R&B music was so real during the 60's 70's 80's and 90's but know it is not sincere because there is no soul or feeling behind the music majority of the so called R&B stars like Beyonce,Chris Brown are only using it to make a buck and win awards. There are artists such as Tamia, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu but they are so underrated that they are lucky to be on the David Letterman show. Who believes this?

Who also misses the Unplugged series with R&B artists it was pretty big around the 90's and almost every artist played such as Erykah Badu, Shanice, Maxwell, Jodeci, Mary J and so on.
[Edited 2/4/08 17:47pm]

neoretro7 said:

I miss the music just as much as the sincerity. Seriously music sounds alive when played with a real band, those instruments breathe as much as the artist. That's the problem with R&B today, fake beats, all the soul sucked out of the music.
[Edited 2/4/08 18:53pm]

I miss the R&B of the sixties and seventies since I didn't live in the eras but ever since I listen to oldies stations, I grew a fondness for sixties and seventies R&B.

Timmy84 said:

I know that time had passed without me, but ti is such a transition to hear even little kids and teenagers singing with more soul than 20 year olds in that time (Brighter Side Of Darkness / Spoonbread / New birth../ Black Ivory). I keep forgetting that these guys were YOUNG when they were singing with all that grown vocalism
[Edited 2/4/08 19:41pm]

paisleypark4 said:

I was shocked that artists like Brenda Holloway, Mary Wells, Barbara Mason and the like were around 15, 16, 17 when they started their careers!

Timmy84 said:

same here, but I also miss the late 80's R&B too as well as the 90's.

i do feel like Raheem DeVaughn is one of the rare R&B artists out here now with some soul in his voice.

D'Angelo had soul too, but he's disappeared. Maxwell too.

It's like soul artists have become extinct, and these watered down artists with little boy voices get all the attention:

Chris Brown (he's a better dancer than singer, IMO)
Omarion
Trey Songs
J. Holiday
and the list goes on.
[Edited 2/4/08 19:58pm]

missfee said:

I know right? And that's sick. Plus everybody thinks they're Michael... these fools are gonna have to stop doing that. No more originality in commercial R&B and it's a damn fucking shame.

I think Alicia had a lot of sincerity in No One. I think J.Holiday has a bit of sincerity.

I don't know if any of you watched Making The Band last season but there was this male singer on there that had a TON of sincerity when he sung. Unfortunately he didn't make the band, but here's a bit of what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ANXa60fDn8

Yes I miss it !!!!!
Ever since being a criminal *or at least looking like one..
became a prerequisite for all aspiring R&B/Hip Hop/Street artists...Things have been F@#$^# UP !

YES.

Nowadays, the music sounds plastic, artists have no soul and the lyrics suck balls.

prettymansson said:

Also, I don't want to hear shitty lyrics about 'hoes' and 'bitches'. Motherfuckers got no respect for women, and no imagination when it comes to writing lyrics.

The imperative need of r&b or soul grew out of the Civil Rights struggle. There is no longer a formal movement and the culture lacks a sense of urgency. Today's r&b is plastic because we're complacent and feel we have overcome.

dragondayz said:

He was cool. I just wish r&b dont cross in2 hip hop sp damn much anymore..its worn ot bits...got dammit Teddy Riley..lookit what u done did!


Now the R&B Charts are mashed up with Hip Hop on billboard.

There was a time when RAP had its own, and R&B had its own.
[Edited 2/4/08 22:13pm]

I miss it and I feel what you are saying. I was just saying to my wife that Goapele has great lyrics and is sincere soul to the bone.

...But she is a rarity in this watered down world of kids who grew up without arts in their USA education.

I miss the sincerity of all the music.

Timmy84 said:

Hey, who doesn't want to try to hit the Thriller lotto again, right?

I think the distinction is important. Rhythm and blues is still being played with sincerity by artists who'll never get into rotation on R&B radio.

2 words: Frank McComb

namepeace said:

True on both fronts.

Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Sharon Jones

neoretro7 said:

R&B music was good until the 70's... After that R&b lost it slowly but surely ...

paisleypark4 said:

Well that was a big issue and i personally blame Mariah Carey on that one, because she exploited that whole blending of the genres, and she did it with her remixes, and than everyone jumped on that shit. And so you had legit RB singers like Joe for example doing songs with rappers, and than Jaheim and Dave Hollister, etc... It was exploited for nothing more than $$$, just like they exploited Boyz II Men and the RB groups, they turned that into nothing more than a 'sex" game, who could outdo each other image wise. But its no different than what happend in rock in the later 80's, once a few bands had a hit with a ballad, every rock band came out with a ballad, and thats why all the rock coming out now is dreadful.

paisleypark4 said:

Tru,

I miss the authentic r&b artists. The r&b divas. Melba, Stephanie, Shirley, Vesta.. aint no girls who can sing like that no' mo'

isthisdadawn said:

Well, I don't know about that . . .

i find it very odd that good voices and great studio bands seem fads to the youth today. did people call 70s music old in the 80s and the 80s music old in the 90s? is it not just a natural proces? .

when i have children i will lock them up in my house and they will not hear anything from the radio and they will listen to my 90s 80s 70s 60s and 50s music