| Rhythm and Blues (R&B) | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic Origins | Blues, jazz, gospel, boogie-woogie |
| Cultural Origins | 1940s (United States, African-American communities) |
| Typical Instruments | Vocals, drum kit, bass guitar, electric guitar, piano, horns, synthesizers, drum machines, DAWs |
| Common Subgenres | Soul, Funk, Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, Alternative R&B, New Jack Swing |
Rhythm and Blues, commonly abbreviated as R&B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally coined by record companies (most notably by Billboard magazine's Jerry Wexler in 1947) to replace the racially offensive term “race music.” Over the decades, the definition of R&B has shifted dramatically, evolving from aggressive, horn-driven blues to lush, synthesizer-heavy contemporary vocal music.
While the sound of R&B has changed fundamentally over the last 80 years, its core identity is rooted in vocal expression and groove:
Early R&B, often called “jump blues,” featured a driving rhythm section and a screaming saxophone. It was up-tempo, highly danceable music designed for clubs. Pioneers like Louis Jordan and Fats Domino laid the groundwork for what would eventually splinter into both rock and roll and soul music.
In the 1960s, R&B absorbed heavy influences from the Black church, evolving into Soul music. Record labels like Motown (Detroit) and Stax (Memphis) created incredibly polished, universally appealing tracks that became the soundtrack of the decade. By the late 60s and 70s, artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic pushed the genre into Funk, prioritizing heavy, syncopated basslines over melody.
The 1980s introduced drum machines and synthesizers to the genre. In the late 80s and early 90s, producers like Teddy Riley pioneered New Jack Swing, which aggressively blended R&B vocals with hip-hop drum loops. The 90s became a golden age for vocal groups (Boyz II Men, TLC) and divas (Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston), deeply intertwining R&B with mainstream pop and hip-hop.
In the late 1990s, Neo-Soul (Erykah Badu, D'Angelo) sought to bring live instrumentation back to the genre. However, the 2010s saw the rise of Alternative R&B (or “PBR&B”), characterized by darker, moodier, and highly atmospheric electronic production, led by artists like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean.
Modern Contemporary and Alternative R&B are deeply reliant on digital production workflows. On the LB Wiki and across the independent landscape, producers and vocalists utilize modern technology to shape the genre's future:
Are you an independent or AI artist making Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, or Alt-R&B? Create your profile and add yourself to this list!
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