picket sign saying "omg ban country for it is teh suxx0rs," and I don't talk down to people who listen to it. If it wasn't for rhythm & blues a lot of the music you listen to today wouldn't even exist.

Joss Stone is alright, and I like some of what she's doing, but there's better soul music out there.

Anyone who says they hate this song is a liar.

***CaptHayfever*** · 11-11-2006, 08:23 PM

Not just a lot, but almost all.
No blues => no rock => no goth rock, no emo, & no whatever-the-heck-else-fits-with-Deathscythe's-personality.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

BrandonTragedy · 11-12-2006, 12:46 AM

lol, didnt think I would get flamed for that.

Quote:

Death, grow the f**k up. Learn to appreciate or at least respect genres of music that are outside of your tiny little box of what your friends and MTV tell you is "cool." I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of country, but you don't see me waving a picket sign saying "omg ban country for it is teh suxx0rs," and I don't talk down to people who listen to it. If it wasn't for rhythm & blues a lot of the music you listen to today wouldn't even exist.

First of all, MTV sucks. I haven't watched MTV since VivaLaBam became old. Yes, I do respect other music just as much as I respect some Rock, I like hip hop bands like Gym Class hero's, And I like Rap like Jay-Z. But there are two types of music I just cant listen to and Respect, R and B, and Country. I don't hold out picket sign's that say ban country, I just don't talk about country, but when I see a topic about it I will voice my opinion. So no I do not like R&B, at all.

Bomby · 11-12-2006, 12:47 AM

The most ironic part is that I was calm as a kitten while typing that.

BrandonTragedy · 11-12-2006, 12:53 AM

as was I.

Bomby · 11-12-2006, 01:07 AM

You ain't gotta like it, but please respect it.

Not that you've ever heard and real R&B, anyways.

Everybody Nose · 11-12-2006, 01:29 AM

If I wasn't lazy, I'd thank all of Malik's posts.

Brandon2390 · 11-13-2006, 11:20 PM

I agree wholeheartedly with this topic. R & B has become trash nowadays, and it's really a shame.

11-10-2006, 09:09 PM	#1
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	R&B is dead. No, seriously. R&B used to be its own music, with wonderful subgenres like soul and funk, but it has now basically basically merged with pop rap, emulating everything about it except with singing instead of rapping. Back in the 1960's and 70's, you had artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Curtis Mayfield - people who made and performed truly soulful music, expressing the most amazing amounts of emotion. Compare today's popular artists of R&B - Usher, Ciara, etc. - to the veterans, and it's just no comparison. Of course, not all cross-mixing of R&B and hip hop has been bad. Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and TLC all made music that was hip hop influenced but still distinctly R&B. Aaliyah and Ginuwine both made music that treaded the line between hip hop and r&b even more, but their music was so avant-garde and original you had to respect what they made. But now, it's gone way too far. Damn near every contemporary R&B single has a rapper on it, every singer is relying on hip hop producers, there are no more live backing bands, hell, new R&B music is sampling old R&B music. The singers are judged less and less by their singing or the quality of their music but instead by their dancing. A conversation about R&B might go as follows: Me: Ciara really can't sing very well. Typical R&B fan: Yeah but she is such a talented dancer, of all the R&B singers, she's the best dancer. Me: Okay, but I'm talking about her music. I mean, she's nowhere near the level of a Mary J. or a Faith Evans. TRF: Faith Evans? Eww, she's old and she does drugs. Who would want to listen to her? Me: Come on, people didn't stop listening to Aretha Franklin because she's overweight. TRF: Who's Aretha Franklin? And so on. The lyrics have just become so crass and tasteless, too. Seriously, compare "Dip it Low" or "What You Gonna Do with that Booty?" to something like "Come Live With Me Angel." It's nowhere close. Blah, I could go on, but there's only a few other people on VGF who will actually care enough to reply.

11-10-2006, 09:49 PM	#4
Everybody Nose All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 13,221 Thanks: 981 Thanked 669 Times in 388 Posts Points: 47,168.31 Bank: 598,669.29 Total Points: 645,837.60 Donate	I also got a "Who's Luther Vandross?" And I slapped the taste out of his mouth. One resurgance of R&B I'm naming, Governer, keep tabs on him. He's under T.I's label, but did all of the production and whatnot himself. Pure soul. Does anyone else love those 7-8 minute songs where they just blow on and on and on? Never Wanna Leave is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time, next up would be You Be Alright (by Musiq Soulchild). __________________ Click here to level up my card! Click here to level up my license! The Virginian Goat Farmers- Season 1 coming soon

11-11-2006, 06:30 PM	#10
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	Death, grow the f*k up. Learn to appreciate or at least respect genres of music that are outside of your tiny little box of what your friends and MTV tell you is "cool." I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of country, but you don't see me waving a picket sign saying "omg ban country for it is teh suxx0rs," and I don't talk down to people who listen to it. If it wasn't for rhythm & blues a lot of the music you listen to today wouldn't even exist. Joss Stone is alright, and I like some of what she's doing, but there's better soul music out there. Anyone who says they hate this song is a liar. Last edited by Bomby; 11-11-2006 at 06:44 PM.*

11-12-2006, 01:29 AM	#16
Everybody Nose All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 13,221 Thanks: 981 Thanked 669 Times in 388 Posts Points: 47,168.31 Bank: 598,669.29 Total Points: 645,837.60 Donate	If I wasn't lazy, I'd thank all of Malik's posts. __________________ Click here to level up my card! Click here to level up my license! The Virginian Goat Farmers- Season 1 coming soon

11-10-2006, 09:36 PM	#3
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	^ You're right, but I did get "Who's Marvin Gaye?" once.

11-10-2006, 10:10 PM	#5
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	I need to hear Governor. There have been a few good artists to emerge in the past few years, Anthony Hamilton and Cody ChesnuTT coming to mind first, although ChesnuTT is more Rock n' Soul than R&B. Like Dre mentioned, Musiq Soulchild is damn good. Alicia Keys is good. But really, the neo-Soul movement was the last time there was just a lot of amazing R&B music coming out. That being said, I can't wait for D'Angelo's new album. Hopefully it's coming out early next year.

11-11-2006, 11:18 AM	#6
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,706.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,922.19 Donate	^^ you mean like Papa was a Rolling Stone? I actually don't like long songs that go on and on in the same way. I like it when they change a lot and build to a climax like for example Stairway to Heaven. I'm not a fan of R&B, neither old nor contemporary. I do like a couple of songs, but as a genre, it's not really my cup of tea.

11-11-2006, 01:42 PM	#7
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,495 Thanks: 175 Thanked 813 Times in 515 Posts Points: 110,679.48 Bank: 1,171.59 Total Points: 111,851.07 Donate	You guys may laugh at me for this, but Joss Stone's still shilling successful soul songs. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

11-11-2006, 05:50 PM	#8
BrandonTragedy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dirty Looks Gender: Posts: 8,040 Thanks: 212 Thanked 146 Times in 126 Posts Points: 13,166.58 Bank: 97,143.05 Total Points: 110,309.63 Donate	Thank god it's dead. DEATHSCYTHE!

11-11-2006, 06:04 PM	#9
Mikhail Gorbachev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Gender: Posts: 9,580 Thanks: 29 Thanked 79 Times in 63 Posts Points: 53.71 Bank: 30,317.43 Total Points: 30,371.14 Donate	Yeah, thank god. Thank god a once great genre has become crap. Death, the garbage you listen to, (rock music masquerading as 'goth') is dead and has always been dead.

11-11-2006, 08:23 PM	#11
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,495 Thanks: 175 Thanked 813 Times in 515 Posts Points: 110,679.48 Bank: 1,171.59 Total Points: 111,851.07 Donate	Not just a lot, but almost all. No blues => no rock => no goth rock, no emo, & no whatever-the-heck-else-fits-with-Deathscythe's-personality. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

11-12-2006, 12:47 AM	#13
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	The most ironic part is that I was calm as a kitten while typing that.

11-12-2006, 12:53 AM	#14
BrandonTragedy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dirty Looks Gender: Posts: 8,040 Thanks: 212 Thanked 146 Times in 126 Posts Points: 13,166.58 Bank: 97,143.05 Total Points: 110,309.63 Donate	as was I.

11-12-2006, 01:07 AM	#15
Bomby My name is Stereotype with an A Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Searching the city for Sci-Fi Wasabi Gender: Posts: 15,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 613 Times in 399 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 7,801.40 Bank: 2,506,696.76 Total Points: 2,514,498.17 Donate	You ain't gotta like it, but please respect it. Not that you've ever heard and real R&B, anyways.

11-13-2006, 11:20 PM	#17
Brandon2390 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Connecticut Posts: 10,399 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21 Times in 17 Posts Points: 39,609.68 Bank: 1,019.94 Total Points: 40,629.62 Donate	I agree wholeheartedly with this topic. R & B has become trash nowadays, and it's really a shame.