The New York Times

The Women Who Are Reinventing R&B

A group of young singer-songwriters have transformed the genre by looking backward, without getting stuck in the past. Here and below are seven of the many contemporary artists who are redefining and ...
Okayplayer

Is R&B Still Rhythm and Blues?

In 1992, the world was formally introduced to Mary J. Blige in her “Real Love” music video. The image of a young Black woman, rocking an oversized baseball jersey, a backwards cap, and singing over a ...
Essence

Never Too Much? A Look At Sexually Explicit R&B Lyrics

Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues. In this piece, writer Jaelani Turner-Williams addresses claims that today’s R&B is too sexual. R&B’s ...
Essence

How Did Hip-Hop And R&B Become One Genre?

Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues. In this piece, ESSENCE editor Rivéa Ruff reports on the blending of hip-hop and R&B. Since the ...