The Song Planner

Neo-Soul Rap

tagStarted 1999Peak 2000-2005Last big hit still active

Located in 2 routes

Hip-Hop / Rap → Soul / R&B / Jazz RapR&B / Soul → Hip-Hop Soul / R&B-Rap

Rap built on neo-soul's warm, organic palette: Rhodes and Wurlitzer keys, supple bass, brushed drums, hummed background harmonies, and an MC who half-sings, half-raps. The pocket is loose and human, vocals often unpolished by design. Lyrics run romantic, introspective and conscious, delivered with a crooner's intimacy over a player's groove.

History

Emerged from the Soulquarians orbit around 2000, when Common's 'The Light' and Mos Def's 'Umi Says' wrapped rap in D'Angelo-and-Badu textures of live keys and sung melody. James Poyser and James Yancey (J Dilla) supplied the soul-soaked production. A 2010s wave led by Anderson .Paak and Chicago's Smino and Saba renewed the singer-rapper hybrid.

Defining artists

Essential listening

← Explore Hip-Hop / Rap

Sources

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_soul
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Light_(Common_song)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_on_Both_Sides
  • https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/anderson-paak/malibu/