Contemporary R&B Style Overview
Contemporary R&B Music Description
Contemporary R&B evolved from traditional Rhythm & Blues and urban R&B, and combines elements of soul, funk and pop with an integrated approach and a slick modern production. Many contemporary R&B musicians are obsessed with bringing back the grit, spirit, and ambitiousness of classic soul and R&B, although care should be shown in distinguishing between this tag and that of Neo Soul.
Contemporary R&B emerged in the US in the early 1980s. Later subgenres include New Jack Swing, which has its own tag. Discogs now prefers New Jack Swing or Contemporary R&B to the less precise RnB/Swing. Alternative R&B (also referred to as alt-R&B, PBR&B, indie R&B, experimental R&B, hipster R&B and emo R&B) is a term used by music journalists to describe a stylistic alternative to contemporary R&B.
