The Return of R&B Music

“Soul music touches people. We got back to just wanting to be ourselves, and I think once we stopped trying to compete, we eclipsed pop music.”

– PJ Morton

If you’ve been following this blog then you know that my favorite genre of music happens to be R&B (Rhythm and Blues). And for the past few years, I’ve noticed a shift in the genre—it’s returned.

Seriously. Have you not noticed?

No, I’m not saying that the 90s have resurfaced (that time period can never be duplicated). But there is a new millennial sound out right now and it’s quite refreshing, to say the least; primarily because it’s a mix between the past and the future. This includes artists from the past as well as newer ones.

According to Salon.com, 2017 was a breakout year for R&B music. Solange’s 2016 A Seat At the Table was the precursor to the wave of success that artists like SZA, Daniel Caesar, and Kelela received that year. All of these artists are anchoring in a unique sound for the genre. They’ve advised that “artists, producers, media, fans and industry execs have stopped trying to confine R&B to its past. By letting go of their old R&B, they’ve allowed the form to survive, evolve and, it seems, flourish.”

I won’t say that I’m not apprehensive about how long this wave will last, but I will enjoy it for the time being. If you have a favorite artist in this new era that has caught your attention, feel free to comment below. But for now, let’s vibe to a few of mine…old and new.