What do you guys consider to be quintessential modern r&b albums? What are some modern r&b albums that you would recommend to someone who had never heard of the music before or even some that you would consider to be essential to someone's collection? Like, a albums that are necessary for a beginner to listen to?

Also, I'm not sure what would years would be considered modern r&b. Janet's Control album? Or Mj's Off The Wall or Prince's Dirty Mind album? It can't be that, because that's too old...and so much has changed since then...

Voodoo - D'Angelo.

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill.

Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell.

All I can really think of for now...

Unholyalliance said:

What do you guys consider to be quintessential modern r&b albums? What are some modern r&b albums that you would recommend to someone who had never heard of the music before or even some that you would consider to be essential to someone's collection? Like, a albums that are necessary for a beginner to listen to?

Also, I'm not sure what would years would be considered modern r&b. Janet's Control album? Or Mj's Off The Wall or Prince's Dirty Mind album? It can't be that, because that's too old...and so much has changed since then...

GOOD question! I would say that "modern" would pertain to 2000 forward and yes, Prince's "Dirty Mind" would be considered "classic" now where it was released 31 years ago. It would depend wholly upon what you consider "modern" to mean. I would suggest the following though:

Beyonce

"Dangerously in Love"

Aretha Franklin

"So Damn Happy"

Jill Scott

"Beautifully Human"

Erykah Badu

"New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War"

"New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh"

Patti Labelle

"When A Woman Loves"

These, of course, are what come to mind for ME, but I'm sure others will chime in here with MORE suggestions. Specifically, the Beyonce, Aretha, Jill Scott titles are what represent "incredibility" for ME. Hope this helps u. Peace out! xo

OOPS! And...

Teena Marie

"La Dona," "Sapphire" or "Congo Square" TOO! CLASSICS!!!!!! xo

smoothcriminal12 said:

Voodoo - D'Angelo.

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill.

Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell.

All I can really think of for now...

You have excellent taste! I would also add:

Jill Scott - Beautifully Human

Nikka Costa - Pebble to a Pearl (not 100% r&b though)

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Teedra Moses - Complex Simplicity

MidniteMagnet said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Voodoo - D'Angelo.

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill.

Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell.

All I can really think of for now...

You have excellent taste! I would also add:

Jill Scott - Beautifully Human

Nikka Costa - Pebble to a Pearl (not 100% r&b though)

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Teedra Moses - Complex Simplicity

Thank you.

How could I forget Amy?

Mary J. Blige - Mary (her most soulful release, most neo-soulish). My personal fave of hers.

"Quintessential modern"? You're right, that's hard to define. I'll go with, say, 1994 - 2011 for the purposes of the discussion. Since most of the first tier have been taken, I'll nominate a few lesser known/acclaimed albums that I believe still "belong in the class picture."

[img:$uid]http://cover7.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/680/683614.jpg[/img:$uid]

Lewis Taylor -- Lewis Taylor

[img:$uid]http://img-cdn.officialmp3s.mobi/art/4516384-1003-200/dwele-subject.jpg[/img:$uid]

Subject -- Dwele

[img:$uid]http://image.kazaa.com/images/52/724347485152/Van_Hunt/On_The_Jungle_Floor/Van_Hunt-On_The_Jungle_Floor_2.jpg[/img:$uid]

On The Jungle Floor -- Van Hunt

[img:$uid]http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/blog_images/mary_j_blige-my_life--big-thumb-200x198.jpg[/img:$uid]

My Life -- Mary J. Blige (I know MidniteMagnet loves Mary for good reason but I consider this one to be her masterpiece and pretty doggone influential, so much so Mary just had to make a sequel).

[img:$uid]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_KmFBesw2Zx8/SjiykhNsEPI/AAAAAAAAEPM/NqLkz-uHkhs/s200/bittercover.jpg[/img:$uid]

Bitter -- Me'Shell Ndegeocello (for my the greatest pure rhythm and blues album of at least last 20 years)

[Edited 9/1/11 13:30pm]

namepeace said:

[img:$uid]http://cover7.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/680/683614.jpg[/img:$uid]

Lewis Taylor -- Lewis Taylor

Verrry nice Choice!!!!!!

...

smoothcriminal12 said:

Voodoo - D'Angelo.

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill.

Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu.

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell.

All I can really think of for now...

Agree on this

But i would also add Soldier Of Love, back To black by Amy as mentioned earlier.

And also i would add Love Letter by R. Kelly. Defintley the strongest R&B album of the past few years imo.

Both released in the fall of 1996...

Tony Toni Tone - House Of Music

Mint Condition - Definition Of A Band

Musiq Soulchild - Soulstar

Mint Condition - Livin the Luxury Brown, 7

Lalah Hathaway - Self-Portrait

Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott, Beautifully Human

&

Love for Sale - Bilal

Thanks for all the posts! Some of these I, definitely, have, but it's nice to see some others that I have never heard of before.

If you guys know of any more please post them.

paligap said:

namepeace said:

[img:$uid]http://cover7.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/680/683614.jpg[/img:$uid]

Lewis Taylor -- Lewis Taylor

Verrry nice Choice!!!!!!

...

High praise coming from Professor Pali!

Hope you're well.

What about Alicia Key's Songs in A Minor? Can it be considered a classic? - I'm not sure of the year though [might pre-date 1994?]

In any cases, it's one of my all-time favorite soul/r&b albums.

As for Lauryn Hill, I would put in all of Lauryn Hill , not just the 'Miseducation' album, but I would include her time with The Fugees too. I think her style was ground-breaking, period.

Jon B. is a good one! Pleasures You Like is one of my favorite albums.

MidniteMagnet said:

Mary J. Blige - Mary (her most soulful release, most neo-soulish). My personal fave of hers.

Mines as well. Mary delivered the truth and nothing but it. #CLASSICshit

I'm gonna say "Maxwell" for blacksummer's night, the one in 2009. That's a great one and I think it will be considered a classic at some point.

Lewis Taylor - "Stoned Pt1"
Best album!!!!!!!

Ed mostly sings in Portuguese, but I like his music.

Alot of you have some great choices on here....but how can we forget Rahsaan and Me'Shell?

These are a bit older (1990's).

Absolutely none of them.

vainandy said:

Absolutely none of them.

Get yo old ass out of the 80's for a minute.

phunkdaddy said:

vainandy said:

Absolutely none of them.

Get yo old ass out of the 80's for a minute.

I thought it was the late 1970's. The 80's is Whitney Houston & Freddie Jackson.