R&B

Polished sound and sophisticated production.

Cultural Origin

The late 1970s in various locations

Prominent Artists

Aaliya, Al B. Sure!, Bobby Brown, Brian McKnight, Destiny's Child, Diana Ross, En Vogue, Janet Jackson, Jodeci, LeVert, Luther Vandross, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Michael Jackson, Patrice Rushen, SWV, Teddy Pendergrass, TLC, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston

Influenced By

Rhythm & blues, soul, progressive soul, disco

Later Influenced

Progressive R&B, neo soul, pop

Cover photo for Janet Jackson's Ryhtm Nation 1814 album

About The Genre

As soul music became more polished and less earthy, it evolved into R&B. Out with drummers. In with drum machines.

After the 1970s, R&B adopted disco’s danceability and electronic elements and combined them with slick production styles. By the late '80s, R&B producers are as important as performers, with figures such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Terry Riley, and, later, Timbaland charting the course of the genre.

Trivia/Famous Lyrics

DId you know...

This is a story about control
My control
Control of what I say
Control of what I do
And this time, I'm gonna do it my way (My way)
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do
Are we ready?
I am

"Control" by Janet Jackson