R&B Music Is Dead

[isiahthomas]

Dr. Jazz i'm glad to see you're posting about these old funk artists because when the funk artists disappeared, r&b music died in my opinion. I liked some of the 90's r&b artists but i'm not really a fan of love songs. I like uptempo party songs like More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp, Heartbreaker by Zapp, Humpin by The Gap Band, Let It Whip by Dazz Band, Fantastic Voyage by Lakeside, Raid by Lakeside, Throw It Down, Your Love Takes Me Out, She's Strange, Flirt songs by Cameo, Flashlight by Parliament, Not Just Knee Deep by Funkadelic, Atomic Dog by George Clinton. Today's r&b artists for some reason sing too many love songs and that's exactly why i don't like today's r&b artists. Old r&b/funk artists will always be better than the new artists.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Today's R&B is dead. How many Beyonce clones can we possibly have, and don't get me started on that Cassie girl who only got famous thanks to myspace and Diddy.

Not that I was in to R&B in the first place, but I miss the days of singers like Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Jodeci, and others from the eighties and nineties.

[isiahthomas]

Yeah there are a lot of wannabe black female singers that try to be like Beyonce. Another thing i don't like about today's r&b is that the music sounds pop. R&B music today doesn't have any funk in it. Then you got old r&b artists that are trying to sell records today by having wack collabos with wack artists on their albums. Like Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band for example. His last album Last Name Wilson, First Name Charlie had Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg on it. What's up with that? Even New Edition signed with Bad Boy records which was a mistake because their album didn't sell well. Their first single Hot 2 Nite sucked. Bell Biv Devoe's last album 6 years ago sucked because they tried to be pop. It baffles me why so many artists always change their style of music to sell records and appeal to a younger audience instead of doing music for the fans who grew up on their music.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

My uncle was so disappointed in Charlie Wilson's last album.....

Today's R&B is getting a little too graphic when it comes to sex like that group Pretty Ricky(four ugly little boys) singing and rapping about getting it on and i'm pretty sure that they are all under 18.

A lot of R&B stars today are now trying to reach out to the Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson audiences by sounding almost like them. And what is up with rappers appearing in EVERY R&B song adding on the vulgar crap lyrics?

One of the many reasons why I don't let my kids watch MTV or BET.

[isiahthomas]

LOL@what you said about Pretty Ricky hahahahahahahahahaha. I never heard of them. I thought Pretty Ricky was just one guy LOL. MTV and BET are trash channels as far as i'm concerned. I never liked MTV anyway because it's a racist network and the only reason why they showed rap videos is because BET did it first. They copy off of BET so much. You're right. The r&b singers today are trying to reach a pop/white audience and i have a problem with that. R&B music is for blacks, not whites.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

I wouldn't say that R&B is for blacks since Michael McDonald and Teena Marie sings ten times better than half of the R&B singers out there. I also wouldn't call MTV racist either since BET does more harm to blacks than MTV does.

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to watch BET or listen to so called black music, and in another post that I wrote, wasn't allowed to watch 'black' shows unless it was Cosby. My father thought it was pure trash but when he wasn't around, I would listen to Patti, Chaka, and Kool in the Gang... I was completely blown away by their sounds today however, I'm not impressed by the Ashanti's, the Ciara's, and the B2K's.

[Ireneparalegal]

Am I the only one who is SICK OF BEYONCE????? I am kinda glad she didn't get nominated for an Oscar or any other award, I feel that she is in the limelight so damn much and it is OVEREXPOSURE AND OVERBLOWN. I mean, I give the girl credit, and she has proven herself, I just feel sickened to see her EVERY FRIGGIN CHANNEL, EVERY FRIGGIN MAGAZINE, EVERY FRIGGIN EVERYTHING, I am glad Jennifer Hudson got her due because seems she was overshadowed in the beginning of the the hype for Dreamgirls. It was always talk abt BEYONCE, now! it's all abt Jennifer!!!!!!!

[isiahthomas]

I agree with you Ireneparalegal about Beyonce. She is definitely in the limelight too damn much. She's my girl and i'm in love with her but she is in the spotlight too much.

[Brad Russ]

I don't even consider the crap they call R&B today, R&B. It's an insult to all the REAL R&B singers and groups like: The Four Topps, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Dianna Ross, etc. To compare someone like Beyonce to such legends as these, is a total slap in the face to those artists in my view.

[Ireneparalegal]

I don't even consider the crap they call R&B today, R&B. It's an insult to all the REAL R&B singers and groups like: The Four Topps, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Dianna Ross, etc. To compare someone like Beyonce to such legends as these, is a total slap in the face to those artists in my view.
:D :D :D DAMN RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Am I the only one who is SICK OF BEYONCE????? I am kinda glad she didn't get nominated for an Oscar or any other award, I feel that she is in the limelight so damn much and it is OVEREXPOSURE AND OVERBLOWN. I mean, I give the girl credit, and she has proven herself, I just feel sickened to see her EVERY FRIGGIN CHANNEL, EVERY FRIGGIN MAGAZINE, EVERY FRIGGIN EVERYTHING, I am glad Jennifer Hudson got her due because seems she was overshadowed in the beginning of the the hype for Dreamgirls. It was always talk abt BEYONCE, now! it's all abt Jennifer!!!!!!!

No, you aren't the only one, trust me. Beyonce to me, yodels, she doesn't sing, just yodels. That year when she was the only one singing at the oscars really ticked me off so bad, that I just had to change the channel. On top of that, the girl is such an airhead that she's living proof that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[platinumblondelife]

You all are going to probably think they were crap too, but even the music I listened to as a young kid was so much better than a lot of what is out today and Im not even one of those pepole that constantly complains about current music. I remember Shai, Kut Klose, Zhane, Jon B., Keith Sweat, Jade, Dru Hill, Groove Theory etc...they were all very good imo. I actually like Pretty Ricky because you can tell that their music has a lot of 90s r&b influence in it.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

You all are going to probably think they were crap too, but even the music I listened to as a young kid was so much better than a lot of what is out today and Im not even one of those pepole that constantly complains about current music. I remember Shai, Kut Klose, Zhane, Jon B., Keith Sweat, Jade, Dru Hill, Groove Theory etc...they were all very good imo. I actually like Pretty Ricky because you can tell that their music has a lot of 90s r&b influence in it.

Your music isn't crap at all, I love Jade and Groove Theory and Zhane, they could sing, and their lyrics made sense, being a teen of the nineties, that was what I was listening to besides the pop and grunge stuff.

[isiahthomas]

Platinumblondelife i remember those artists. Keith Sweat is the man. He's made a lot of tight songs. His first album is a classic. I like every song on Make It Last Forever album. I saw him last year in a straight to video movie called Forbidden Fruit and his character was a drug dealer LOL. The movie was pretty good. Taral Hicks who was DMX's woman in Belly movie is also in the movie and so is rapper Fredro Starr of Onyx, Keith David, Tiny Lister. Taral Hicks is a beautiful black woman. It's a shame she hasn't gotten that many acting roles. Getting back to the topic, look at how R Kelly's music has changed. His music sucks now. Last album i liked by him is Chocolate Factory. Now he wants to be a thug and collaborate with rappers rather than stick to the music he did back in the day that made him successful. I was watching his old videos today on dvd. I bought a videos dvd by him called The R In R&B. I can't believe the dvd left off the videos Home Alone with Keith Murray, Half On A Baby, Feeling On Yo Booty, Bad Man from Shaft soundtrack, Gotham City remix from Batman Forever soundtrack. He always did do some tight remixes. He has some serious issues though liking teenage girls. I believe these allegations against him are true because why would these girls make up these lies on him? People need to learn to stay away from people because people can't be trusted especially when you're a celebrity and got lots of money. R Kelly should've known better. I don't understand why he would mess up his success dealing with young girls. Ronald Isley got issues too. He likes young women just like R Kelly because his wife is 30 years old LOL. He also doesn't like paying taxes and he steals money from his dead brother LOL.

[platinumblondelife]

Platinumblondelife i remember those artists. Keith Sweat is the man. He's made a lot of tight songs. His first album is a classic. I like every song on Make It Last Forever album. I saw him last year in a straight to video movie called Forbidden Fruit and his character was a drug dealer LOL. The movie was pretty good. Taral Hicks who was DMX's woman in Belly movie is also in the movie and so is rapper Fredro Starr of Onyx, Keith David, Tiny Lister. Taral Hicks is a beautiful black woman. It's a shame she hasn't gotten that many acting roles. Getting back to the topic, look at how R Kelly's music has changed. His music sucks now. Last album i liked by him is Chocolate Factory. Now he wants to be a thug and collaborate with rappers rather than stick to the music he did back in the day that made him successful. I was watching his old videos today on dvd. I bought a videos dvd by him called The R In R&B. I can't believe the dvd left off the videos Home Alone with Keith Murray, Half On A Baby, Feeling On Yo Booty, Bad Man from Shaft soundtrack, Gotham City remix from Batman Forever soundtrack. He always did do some tight remixes. He has some serious issues though liking teenage girls. I believe these allegations against him are true because why would these girls make up these lies on him? People need to learn to stay away from people because people can't be trusted especially when you're a celebrity and got lots of money. R Kelly should've known better. I don't understand why he would mess up his success dealing with young girls. Ronald Isley got issues too. He likes young women just like R Kelly because his wife is 30 years old LOL. He also doesn't like paying taxes and he steals money from his dead brother LOL.
I looooved Keith Sweat, I think my favorite song of his was Nobody. Yeah, R. Kelly has changed a lot, but I still love R. Kelly. I like the remix of Promise that he did with Ciara, you should listen to it, it sort of reminds me of his older songs, and the whole song itself just reminds me of something older I use to listen to. When I think of R. Kelly, I think of that episode of the Boondocks where he's on trial, it's sooo funny! If you care to watch it heres the first part http://youtube.com/watch?v=89YNvd9Sk5o
Anyway, R. Kelly's cd with the Trapped in the Closets isn't terrible, I have it and I like some of them lol.
Anyone remember Jon B.? Loved him too. I saw a recent picture of him and he looked very crazy which made me sad,lol.

[Ireneparalegal]

No, you aren't the only one, trust me. Beyonce to me, yodels, she doesn't sing, just yodels. That year when she was the only one singing at the oscars really ticked me off so bad, that I just had to change the channel. On top of that, the girl is such an airhead that she's living proof that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
:brent That is FUNNY!!!!!!

Platinumblonde, that music you mentioned is DA BOMB...especially Jade and Keith Sweat. Oh man, those are thee days of music too. I am old school, 70's groove, so forth, but those artists you mentioned were probably the end of the music as we know it. I like some today artists, like Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, but it just doesn't seem the same. I love Destinys Child, but now that Beyonce's head got bigger with more air, it seems we won't see that kind of ladies' grooves anymore.

[platinumblondelife]

Platinumblonde, that music you mentioned is DA BOMB...especially Jade and Keith Sweat.
LOL thanks!

[Ireneparalegal]

Your music isn't crap at all, I love Jade and Groove Theory and Zhane, they could sing, and their lyrics made sense, being a teen of the nineties, that was what I was listening to besides the pop and grunge stuff.
Oh man, Groove Theory and Zhane. My daughter saw Zhane in concert here, she said they were GREAT! "Hey Mr. Deejay, you can get me started..."

Groove Theory, too bad we don't hear from them anymore, they did have a style all their own. I have a few of their songs on my real one player.

[Steve M.]

You know what really sucks? Lou Rawls, Wilson Pickett, June Pointer, Gerald Levert, and James Brown all died last year. :(

[Ireneparalegal]

As time goes on we are losing so many of our R&B singers.

[Brad Russ]

You all are going to probably think they were crap too, but even the music I listened to as a young kid was so much better than a lot of what is out today and Im not even one of those pepole that constantly complains about current music. I remember Shai, Kut Klose, Zhane, Jon B., Keith Sweat, Jade, Dru Hill, Groove Theory etc...they were all very good imo. I actually like Pretty Ricky because you can tell that their music has a lot of 90s r&b influence in it.

I loved all the early 90's R&B!! The R&B from that time period is basically what I guess you could call the soundtrack to my life, and is what I mostly grew up on, and where most of my musical memories from childhood come from. My cd collection is basically filled with R&B from about 1991, to 1994. Some of the mid 90's stuff was also pretty good I thought, but in my opinion, it went mostly downhill from there. Most so called R&B today, sounds exactly the same to me, and just doesn't give me the same feelings that TRUE R&B music gives me.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Oh man, Groove Theory and Zhane. My daughter saw Zhane in concert here, she said they were GREAT! "Hey Mr. Deejay, you can get me started..."

Groove Theory, too bad we don't hear from them anymore, they did have a style all their own. I have a few of their songs on my real one player.


Zhane was awesome, music in my high school days were the best! Even though I mostly listen to pop and a little rock(especially college rock), I still grooved to Zhane, Xscape, Jade, and many others. I miss them, they need to come back or that sound needs to come back!

[isiahthomas]

I never was a fan of love songs but i did like some of the 90's female groups like Changing Faces, SWV, Jade, Total, En Vogue. Changing Faces girls are hotties and so is Lelee from SWV. All 3 of the girls in Jade are hot and i used to have a crush on Cindy of En Vogue. Cindy was Omar Epps girlfriend in Juice movie which 2Pac and Samuel Jackson were also in. En Vogue is still making albums but it's not the same because Dawn and Maxine aren't in the group anymore. Maxine was replaced by a black female actress who was on the Jamie Foxx Show. Jamie used to sing with her a few times on the show. En Vogue reunited at VH1's Hip Hop Honors awards show a few years ago when Salt And Pepa were being honored. En Vogue performed with Salt and Pepa for Salt And Pepa's hit song Whatta Man. Coko who was the lead singer of SWV is a gospel singer now but i read in Vibe magazine awhile ago that SWV did some concerts last year and they were surprised by the audience's reception. Coko said the audience showed them so much love that SWV is thinking about doing a new album.

[Ireneparalegal]

I never was a fan of love songs but i did like some of the 90's female groups like Changing Faces, SWV, Jade, Total, En Vogue. Changing Faces girls are hotties and so is Lelee from SWV. All 3 of the girls in Jade are hot and i used to have a crush on Cindy of En Vogue. Cindy was Omar Epps girlfriend in Juice movie which 2Pac and Samuel Jackson were also in. En Vogue is still making albums but it's not the same because Dawn and Maxine aren't in the group anymore. Maxine was replaced by a black female actress who was on the Jamie Foxx Show. Jamie used to sing with her a few times on the show. En Vogue reunited at VH1's Hip Hop Honors awards show a few years ago when Salt And Pepa were being honored. En Vogue performed with Salt and Pepa for Salt And Pepa's hit song Whatta Man. Coko who was the lead singer of SWV is a gospel singer now but i read in Vibe magazine awhile ago that SWV did some concerts last year and they were surprised by the audience's reception. Coko said the audience showed them so much love that SWV is thinking about doing a new album.
Everytime I hear abt SWV, I remember what this comedian said abt them. He said SWV looks like JODECI in drag...:rofl:

[platinumblondelife]

90s r&b and hip hop (mostly mid and late, but some early) is the soundtrack to my childhood. Speaking of R. Kelly being his best in the 90s, so was Ginuwine. I rembember his wife from that J.T. Money song and that stupid 4,5,6 song she had with Kandi from XScape...BTW if anyone's seen E-40's "U and Dat" video, was I the only one who didnt recognize that was Kandi lol, I know it said her name in the video but I guess I ignored it, and I didnt know it was her voice on the song before I ever saw the video lol.

[isiahthomas]

Ireneparalegal the joke that that comedian said about SWV isn't funny because SWV members aren't ugly. K-Ci is the ugliest dude in Jodeci LOL.

[Ireneparalegal]

Ireneparalegal the joke that that comedian said about SWV isn't funny because SWV members aren't ugly. K-Ci is the ugliest dude in Jodeci LOL.
I wish I could remember what comedian said this. But it was on the Apollo and the audience was ROARING WITH LAUGHTER when he said it. I guess back at that time, the girls were not all that. My girlfriend met K-Ci and said he is a stuck up m****f*****. LOL

[isiahthomas]

How can he be stuck up when he's ugly? Hahahahahahahahahahaha. My aunt in Cleveland and my uncle's girlfriend met him at his concert and they took a picture with him because i saw the picture at my uncle's house. I kept glancing at the picture because it looked like K-Ci to me so i asked my aunt if it was him and she said yeah. I wonder what caused him and Mary J Blige to break up. I read a article about Mary J Blige in Parade magazine last weekend and the article was sad because Mary spoke about the bad relationships she was in and how badly her ex boyfriends treated her. She also talked about she used drugs and drank alcohol a lot. This is a sad trend to hear so many entertainers talk about they've done drugs. Why do so many entertainers continue to do that? Entertainers need to learn to do other stuff with their time like reading books, watching tv, staying away from people hahahahaha. People bring you down and that's how a person can get hooked on drugs and alcohol because if you see other people doing that that you're hanging around, you end up doing it because you wanna be accepted and you don't want people to think your a square or a lame if you aren't doing what everybody else is doing. I could give a damn if people make fun of me because i'm not doing the ignorant sh*t that everybody else is doing. The problem with so many entertainers is that they're followers instead of leaders. The reason i say that is because people do what other people are doing instead of using their own brain and being a leader. I think that people are afraid of being laughed at for being different and not following the crowd. I used to get upset when ignorant blacks would diss me because i'm not ignorant like them but that doesn't bother me anymore. Marvin Gaye, Rick James, Richard Pryor, David Ruffin, 2Pac, Eazy E, The Notorious Big, Jam Master Jay and these other great entertainers that have died before their time would still be around today if they kept ignorant people away from them so they wouldn't get hooked on drugs, sex and alcohol.