As I take a break from cleaning my house, the following post was born.
What happened to great R&B music and espically CD's? I fully understand what happened in rap music (not enough fans, labels creating/promoting/advancing disposable ringtone artists, Radio1/Clear Channel dictating what folks want to hear, etc....), but what happened to R&B.
Here's the list of R&B albums on my computer that came out since 1/1/08.
Janelle Monáe - The Audition
Day26 - Day26
Mariah Carey - E=MC2
John Legend - Evolver
Chris Brown - Exclusive
Keri Hilson - In A Perfect World
Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
Al Green - Lay it Down
Lloyd - Lessons in Love
Raheem DeVaughn - Love Behind The Melody
The-Dream - Love Vs. Money
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
Estelle - Shine
Robin Thicke - Something Else
T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
Ne-Yo - Year Of The Gentleman
The best album on that list by far is the Al Green joint, which would be a mediocre album in the rest of his discography. I'm not expecting to hear a "What's Going On" or "Extension of a Man" every year or so, but why are none of these albums as good as R. Kelly's 12 Play, Shai's - If I Ever Fall in Love, Mary J's - What's the 411?, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, etc..... Where are the songs as good as Jodeci's - Come and Talk to Me", Musiq - Just Friends, or even Goapele - Even Closer.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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Ok I am not a music connoisseur but even I know R&B has fallen off. All of those artists listed have had good singles, albums I can't speak on.
ReplyDeleteI think the tell is comparing the music of someone like Mariah Carey now to 12 years ago. Major difference, it wasn't about beats it was all about her voice.
I feel like there are a few albums that could stand up to the old stuff. John Legend - Get Lifted
Musiq - Ijuswansang etc.
Usher - Confessions (don't front)
Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable
i am not an R&B person.... i think overall R&B has transcended to obvious sex appeal (ppl want an attractive, tv ready person singing about seduction) more than anything when video came into play....the same thing is plagueing most music genres....country is probably where this is seen most. even though i don't listen to country the ppl i know that are huge are most pleasing to the eye....some ppl would have a tough time making it today: barry white comes to mind....a few are able to defy this formula by re-inventing an old art like t-pain for instance (roger trautman). but overall it is just like everything else....the information age makes your success based on so many other things than talent alone.
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