SZA got a spark. Summer Walker is doing well, Jhene Aiko is doing alright But none of these artists today are getting the major exposure at the level that artists of the same lane were getting 20-30 years ago since hip hop completely took over. They're all popular, but they're just "there" if you know what i mean, except maybe SZA who i think is the only one that's made a true impact of recent.

Now i'm well aware here are a lot of good independent R&B artists, but the genre as a whole is more or less underground outside of a handful of names. It's either you now either infuse rap culture to fit in or get shifted to the neo-soul category.

The last great R&B in terms of impact was like Usher's Confessions in my opinion and that was back in 2004 nearly 20 years ago now.

Weeknd?
Frank?

BTS and Drake out now

Weeknd

I dont even like his music but hes huge

Rap has always been bigger and more poppin than R&B and once rappers started singing it kind of killed the genre in terms of it creating superstars

...weeknd

Weeknd tho

The last great R&B was like Usher's Confessions in my opinion and that was back in 2004 nearly 20 years ago now.

Dusthead

The problem is it’s not gonna catch on unless girls can do a challenge to the song for validation from strangers.

Weeknd

I think its because rap has got more melodic and emotional, taking some of its lane

not true

Transitioned to pop

I'm talking about impact. I could put Weeknd's early projects but then he's moving towards pop over the years

Ok. Meanwhile Jhene about to win AOTY.

Abel is not R&B.

Summer Walker out now
SZA out now
HER out now
Bryson out now
Jhene Aiko out now

OP is right

Closest one left is Frank and he’s inactive

from his latest album?

Nobody gives a f*** about someone who never drops. He’s not a star

Blonde went platinum independent?

Confessions is kind of overrated

Frank has literally never repped being R&B

is MDM not considered R&B?

Chilombo was fire

Drake

CB

?