Music Genres Explained: R&B

Did you know there’s an estimated 230 million songs in the world, with that number going up every single day? 

Us humans like order, and that’s a lot of songs to order. We like to put things into boxes so they make sense to us. And we like to use these boxes to help us form an identity ourselves. That’s why music genres are so important. 

We already have a wrap up on what genre is, and a deep dive into pop, rock and hip-hop and country, so now it’s time to look at R&B music.

 

What is R&B music?

Rhythm and blues, commonly known as R&B, is a genre of music that originated in African-American communities in the United States during the 1940s. It blends elements of jazz, gospel, blues, and soul, creating a distinctive style that is characterised by its smooth rhythms, emotive vocals, and strong backbeat.

Sub-genres of R&B include soul (emotional, has roots in gospel music), contemporary R&B (blends with genres like hip hop and pop), and neo-soul (combines elements of jazz, funk and hip hop). 

R&B has had a significant impact on popular music and continues to be a dominant genre, influencing artists across various musical styles.

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The sound

Wondering how to identify an R&B song? Here’s what to listen out for: 

1. Vocal style: R&B singers are often known for their emotional and soulful vocal delivery. They often use techniques like melisma (stretching a syllable of text across several notes) to convey feeling.
2. Rhythm: R&B songs typically have a smooth and steady rhythm, with a strong emphasis on the groove and syncopation. The beat is usually driven by drums, bass, and keyboards.
3. Instrumentation: Early R&B was dominated by the piano, guitar, bass, drums, and sometimes saxophones. Modern R&B incorporates more electronic instruments, including synthesisers, drum machines, and samplers.
4. Themes: The lyrics in R&B songs often explore themes of love, relationships, heartache, and emotional expression (although this isn’t unique to R&B). Social issues and personal empowerment are also common themes - the emotional tones of the R&B sound lend themselves well to these sorts of topics.

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The history 

Like many genres, R&B has a history spanning several decades and has been constantly evolving through various cultural and musical shifts.

1940s

R&B originated in the United States, primarily within African-American communities. The term "Rhythm and Blues" was coined in 1947 by Jerry Wexler, a journalist at Billboard magazine, to describe a new style of music that was emerging.

Key figures from this time were Louis Jordan, often referred to as the ‘Father of R&B’, and Ruth Brown, known as ‘Miss Rhythm’ as she was one of the most popular R&B singers of the 1950s.

1950s

The 1950s saw a huge rise in the popularity of rock and roll, and many rock and roll artists were heavily influenced by R&B. 

In this time, R&B music started to cross over to white audiences and achieve more mass appeal. Independent record labels like Atlantic Records and Chess Records played big roles in promoting R&B artists. 

Key figures like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino were instrumental in the crossover appeal which happened in the 1950s. 

1960s

In the 1960s, R&B evolved into soul music, which emphasised deep emotion and gospel-inspired vocal styles. The Civil Rights Movement also influenced the music, with songs often addressing themes of racial pride and social justice.

The most iconic figures at the time were arguably Ray Charles, known as ‘The Genius’, merging R&B with gospel and jazz to create soul music, as well as Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen of Soul’, creating anthems that soundtracked the Civil Rights Movement. 

1970s

The 1970s saw R&B incorporating elements of funk and disco. 

Although it started in the 1960s, Motown Records (founded by Berry Gordy), continued to dominate in the 1970s with artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross blending R&B with pop. 

1980s

In the 80s, R&B music started to merge with other genres like pop and hip-hop, and started the rise of what is now known as contemporary R&B. 

Artists like Michael Jackson, dubbed the ‘King of Pop’, and Whitney Houston, known for her killer voice, were both releasing iconic and globally successful music that was deeply rooted in R&B. 

1990s

The 1990s saw R&B continue to blend with genres like hip hop, resulting in a new, edgier sound which achieved great commercial success. 

Boyz II Men became one of the best-selling R&B acts of all time in the 1990s, with their harmonies and smooth ballads topping charts. Mary J. Blinge, open called the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’ released music which seamlessly blended R&B with hip hop, addressing themes of love, pain and empowerment. 

2000s - now

We still continue to see R&B evolve, with modern technology allowing artists to experiment with features like autotune and other production techniques. The interconnectivity of the world also allowed the genre to become more global, influencing other music styles worldwide. 

Beyonce is one of the most influential artists of our time, and has pushed the boundaries of R&B, incorporating elements of pop, hip hop and electronic music. Known for his dark, moody take on contemporary R&B, The Weeknd is also a leading figure in the genre’s modern era.

It is clear throughout its history that R&B has had a huge impact on the music industry, and is responsible for the development of many other genres. 

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Identifiable R&B artists 

According to YouGov, the most popular R&B artists in 2024 were:

Rihanna

Alicia Keys

Destiny’s Child

All Saints

Joss Stone

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Real life application

R&B music has an inherently human quality that makes it feel approachable. Contemporary R&B in particular, with its smooth melodies, captivating bass lines, and grounding drum patterns, is versatile enough to work on both the dance floor and in more relaxed settings. This makes it an effective choice for many brands. We recommend using R&B music when the goal is to create a suave tone that still feels urban and earthy.

- Magnus, Startle's Music Consultant