Whatever happened to the neo-soul movement?

By Renee Graham
BOSTON GLOBE

If the buzz of the mid-1990s was to be believed, neo-soul was supposed to change everything.

Stripping away the artifice of contemporary R&B, in which cookie-cutter production gimmicks masked mediocre talents, neo-soul was championed as a triumph of earthy musical substance over glossy style. If hip-hop beats had come to dominate R&B, then neo-soul, embodied by such artists as D'Angelo, Maxwell and Erykah Badu, would move toward the future by paying homage to the past. It was a modern musical movement, but steeped in the soulful influences of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway.

Yet eight years since D'Angelo's debut, "Brown Sugar" -- trumpeted as the best soul record since the 1970s -- unofficially began the so-called neo-soul era, few from this new breed of R&B artists have continued to have a major impact. Though Badu's underrated "Worldwide Underground" had a strong No. 3 debut on the Billboard album chart, it long ago slipped out of the Top 20. Macy's Gray's last two albums, "The Id" in 2001 and "The Trouble With Being Myself," released in July, received generally good reviews but were ignored by consumers. Bilal and Donnie, both great singers, saw their incredible debuts, "1st Born Second" (2001) and "The Colored Section" (2002), respectively, disappear without a trace.

It's been years since D'Angelo, Maxwell or Jill Scott released new studio albums. Alicia Keys, the latest neo-soul heroine, is two years removed from her smash-hit debut, but has an album due in stores in December. And modern R&B is again dominated by slick confections such as Beyonce Knowles and Ashanti.

"The neo-soul movement is still there, but it's been underground, and it's trying to get the attention of the mainstream again," said John Constanza, a publicist for Glory Records, which recently issued "Neo Soul United," a compilation featuring new soul artists.

New standard-bearers

Among the new crop of singers is Anthony Hamilton, whose latest album, "Comin' From Where I'm From," was released to critical acclaim. With a voice as deep as chocolate and as smooth as caramel, the North Carolina native has been making music since the early 1990s. He sang backup for D'Angelo on the singer's 2000 "Voodoo" tour, and he may be best recognized for singing the hooky chorus of Nappy Roots' 2002 hit "Po' Folks."

Yet with all the allusions to classic '70s soul that Hamilton's voice evokes, he doesn't want his music called neo-soul. "I think people take neo-soul lightly," Hamilton said. "It's a trend that came in and went. What I'm doing has been around since the beginning of music. It's traditional; it's not a trend.

"Besides, 'neo' reminds me of neon, like it's gonna glow in the dark or something. My music don't glow in the dark. 'Neo' reminds me of lime green or bright yellow. My music isn't lime green; it's brown and warm and soothing."

Other modern soul singers echo Hamilton's ambivalence. "I find that term to be so tricky. To me, it's just soul," said Los Angeles-based singer Lizz Fields, who came out of the same Philadelphia music scene as the Roots, Bilal and Scott. Her debut CD, "Bydaybynight," was released in February.

"My music is just a continuation of what we've known in the past," Fields said in a telephone interview. "Unfortunately, we live in a world where it has to be defined differently."

For a minute there, what was called neo-soul seemed poised to become the mainstream. It was touted as not just an exciting shift in music, but a movement and a mind-set. It even spawned a neo-soul film, 1997's "Love Jones," which featured Larenz Tate and Nia Long as jazz-loving, poetry-reciting black bohemians and a soundtrack with Meshell Ndegeocello, Groove Theory and Dionne Farris.

If the music boasted a back-to-basics ethic, so too did videos by such artists as Maxwell, Scott, D'Angelo, Keys and India.Arie. They didn't feature dancers, fancy clothes or fanciful plot lines. India.Arie's breakthrough clip, "Video," showed the singer-songwriter riding her bike, an acoustic guitar slung across her back, as she sang proudly of not being a supermodel or "your average girl in the video." Scott's "A Long Walk" showed the singer doing exactly that -- taking a walk in her Philadelphia neighborhood and encountering friends along the way.

Most memorably, D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" revealed the incredibly buff singer performing directly to the camera, wearing nothing more than his cornrows.

What's in a name?

Despite its critical success, if neo-soul had an initial failing, it was the media-created label itself -- a term that the artists, whom it was meant to represent, generally rejected.

As a means of signifying that this music wasn't the music of your parents' dusty 45s, it was sold and packaged as a new trend, but inevitably trends aren't built to last. Just as Seattle musicians resented having their punk-derived music branded as grunge, the new generation of soul singers wanted nothing to do with being tagged "neo-soul."

Reveling in a music-first ethic, the neo-soul movement could seem a little sanctimonious. It was soul music for smart people, with a tangible elitism and self-importance that some may have found off-putting. But there's no denying the luscious musicality, both familiar and fresh. Many of the new soul artists are songwriters and musicians as well as singers, and it gives their art a deeper personal touch. Neo-soul doesn't sound manufactured or producer-tweaked to within an inch of its life.

That natural quality is what made -- and continues to make -- this music stand out, says Temika Moore, a classically trained singer from Philadelphia who released her soul-jazz debut, "Moment of Truth," in July 2002.

"Neo-soul is just a way that our generation, the newer generation, embraces the idea of merging different kinds of music," said Moore. "All music can be soulful. I think it just depends on the way it's communicated. I gravitated toward neo-soul because I like to fuse all the elements of gospel music, jazz and R&B."

Labor of love

Both Moore and Fields have songs on "Neo Soul United," an eclectic collection of relatively unknown soul artists from across the country. It was her own love of soul music that led Natalie Esposito to start her independent New York-based label, Glory Records, which was specifically created to release "Neo Soul United."

Through the Internet and recommendations from friends, Esposito sought out unknown artists whose music "captures the original spirit of soul music," she said.

"Neo-soul is soul. There's nothing new about it," she said. "It's a way to recognize new artists, but it's soul music. I don't know why people have this concept of time when they hear the word 'soul' that it's old. Maybe some people could never get around that."

Like other musical styles quickly consumed by the mainstream and then tossed aside, modern soul music has gone back to its roots -- live shows in clubs in Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia before enthusiastic audiences. Philadelphia singer Musiq (formerly Musiq Soulchild) is finishing his third album, and Floetry, which deftly combines alternative soul and hip-hop, is enjoying a slow, steady climb with its 2002 debut, "Floetic."

If modern soul isn't dominating the pop and R&B charts, neither has it gone completely away. "New soul artists are still blooming from the cracks, and what's important isn't labels, but the music," Fields said. "When Maxwell did his music, when Jill did her music, when Erykah did her music, it was just honest music. The more people create honest music, music coming from a real place and not designed to fit into a specific genre, I think people will always gravitate toward it. That's my goal.

"Even if people say neo-soul is wack or old, it doesn't matter to me so long as the music I make comes from an honest place."

Good riddance.

"With a voice as deep as chocolate and as smooth as caramel, the North Carolina native..."

Please kill all writers like this. Please kill all labels. Thank u. Now let's just hear some GOOD MUSIC.

U know why? Cuz all those cats are lazy...can't say it any plainer!

YODAHENDRIX said:

I think they all suffer from neo-writers block

When's the new Maxwell album due??

IstenSzek said:

CinisterCee said:

YODAHENDRIX said:

U know why? Cuz all those cats are lazy

LOL. It's funny. The media just CREATED and KILLED its own concoction -- just like the crazy "East Coast vs. West Coast" rap beef they spawned back in the mid-90s.

I remember when the media in 1997 proclaimed, "Like, OMG! Electronica is the next big thing! Prodigy will surpass The Beatles!" It was corny. MTV tried to get on that and made a crapped after-hours show called "AMP."

The problem is,most of those neo-soul artists take forever to release new music.Maxwell,D'Angelo,Jill Scott are said to be "working" on new material,but how much longer are they gonna take?

i didn't read any of that article, but i think the "neo-soul movement" was overhyped. it got a lot of attention, but did anyone actually buy it? i mean, how many of those albums went platinum?


it's only when more mainstream-type performers co-opt the neo-soul vibe that it sells (i.e., Alicia Keyes).

the writer says that it wasnt manufactured, but thats the reason it has died - because it became a cliche of itself so fast. the lyrics are often far too pretentious but the main problem is that half the artists cant write proper songs - theyre full of vibes and atmosphere but not much structure.

plus, its 2 best artists (badu and dangelo) can only make something every 3 years or so which is sad. its not much of a sound anymore, i wouldnt call it a movement cos it didnt have much ideals wider than the music really (or did it), half of it is just like R&B...

by the way, the term wasnt made by the media, it was coined by kedar massenburg, current president of motown who was then dangelo's manager.

I think people unnecessarily bag on the term.

Unfortunately, however, because of its initial marketability too many people put out so-so records under the title, hoping to reach the neo-soul market.

When done well however, neo-soul still trumps any of the plastic R&B that's playing these days.

NuPwrSoul said:

Mr. Ellis Dee-licious, the Official NPGigolo

Candy Dulfer is my boo...

EllisDee said:

NuPwrSoul said:

When done well however, neo-soul still trumps any of the plastic R&B that's playing these days.

...

i don't care what they call it or how damn overhyped it is, i'll take something organic like neo-soul, with some damn real ass musicians trying to make some real ass music, over those cut&paste beats and afterthought lyrics that get tossed out by r. kelly and a million other "plastic r&b" minions...

Remy Shand Killed it.

Nah seriously, D'Angelo and Badu were the pioneers of that shit, and as Aaron pointed out everyone else biting their style were just pretenders. As with anything thats mass produced and imitated it loses it's appeal (least for me, and that goes for P too). Ok maybe a new genre in music was spawned, for those willing to accept that as an excuse for lack of originality. I will say as Ellis did that it's far superior to mainstream R'n'b, but there's only so much of it I can digest. Listening to much of that shit is like smoking bad weed just makes me sleepy.

Neo-Soul as a genre had/has so much potential but, I have yet to hear anyone doing it the way that it should be done.

AaronUniversal said:

sosgemini said:

EllisDee said:

NuPwrSoul said:

When done well however, neo-soul still trumps any of the plastic R&B that's playing these days.

...

i don't care what they call it or how damn overhyped it is, i'll take something organic like neo-soul, with some damn real ass musicians trying to make some real ass music, over those cut&paste beats and afterthought lyrics that get tossed out by r. kelly and a million other "plastic r&b" minions...

First of all I always hated the term "Neo-Soul" there was nothing "NEW" about soul in the first place!

Second, I do agree with Janfan4 the media creates theese boxes to put people in and when people grow out the box they wanna completely make it something else besides what it is - growing!

Lastly, good music is good music period and I don't belive all the talent in the world is gone just because the industry chooses not to recognize them - I will continue to support the true artist with something to say and a funky melody fro me to grind too - keep bangin!,where ever you are!

Love is Love!
My space: http://www.myspace.com/77darlingnikki08

sinisterpentatonic said:

Remy Shand Killed it.

Nah seriously, D'Angelo and Badu were the pioneers of that shit, and as Aaron pointed out everyone else biting their style were just pretenders. As with anything thats mass produced and imitated it loses it's appeal (least for me, and that goes for P too). Ok maybe a new genre in music was spawned, for those willing to accept that as an excuse for lack of originality. I will say as Ellis did that it's far superior to mainstream R'n'b, but there's only so much of it I can digest. Listening to much of that shit is like smoking bad weed just makes me sleepy.

Neo-Soul as a genre had/has so much potential but, I have yet to hear anyone doing it the way that it should be done.

Rhondab said:

sinisterpentatonic said:

Remy Shand Killed it.

Nah seriously, D'Angelo and Badu were the pioneers of that shit, and as Aaron pointed out everyone else biting their style were just pretenders. As with anything thats mass produced and imitated it loses it's appeal (least for me, and that goes for P too). Ok maybe a new genre in music was spawned, for those willing to accept that as an excuse for lack of originality. I will say as Ellis did that it's far superior to mainstream R'n'b, but there's only so much of it I can digest. Listening to much of that shit is like smoking bad weed just makes me sleepy.

Neo-Soul as a genre had/has so much potential but, I have yet to hear anyone doing it the way that it should be done.

Actually groups like Tony, Toni,Tone and Loose Ends where the pioneers...there were people doing soul music but New Jack was the main vibe then.

JANFAN4L said:

You all want neo soul??? Come to Atlanta!!! Goddamn it get DOWN here! There's more neo-soul than you can shake a 13 inch wang at!! Actually it's not a bad thing though. There are some really good artists down here that have their shit together. There's this guy named Anthony David who's really good. Check him out. That article mentioned that singer Donnie and actually he just played here recently but he's on all sorts of coke and pills I guess. He played out in CA recently and Prince was actually in the audience and someone told him this while he was onstage and he said (away from the mic but close enough that it picked up) "I don't give a fuck if Prince is in the audience!" Evidently Prince wanted to help him but ended up walking out after that. He coulda been a contender!

You know what??? There is no "neo-soul". I don't think any of these artists aspire to be retro to begin with. You don't see any of them dressing up in shiny suits and processing their hair or having some kinda whompn', stompin' intensity in their sound. Most of that stuff is just laid back R&B for the upscale type of black folk. I think it should be called "Progressive Soul". What do you think?

mochalox said:[quote]

guitarslinger44 said:

To throw another name in the hat, check out Rhian Benson. She has a sweet CD. She's on the Amel Larrieux meets Sade tip. It comes down to preference. Some people prefer Maxwell, some prefer Jaguar Wright, etc. Its nice to know that there are still some people interested in real singing, real music and real writing. If its "boring" to you, go listen to something else. I'll take neo soul over Radiohead, The White Stripes or any ten of the noisy, off-key singing fluffmongers clouding the airwaves these days.
I think success is subjective. If people spread the word about these artists and they are moving a few units and moving peoples' hearts, they ARE successful. Just because they didn't sell 2 million units doesn't mean they aren't. The media is trying to kill the genre because they can't control it. They CAN'T kill it, either. WE support OUR music. Neo-soul, new soul or whatever you want to call it...LIVES. Who cares if the pop crowd pushes it to the top of the charts or not. Its R&B, its good and people like it REGARDLESS to what some silly hater with a keypad says. To quote Chuck D: "Soul on a roll but you treat it like soap on a rope".
Still, it lives.

I said it b4 and I'ma say it again-FUCK THE TERM!

If I came out with a record based on nuthin' but upright bass and acoustic piano, you bet that I'm gonna be classified as a Neo-Soul artist. What else do u think would they call me? Jazz? Get a life then!

I enjoy some of those artists but I HATE how they label their craft as "Neo-Soul" whats so goddamn NEW about it? Ripping the 70's off? What? Their non-washing smelly selves? what is it?

Eryka Badu is cool, she woulda been cooler if she stopped riding Chaka's tits and stop calling herself a "wild child" too lol that is so pretentious.

D'Angelo is cool too but he's HYPE as a muthafucka. Get Prince, Marvin, George Clinton, Al Green & Jimi's musics and put them into a blender,,thats what you'll hear(same goes 4 Lamy Kravits).

Those ppl delievered nuthin' on the table, they talk about NUTHIN' NEW(spirituality, racial-pride, self-love and love)? Mind to check EW&F, Rufus & Chaka, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hothaway and the rest of those 70's cats and you'll see who's the BIG pretender.


Neo-soul is B-L-A-H 2 the 10th degree!

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day