midnightmover said:

jeidee said:

Sorry I forgot the B in R&B stood for Black. You're true colors are showing, for lack of a better phrase.

I don't believe in glossing over uncomfortable issues. I'm interested in truth. Fact is, most rock artists are white and r&b is proportionately far more black. Sorry to break the news to you.

[Edited 12/18/13 12:47pm]

Well enjoy debating your irrelevant argument with yourself.

lrn36 said:

This all started in the 80s when bands started replacing their horn sections and drums with synthesizers and drum machines. Prince was one of the major contributors to that outlook although he would later embrace live instrumentation. It brought a fresh and futuristic sound to music, but eventually became a crutch. By the end of the 80s, all or most of rnb was made with synths and drum machines. Remember when bands would fake like they were playing live instruments even though it was obvious it was recorded with synths.The rhythm guitar was the longest hold out and was eventually pushed out by the late 90s.

Alongside the computerization of rnb we had the rise of hip hop which brought in sampling and drum machines. Beat making or track making replaced songwriting. In the late 80s, new jack swing focused on traditional rnb melodies and chords over hip hop beats. By the early 90s, rnb was about singing over hip hop tracks that would otherwise serve as backing for a rapper. The need for musicians in the recording studio pretty much died off. Producers with one or two keyboardists could create everything themselves. The focus came on creating tracks with heavy bass on the kickdrum with floaty synth strings. If you needed distinctive guitar riffs or horns, just sample older music.

Most musicans today make their money as a backing band for Rnb singers on tour. Most of them are probably playing over backing tracks to give the live performance a bigger sound.

Of course, there are bands out there who aren't getting a lot of attention, but they are out there. I think a lot them need solid songwriting and an image that can capitivate a large demographic. Just because you play live instruments doesn't mean people are going to go crazy about you.

It doesn't surprise me that the few black bands out there have poor songwriting since it's a numbers game. If there's only a small number of black bands then the law of averages dictates that there's not gonna be many bands with solid material since songwriting is a rarer talent anyway. Plus, songwriting in general has gone downhill in the last few decades, across all genres.

Just to clarify the race thing. I know plenty of whites are involved in r&b, but it's black-led. Always has been.

[Edited 12/25/13 12:19pm]

controversy99 said:

Anybody ever heard of Bad Rabbits? Looks like they're trying to do the R&B band thing.

and

What y'all think?

Man I have been posting songs and videos of Bad Rabbits since I discovered them back in the spring. Mint Condition is still killing it with their live shows.

A must see if you're a fan of live music played by actual musicians.