Modern R&B
Located in 2 routes
Modern R&B is the post-1980s center of R&B: programmed drums, plush harmony, gospel-rooted vocals, hip-hop rhythm, pop hooks, slow jams, synth atmosphere and production that keeps changing with radio, clubs and streaming. It covers contemporary R&B, trap-soul, bedroom R&B, alt-R&B and R&B-pop because all of them treat the voice as emotional lead while the track speaks the language of current Black pop, hip-hop and electronic production.
History
The modern era grew from quiet storm, new jack swing, Minneapolis funk, hip-hop soul and 1980s studio R&B. Janet Jackson, Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Aaliyah, Usher, Beyonce and later The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, SZA, H.E.R. and Summer Walker kept reshaping the field. Its history is really a production history: drum machines, sampling, digital workstations, trap hats and atmospheric minimalism all changed how intimacy could sound.
Sub-genres in this family
13 sub-genres · 13 written up
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- AllMusic contemporary R&B overview
- Billboard R&B histories
- Oxford and Grove soul/R&B references
- artist discographies