PND, The Weeknd, and Tiller caused r&b to become really one dimensional and bland. Unfortunately I don’t see that sound going away quite yet since there are so many depressed TikTok freaks around rn

cuz most of it sounds like early 2000s and we not on that anymore

Huh?

Lol if someone tried to make a Jodeci type song they’d be harassed online for being a simp

It won’t be mainstream and exist more often until teenagers deem it cool again

Once the depressed wave got to teenagers, that’s how the music stayed
That’s who stream the most

drake

every time someone desribes music as warm i want to bang my head against the wall but op did a decent job describing thank you

Hmm.. looking at my post again I could see how the ‘gone for good’ bit seemed a lil hyperbolic and morbid. To keep it a buck witchu I’m really touchy about traditional RnB because As a creative and singer from those same roots I feel like we’ve really been pushed to the outskirts of the sub genres that make up RnB ..the main genre is huge and there is a clear over-saturation of one specific sound clogging up the mainstream market where we have no capital or leverage to truly represent ourselves.. ‘Leave the Door Open’ is a whole different beast and conversation that I don’t think ppl are ready for. Bruno Is TALENTED as hell, can sang his ass off and the record is on repeat (for me). I believe that ppl like Bruno, Adele, Sam Smith, Megan Trainor, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke are the only ones that can reach mass success tapping into the nolstagic 60s/70s/80s/90s rnb/soul/blues/funk pocket that works almost everytime.. take a look at the biggest hits from these artists and find the constant. Truth is mainstream doesn’t want to hear these sounds from us.. Beyonce couldn’t make a Leave the Door Open and hits the way it does in terms of engagement and reception (look at how the ‘meh-Ed’ at Love on Top and the 4 album).. Anderson was giving the same vibes as this record from Ventura

the world doesn’t want to hear traditional RnB from our artists that actually authentically vocalizes in delivers the purity of the art form. artists like Bruno and Sam Smith lowkey have a more accessible and palatable sound a approach that makes it poppy enough to work. I don’t think the LTDO would have been as well received if it came from a Jazmine Sullivan or PJ Morton

Even the warm production nowadays doesn’t have that feeling its all woozy and bubbly without the s***appeal or charme

Not Novacane.. That’s one of the last definitive examples of that sound imo.

And at the same time people are begging for artists like Beyoncé to go back to their roots, more soulful RnB and when she does it, people pay her dust. It all comes down to traditional RnB simply not being as popular as before with the general audience, which I‘m not sure why exactly that happened. But today’s kids caring more about the persona and presentation of the musicians rather than the music and the craft behind it might be a part of it.

need that jodeci/ginuwine sound back

That Dark sound y’all are referring to kind of phase out too imo.. If there’s one person to blame for this it’s prob Tiller. When Drake and Abel did it, the sound had heart to it. PND brought the trap elements to it and made it more contemporary and accessible amongst black audiences. Then Tiller made Trapsoul and that exact sound has been replicated by people who can’t sing.

“ It all comes down to traditional RnB simply not being as popular as before with the general audience” - It’s more so about WHICH artists are palpable enough musically and vocally to be accessible with the mainstream consuming market. though Beyonce is a pop artist her delivery and musicianship/melodies have a distinct gospel/southern drawl that’s intrinsic to her sound. that’s why she changes gears completely when trying to score a hit. There’s a lot of watering down that we have to do so that we can be acceptable.. it use to be just white ppl, but we can now add this entire new generation to that pot as well. Belting and elaborate vocal ornamentation is considered over singing to these kids now.

Tbh It only works when diluted with hiphop or alternative sounds or when sung by accessible sounding artists. Jazmine couldn’t sing Adele’s and Amy’s hits and it reach the engagement quota. Usher couldn’t leave the door open or uptown funk and see Bruno’s success.

This is simply not true, especially for Drake. Drake isn’t a traditional r&b artist he’s a hybrid. Successful was a pivotal record because it also had Trey on it, who is an r&b artist that’s well respected. Therefore making it ok for artist who can’t sing to enter in that space. Before then r&b was very competitive as far as being able to sing.

Without Drake...PND, Weeknd, Tiller etc. wouldn’t even exist.

Yes but his version of it is kind of phased out. Abel and Drake had a more defined approach to it whereas Tiller kind of stripped it back

The songs in the OP are a reflection of that late 00s sound, that was already starting to assimilate and blend into other genres.

Records that I consider warm sounding has a richer, more grounded color palate that’s a bit more earthy, usually live instrumentation with a really soulful delivery.

get over it

this thread always gets made

abel really dethroned all these rnb cats like lloyd and the dream

It’s still niggas who can sing fr fr ofcourse but I think today it’s way too easy for niggas who can’t really sing to get on since they are being carried by production and aesthetic.

Lol the funny thing is them jodeci niggas were more savage than a lot of these “trap r&b” niggas today that’s why they look all washed today

JMSN gave y’all a whole album three years ago with these vibes and y’all ain’t even give em his flowers smh

He is probably the most overrated R&B artist in history, his music isn't very good for real RNB fans, he appeals to people with a low level of comprehension in the genre,