For almost 80 years, the glorious musical genre of R&B has existed in the world.

When I was a child,

I was a fan of R&B. Now, I’m still a fan being almost 40 years old. Its evolution has always mirrored
the cultural changes of society. When the 1960’s existed, its songs expressed love and urgency for
change. The 1970’s saw disco, and the 1980’s saw R&B flourish with both ballads including
experimental songs (along with new jack swing). The 1990’s witnessed a soulful, harmonious R&B
sound. The 2000’s witnessed the start of new school musicians asserting their majesty. In the 2010’s
and the 2020’s, the music of R&B exists with both new school, sound cloud influenced music along
with old school musicians (including new artists) showing that same old school passion for
excellence. In 2021, with all that is going on in the world, R&B is still here with artists like Solange,
SZA, H.E.R., Baptiste, Khalid, Ari Lennox, Chloe X Halle, Toni Braxton, Beyonce, Jhene Aiko, Ne-
Yo, Adaline, and so many other musicians who make it their duties to outline profound magnificence
in their artistry. This is the final chapter of this series, but I will mention R&B subjects forevermore.
Now, it is time to show what is real involving this profoundly inspiring music.
She is the singer, songwriter, and actress
RaVaughn Nichelle Brown.

Prominent R&B Albums

Anita Baker’s Toni Braxton’s The Table of Contents

Rapture Secrets
1. Preface
2. Toni Braxton and Babyface
3. The Diversity of Modern R&B
Amerie’s Touch Seal’s 7 (2010-2014)
4. The Love of Music (and current
trends): 2015-2019
5. More Underrated Artists of the
Stevie Wonder’s Mary J. Blige’s My 2020s
Songs in the Key Life
of Life
6. The Culture of R&B
7. R&B is Here to Stay (Epilogue)
8. Appendix A: Honoring Singing
Legends who laid a Foundation for
Michael Jackson’s Gabrielle’s Find
Modern R&B Music
Off the Wall Your Way

The History of R&B Part 7 (Modern R&B Music and the Finale)
Timeless music existed in the past, in the present of 2021,
and it will continue to grow beyond during the future. It
has been a long journey of evaluating a musical genre that
has changed the world in so many unique ways. I certainly
enjoy listening to many R&B songs. R&B music of the Janet Jackson was Janet Jackson and
modern age has existed in the 2010's and the 2020's. presented with Whitney Houston were
During out time, we see R&B music having massive the 1997 Lena great friends. Both
influence from soundcloud music, emo vibes, and a sense Horne Career women created a large
Achievement foundation where
of talking about love from the perspective of introspection. award by the icon present and future
Many songs now want to question love, see if love is real, or Maya Angelou. artists can develop
cherish love. Many examples of these melodic flow in music their own legacies.
are shown by songs like Blinding Lights from the The
Weeknd, Doja Cat's Say So, and H.E.R.'s Slide ft. YG. Currently, R&B have new people in it like Jhene
Aiko, SZA, Summer Walker, Ari Lennox, Makaela, Shelley, FKA, DRAM, Khalid, Jacquees, Sonia Stein,
Tiana Major9, EARTHGANG, and other artists. Other artists of the younger generation are Leon
Bridges, Kali Uchis, Normani, Tinashe, Chloe X Bailey, Bryson Tiller, Ella Mai, Taliwhoah, Koffee,
Victoria Monet, Masego, Lianne La Havas, Gregory Porter, Giveon, Leon Bridges, Lucky Daye, etc. This
part of the series is the finale of the history and culture of R&B music. After all this time, I have learned
so much information about artistry, about human personalities, and about wisdom.

Typical of these times, see the mix of hip hop and R&B along with the legendary R&B singers making
a huge impact on the culture like Toni Braxton, Brandy, Faith Evans, Erykah Badu, Usher, Mary J. Blige,
and other legends. Music is unique at times. For over 80 years now, R&B music has been in existence
in the world. We have seen its changes from The Supremes to Whitney Houston. During the 2010’s
and 2020’s, technological advancements have been extraordinary. Social movements now are ever clear
in their goal of human liberation, and we have witnessed unprecedented events from the 1/6
insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to the first woman of color elected Vice President of the United States of
America. The soulful sounds of Stevie Wonder have inspired our minds. The sounds of Aaliyah and
En Vogue made us see the views and glorious souls of women. The voices of Boyz II Men and Zhane
made people realize the diversity of living life. The music from the outstanding Mary J. Blige has made
us aware of the soul of black women. Conscious messages are always presented by singer and hip-hop
artist Lauryn Hill too. Now, we are in the 3rd decade of the 21st century with its technological advances
and social changes. In late 2021, the power of R&B music is still very strong. With these political times
that deals with fights against police brutality (and awareness about climate change, economic
situations, social changes, immigration issues, reparations, etc.), many singers are talking about
conscious message involving Blackness, etc. The drum never stops, and we will continue to listen to
great music in the years ahead succinctly.

Toni Braxton and Babyface

Toni Braxton and Babyface have great musical chemistry spanning years and decades now. For
example, in 1992, they made the song of Give U My Heart which was part of the soundtrack of the
movie Boomerang. 1992 had some of the best music in R&B history with Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey,
Jodeci, Jade, SWV, Boyz II Men, En Vogue, TLC, Luther Vandross, CeCe Peniston, Whitney Houston,
and other artists singing their hearts out. Their debut duet album of Love, Marriage, and Divorce was
one of the greatest R&B albums of the 21st century and of all time. It was released on February 4, 2014
by Motown Records. It won the Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. The album is
a metaphor for their friendship. They were once great friends, until Toni Braxton lost a lot of money
by the late 1990's. Babyface was involved in her career. They had a very lax relationship until recently.
Now, both Toni Braxton and Babyface are great friends again in 2021. Every song on the album
describes the complicated nature of love, marriage, and divorce. The music was recorded at Brandon's
Way Recording in Los Angeles County, California. In real life, both Toni Braxton and Babyface have
gone through divorces. It's a subject that both especially can relate to. The lead single of the album was
the song Hurt You. Hurt You had emotion, flow, and great vocals in it. The album was Babyface's first
new studio album in 7 years, and Toni Braxton's first new album since her 2010 album of Pulse. The
song Hurt You rose to the number 1 spot on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks. Other
classic songs on the album are Where Did We Go Wrong, Roller Coaster, Sweat, etc. Tons of people
have given the classic duet album positive reviews. The album was so great that Toni Braxton decided
to make future albums to this day. Both artists made quality R&B music for so long, that their duet was
a throwback to the songs from the 1990's. Songs were heavily written by both Toni Braxton and
Babyface as both human beings are excellent songwriters. Both musicians have harmonies, the skills,
and the charisma to advance classic songs indeed. Music will always stand the test of time. Both artists
have shown a blueprint where future musicians can rely on to express their new music for future
generation to enjoy diligently.

The Diversity of Modern R&B (2010-

2014)
By 2010, Melanie Fiona's powerful song of It Kills Me topped the chart for 9 consecutive weeks. It was
a very popular song. Melanie Fiona is one of the most underrated singers of our generation. She has
great talent. From being born in Toronto, Canada to traveling the world, she is now a great mother.
Trey Songz and Drake had the bold song of I Invented Sex being on the charts in early 2010 too. Robin
Thicke's Sex Therapy grew to be number one for 2 consecutive weeks. Timbaland made a song called
Say Something in 2010. Timbaland is known for using experimental, futuristic sounds in his
music. On April 3, Monica's "Everything to Me" ascended to number 1 and remained atop the chart for
a further six consecutive weeks. That song (which was written by the great singer Jazmine Sullivan)
was one of Monica’s greatest vocal performances for real. Monica is an outstanding black Southern
singer. On May 22, 2010, Alicia Keys' song "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" topped the charts for twelve
consecutive weeks. It ranked as the number one song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list.
Usher's song "There Goes My Baby" peaked at number one for four weeks and ranked as the number
two song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. Usher also had the song of OMG featuring
hip hop artist Will.I.Am. Chris Brown's song "Deuces", featuring Tyga and Kevin McCall, topped the
chart for nine consecutive weeks, and it ranked as the number nine song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop
Songs year end list. Trey Songz also topped the chart with "Can't Be Friends", a position it held for the
final seven weeks of 2010. The Caribbean heritage of Rihanna was shown in her song of Rude Boy. In
that same year, more R&B artists displayed their talent like Lloyd, Cee-Lo, Willow Smith (with Whip
My Hair), Ciara, Jazmine Sullivan with Holding You Down (Going in Circles), Jamie Foxx, etc.
Monica had classic songs in 2010 again like with Love All Over Me. Her song comes from the album
of Still Standing. Monica released the album in 2010. Still Standing was one of Monica's greatest
albums with nominations for tons of awards.

One of the greatest albums of the 21st century was Sade's Soldier of Love which was released on February
5, 2010. That album was years in the making, and it was very much anticipated. Her album blew it
out of the park with songs, messages, and dancing. Soldier of Love, Babyfather, and The Moon and the
Sky were indeed songs in her album that expressed her excellent talent. The album debuted at number
four on the UK Albums Chart. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales
of 502,000 copies in the United States, marking Sade's first number-one debut on the chart in 25 years
since 1985's Promise while also spending three weeks at the top of the chart. Upon its release, Soldier of
Love received generally positive reviews from most music critics and won a Grammy Award for Best
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The band promoted the album with their first
concert tour in 10 years, Sade Live. Fantasia's song Bittersweet was one of her best songs. Fantasia by
2010 was already one of the greatest vocalists of our generation. Fantasia can sing very powerfully for
real. Diddy and the Dirty Money group made Hello Good Morning. Miguel, Dondria, Maxwell, Faith
Evans, Jaheim, Kem with Why Would You Say?, Mary J. Blige, The Dream, Dwele, Teairra Mari, Eric
Benet, Tank, Marsha Ambrosius, Gerald Levert, Jeremih, and other people made music during that
time.

Ciara, Toni Braxton, Keri Hilson, and Justine Skye have stood the test of time of creative, great artists of R&B.

Toni Braxton released her 7th studio album of Pulse on May 4, 2010. It has many great ballads like
Yesterday ft. Trey Songz, Woman, Hands Tied, Pulse, and Make My Heart. Singer and songwriter
Ne-Yo worked on writing some of the songs on the album too. The album has uptempo music too.
Erykah Badu's Window Seat song and video was about condemning groupthink and conformity for
the sake of conformity. The video had her walking in Dallas, Texas which is her hometown. She strips
all her clothes until she is naked and mimics the shot that hit JFK (who was assassinated in Dallas on
November 22, 1963). The song Pulse from Toni Braxton is one of her best songs in the 21st century
with notes, skills, and diverse sounds. You must be one of the greats to make a record like that, and Toni
Braxton is one of the greatest artists of our time. "Pretty Girl Rock" is a song by American singer and
songwriter Keri Hilson, taken from her second studio album, No Boys Allowed (2010). The song and
music video of Pretty Girl Rock celebrated women entertainers spanning many decades. It is one of the
greatest videos of the 21st century with a message of celebrating womanhood. An accompanying music
video for the song was directed by Joseph Kahn and features Keri Hilson portraying an array of
American female icons of the past, including Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, The Andrews
Sisters, The Supremes, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson and T-Boz of the R&B girl group TLC. The
video received positive response from critics and was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2011 BET
Awards, and Best Dance Performance at the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards.

The end of the video shows Keri Hilson's image at the end. Keri Hilson's 2nd Studio album of No
Boys Allowed had people in it like Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Kanye West, J. Cole, Nelly and Timbaland.
It talked about love, women's power, and other issues. Basic Instinct is the fourth studio album by
American singer Ciara. It was released on December 10, 2010, by LaFace Records and Jive Records.
Executive-produced by A&R agent Mark Pitts, Ciara, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, Basic Instinct
returns Ciara to her urban roots with mid-tempo R&B cuts and bass-heavy pop and dance songs. Aside
from production by Stewart and The-Dream, Ciara collaborated with production by Soundz, Infinity
and T-Minus. Ciara's album was about her responding to her critics, showing her sensual side, and her
telling the world that she's a grown woman basically. Ciara is grown. Even in 2010, many narrow-
minded people want to hate on artists for no reason. Ciara's music expanded into a new era with that
album. Let Freedom Reign is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Chrisette
Michele, released November 30, 2010 on Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album took place at
several recording studios and was handled entirely by record producer Chuck Harmony, who also co-
wrote most of the album with Michele. Chrisette Michele is an artist with an old soul musically, and
her voice is amazing. The album had songs like Let Freedom Reign (ft. Talib Kweli and Black
Thought), Number One, So Cool, etc. Chrisette Michele will continue to make excellent R&B music in
the future too.

Sade’s Soldier of Love came out on February

5, 2010 with universal acclaim. I was in my late
20’s when it was released. Songs like Soldier of
Love, Babyfather, and The Moon and Sky
personify her mysterious, yet massively
talented style of music. In the States, it
debuted number one on Billboard with first
week sales of 502,000 copies. The album won
a Grammy award for Best R&B Performance
by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Sade Adu
perfected the art of the quiet storm, soul,
smooth jazz, and sophistic-pop genres of
music. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria and
raised in the UK. As others have mentioned, I
never skipped a Sade album. Sade’s pristine
musical brilliance is always excellent.
The Continued Brilliance of the R&B Icon
Toni Braxton

For over 30 years, she has been singing music

across the world in her R&B career. People admire
her consistency. Her formula has always been to
express her honest feelings on love, romance,
spirituality, dance, and relationships in general.
Her recent song of Do It was the first single from
her new deal with Island Records. In the 2020’s,
Toni Braxton is still prominently at the top at her
game with musical excellence. Her 10th album is
Spell My Name being released on August 28,
2020. In 2021, Toni Braxton competed on season
6 of The Masked Singer show as “Pufferfish.” Her
contralto voice is very versatile. She has love from
R&B audiences, pop audiences, and people from
across generations. Theater is part of her life as
found in her performing in Broadway plays like
Aida. During the 1990’s and the 21st century,
artists like Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Anita
Baker, and Janet Jackson laid a powerful
foundation for younger artists to express their own
stories on various songs indeed.
 A Singer, An Actress, A
Philanthropist, and a Glorious,
Beautiful Black Woman
Kelly Rowland is 40 years old. Kelly
Rowland is her own woman who is a
singer, dancer, fitness expert, and actress.
From being a legendary of member of
Destiny's Child to having her own great
solo career, she has been filled with
charisma and a humbleness. She was born
in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in
Houston, Texas. Kelly Rowland knew
Beyonce when they were children. They
were part of the Girl's Tyme singing group
with LeToya Luckett and LaTavia
Roberson. Later, the group evolved into
Destiny's Child. Their major debut song
was Killing Time in 1997. Later in 1997,
they had No, No, No, and the rest is
history. Kelly Rowland was a key member
of the group. She always has a down to
Earth personality and a person who
believes in excellence. She won awards,
and she was in Destiny’s Child until the
end by 2005. She made the record of
Dilemma with Nelly in the year of 2002.
Her debut album was Simply Deep in
2002. She was on movies and TV shows
like Eve and the D.L. Hughley show.
“Never give up on your
dream…because you never know
what the Lord can bless you
with.”
-Kelly Rowland
I remember the movie The Seat Filler
where she was on too. Her great solo
records are Like This ft. Eve, Work,
Daylight, Commander, and When Love
Takes Over. She can do R&B, pop,
EMD, and other genres. Her charity of I
Heart My Girlfriends promotes self-
esteem, fights violence, and promotes
education. Now, she is working on new
projects constantly. She loves her
husband Tim Weatherspoon along with
their 2 children. Kelly Rowland can do
rock and dance music too. Kelly
Rowland views her inspirations as
Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson.
She played Gladys Knight in the BET
miniseries American Soul (which is
about the story of Soul Train). When it
is all said and done, Kelly Rowland
represents the truth that you can be
strong and humble plus down to Earth
at the same time. Kelly Rowland is an
artist who loves music and the essence of
authentic expression.
 The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul
We all appreciate Mary J.
Blige glorious personality
and love of humanity.
After 50 years living on this Earth, Mary J. Blige
has always captivated audiences with her talent
and greatness. She personified the soundtrack
of the lives of black women. If you want to
listen to music describing the heart and soul of
a Sister, listen to her music. Overcoming the
rain in her life, she is a singer, a songwriter, an
actress, a philanthropist, and the Queen Hip
Hop Soul. Sister Mary J. Blige was born in the
Bronx, NYC. Later, she lived in Savannah,
Georgia for a time. Her family moved into the
Schlobohm Housing Projects in Yonkers, NY.
Mary J. Blige's mother was a nurse named
Cora, and her father, Thomas Blige, was a jazz
musician. Mary J. Blige has a brother and a
sister. Singing in a Pentecostal church at
Richmond Hill, Georgia, Mary J. Blige always
loved the art of music. Her childhood was not
a crystal stair, but Mary J. Blige overcame a lot
of adversity to become an outstanding
musician. Blige was in a Yonkers band named
Pride with drummer Eddie D'Aprille. She
recorded music in early 1988. Uptown Records
signed her after meeting its CEO Andre
Harrell. This was in 1989. Later, she sang
backup to Father MC and other artists. She
worked with Sean Combs or P. Diddy.
“We are all just a
work in progress.”
-Mary J. Blige
The album of What's the 411? changed the game in 1992. She sang music
with a street wise style (with a mixture of R&B and hip hop). The album
was later three times platinum. She won many awards for that album. It
defined a large part of 1990's music. She released My Life in 1994. She
continued to tour, and she worked with hip hop artists like Jay Z, Method
Man, Nas, DMX, etc. Share My World came about in 1997. Seven Days
featuring George Benson was one of the classic songs on the album. By the
late 1990's and early 2000s, she experimented with different styles. The
Breakthrough in 2005 was another game changing album, probably her best
album of the 21st century. Everybody heard that album before. She worked
with everyone like 9th Wonder, Raphael Saadiq, Cool and Dre, Jimmy Jam
and Terry Lewis, will.i.am, Bryan-Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins, etc. That
album debuted number one on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B's Hip
Hop Albums charts. It sold 727,000 copies in its first week. The song Be
Without You is one her greatest records. The Breakthrough caused Mary J.
Blige to win 9 Billboard Music Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 2 BET
Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award.
She continues to make music to this very day. She received the Lifetime
Achievement Awards for her monumental contribution to music on June
23, 2019. She has her own endorsements, businesses, record label, and
perfume line. Her gift is that she articulates what black women go through
in an honest fashion that appeals to everyone, regardless of background. The
fact that Kamala Harris walked to celebrate her victory as Vice President to
the music of Work That from Mary J. Blige is all that you need to know
about Mary J. Blige's impact including legacy on our culture in positive ways.
 "I remember hearing Janet Jackson saying once 'With every album we grow, and we
can't be afraid of it. Because we never know everything, and we learn something new
every day.' "

—Kelly Rowland

In 2011, R&B Music has changed massively. The beginning of the year had Trey Songz's We Can't be
Friends being high on the charts. Fall for Your Type with Jamie Foxx and Drake was popular. Moment
4 Life was popular with the hip hop artists of Nicki Minaj and Drake. By this time, many rappers
increasingly sing on records. Chris Brown's collaboration with Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, "Look at
Me Now", topped the chart for eight consecutive weeks. Although, Miguel's "Sure Thing" only topped
the chart for one week, it ranked as the number one song on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
year end list. Miguel is a powerful singer of our time too. Kelly Rowland's collaboration with Lil Wayne,
"Motivation", topped the chart for seven non-consecutive weeks. "Motivation" ranked at number two
on the year end list. That song was part of Kelly Rowland's 3rd studio album called Here I Am. It was
released on July 22, 2011. That album was Kelly Rowland's statement that she is her own woman, and
this is her story. Kelly Rowland always had talent, and this album was her call out to the world about
her experiences. It had pop sounds in it along with songs about love and intimacy. I heard of the song
Commander ft. David Guetta. Here I Am also featured guest performances from Lil Wayne, Nelly, Rico
Love, Lil Playy, The WAV.s and Big Sean. Production of the album was handled by the likes of Rodney
Jerkins, Guetta, Jim Jonsin, Hit-Boy, RedOne and The Runners. Kelly Rowland said that she wanted
her music to be glam like the music of Donna Summer and Diana Ross. She worked with Ne-Yo too.
Ne-Yo is easily one of the greatest young songwriters of this generation.
The last number one of 2011 was Wale's collaboration featuring with Miguel in the song called, "Lotus
Flower Bomb.” On June 24, 2011, Beyoncé released her 4th studio album called 4. It was a heavily R&B
album that went into basics. It has party anthems, women anthems, and overall great that everyone can
enjoy like Who Run the World (Girls), Party, Best Thing I Never Had, I Care, Countdown, End of
Time, etc. 4 was promoted in mid-2011 by television performances and festival appearances, such as
Beyoncé's headlining Glastonbury Festival set. The album received generally positive reviews by music
critics; several publications included it on their year-end lists. It was her fourth consecutive album to
debut at number one on the US Billboard 200, and it also reached number one in Brazil, Ireland, South
Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album of 4 proved once against that Beyoncé
is a great singer, not just a great dancer. Beyoncé took a break in 2010, and she took her time to make
new music. 4 had old school and new experimental sounds in it. It's one of the greatest albums of the
2010's. All the Lights having Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and Kanye West was one of the most creative songs
in 2011. Artists making music in 2011 include human beings who are: Jazmine Sullivan's 10 Seconds,
Frank Ocean, Faith Evans, El Debarge, Elle Varner, Jennifer Hudson, Bobby V, Kem, Chrisette Michele,
etc.

One of the greatest artists of our time is Ledisi. Right now, she is 49 years old, and she was born in New
Orleans, Louisiana. Her name means to bring forth or to come here in Yoruba. She has performed R&B,
soul, jazz, pop, neo-soul, and gospel music. Her family sang music constantly like her mother and
stepfather. New Orleans has a strong musical culture in general. She was 8 when she performed with
the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She moved into Oakland, California and attended now Edna
Brewer Middle School. Ledisi played the piano and did opera in her life. She formed the group Anibade
during the 1990's. Her first solo album was in 2000 called Soulsinger: The Revival. She made more
music like Alright in 2007. Songs like Think of You and Joy are part of her legacy as well. Pieces of Me
came out in 2011. Pieces of Me is one of her greatest songs from the album of the same name. Ledisi
has performed at the White House 7 times at the request of President Obama and First Lady Michelle
Obama.

In 2012, there was massive R&B music. Some of this music was mixed with hip hop too. Beyonce's Love
on Top was very popular in March and April of 2012 too. That song was from her 4 album. Usher's
song Climax was on the charts too. This was one of Usher's greatest songs of the 21st century.
Regardless of what you think about Usher's imperfections, he is a genius in music making. The song
is about the complications found in relationships. Some call this song as part of the quiet storm with
electronic elements in it. This song is from his album Looking 4 Myself which was released on June 8,
2012. Songs in the album include Scream, Lemme See, Numb, and Dive. It was Usher's fourth number
one album in America. He won many awards for the album like a Grammy and an American Music
Award. Miguel's song of Adorn is about the love for a woman. It was one of Miguel's best records.
Rihanna's Diamonds was very popular. It was part of her 7th album of Unapologetic released in 2012.
Diamonds is one of her best songs vocally. This proved that 2000's and 2010's R&B had very talented
people like Usher, Alicia Keys, Neyo, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Mario, Trey Songz, J Holiday, Kerri Hilson,
the producer The Dream, Ashanti, Chris Brown, etc. Rihanna's song of Diamonds is about love. The
song topped music charts in over 20 countries in America. It was Rihanna's 12th number one single
on the Billboard Hot 100. It tied her with The Supremes and Madonna for the fifth most number one
singles in the chart's history. The song was sextuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association
of America (RIAA). The music video of the song was shot by director Anthony Mandler. The video
showed her in the elements of earth, air, water, and fire.

Rihanna's Unapologetic was released on November 19, 2012. There were many producers on the album
like The Dream, David Guetta, Chase and status, Stargate, Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made It, and
Labrinth. The album was filled with pop, dubstep, and R& B with elements of hip hop, EDM, and
reggae. 2012 was the time when EDM and new sounds started to dominate the music industry in
general. The album won a Grammy. Stay, Pour It Up, Love Song, Right Now, Jump, etc. were songs on
the album too. Keyshia Cole had the song of Enough of No Love, Frank Ocean had Thinkin Bout You,
Brandy had Put Down, Elle Varner had her signature song of Refill, Ne-Yo's Lazy Love, music from
Tank, Trey Songz's music, etc. Alicia Keys had the music of Girl on Fire song. Tamia made her song
Beautiful Surprise, which is one of the greatest songs of the 2010's. John Legend made music. R. Kelly
made songs, and I don't agree with his pedophilia. Monica made songs like It All Belongs to Me and
Until It's Gone. Kelly Rowland made music, Chris Brown had songs in 2012, Eric Benet released
Harriett Jones, and Anita Baker had Lately in 2012 too. Seal had the album of Soul 2, Melanie Fiona had
the album of The MF Life, Tank had This is How I Fell, and Brandy had Two Eleven.

2013 was a year filled with a new generation of R&B music. Body Party was song released by Ciara in
2013. Robin Thicke had Blurred Lines. Justin Timberlake had his song of Suit and Tie. K. Michelle
made his song of V.S.O.P. The newer artist August Alsina had his music too. One of the great young
artists was Sevyn Streeter with the 2013 hit of It Won't Stop. Happy was an anthem for many people,
and Pharrell Williams sang that song. Happy gave hope and happiness to so many lives in America
and throughout the world. Kelly Rowland made music in 2013 too. Without Me from Fantasia Barrino,
Right There from Ariana Grande, and The One from Tamar Braxton were popular in 2013. Janelle
Monae went into another level with her song Q.U.E.E.N. along with her album Electric Lady. Janelle
Monae can sing, act, rap, and play instruments. She is one of the greatest, talented artists of the 21st
century. Janelle Monae Robinson was born on December 1, 1985. She can do R& B, soul, pop, funk,
and other genres. When Prince co-signs you, you know that you are something special. She was born
in Kansas City, Kansas. The Electric Lady was released on September 6, 2013. From the start, we all
knew that Janelle Monae was very talented. That album was about her showing her and making us
realize that one's background doesn't denote inferiority. One's background is part of the great mosaic
of diversity. Diversity is the lifeblood of humanity and promoting respect plus tolerance makes a real
difference in improving society in general. The Electric Lady has elements of gospel, jazz, rock, pop,
reggae, soul, etc. The album featured Miguel, Erykah Badu, Solange, Prince, and Esperanza Spalding.
Songs like Dance Apocalyptic, etc. have many messages. Janelle Monae is a social activist, so she wants
to use messages in her music. Her music makes people dance. Artists like Jonn Hart, Ciara with I'm
Out, John Legend, and Raheem DeVaughn made records too. Tamar Braxton made an outstanding
album called Love and War in 2013 too. Her songs like Love and War, The One, All the Way Home,
and Hot Sugar shows her range, skills as a singer, and excellent pitch. Tamar Braxton is a great singer
for real as said by the icon Patti Labelle.

One of the most groundbreaking R&B albums in 2013 was of course the album Beyonce which was
released on December 13, 2013. It was released very surprisingly. It was Beyonce Knowles-Carter's 5th
studio album. It was a visual album where each song would be accompanied with a visual music video.
The music wasn't subtle. It mentioned sex, monogamous love, relationships, and feminism. Her
famous songs on the album are Pretty Hurts, Partition, XO, Drunk in Love, etc. The album was
debuted as number one on Billboard. It certainly wasn't conservative. It explored sexuality, beauty
standards, and other issues that many people didn't talk about overtly back then. In the eyes of Beyoncé,
her album was about celebrating black feminism in celebrating black women sexuality in mainstream
music. Her album promoted the existence of surprise album releases.

In 2014, R&B music was dominated by Beyoncé and other artists. Jeremih released Don't Tell 'em,
Trey Songz had music, and Chris Brown released songs too. The new coming back then Tinashe had
2 On in 2014. Usher had Good Kisser and Flawless from Beyoncé was high on the charta. August Alsina
had No Love in 2014. You're Mine was released by Mariah Carey in 2014. Maybe was a song released
by Teyana Taylor. Pick Me Up was song done by Mary J. Blige. Get Her Back was a song by Robin
Thicke. Rihanna and Beyoncé had many collaborations in that year too. All of Me by John Legend was
one of his anthems for his career. That song came from his 2013 album of Love in the Future. 2014 was
a year where the new school artists became more boisterous and overt in their views. This was the time
when Jagged Edge had a comeback too with songs like Hope. The Weeknd and Partynextdoor had the
Toronto sound expressed. This year saw new artists coming alive with diversity. FKA Twigs released
her LP1 album. Tinashe released Aquarius. Mary J. Blige have shown The London Sessions. Prince had
his album called Art Official Age. Kelis released Food. Tink had Winter's Diary 2. Jessie War released
Tough Love. Chris Brown shown the album of X and Trey Songz released Trigga. Souled Out was
shown by Jhene Aiko. Jennifer Hudson shown her album of JHUD. Michael Jackson's Xscape was
shown along with Joe's Bridges. Artists like Keyshia Cole with Point of No Return, Ledisi's The Truth,
Tank's Stronger, Whitney Houston's Live, Aretha Franklin, Kem, Smokey Robinson, and Marsha
Ambrosius all released albums. Meshell Ndegeocllo released Comet, Come to Me.

The Love of Music (and current trends)

(2015-2019)

2015 in R&B had many records too. In 2015, there was Usher's I Don't Mind featuring Juicy J, and
the song of Four Five Seconds (with Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney). The Weeknd had
Can't Feel My Face, The Hills, and other music. Drake had his singing song of Hotline Bling in 2015.
All Eyes on You was a song with Meek Mill, Chris Brown, and Nicki Minaj. Planes was a song with
Jermih featuring J. Cole. 7/11 was a song done by Beyonce. See You Again was a song with Wiz
Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth. Adele had the popular song of Hello. Somebody was music of Natalie La Rose
ft. Jermih. This time saw a total mixture of R&B music and hip hop into one among many songs. One
of the new songs of 2015 was Classic Man from Jidenna featuring Roman Gian Arthur. Jidenna has
Nigerian descent. Post to Be is music from Omarion, Chris Brown, and Jhene Aiko. Ciara's I Bet,
Miguel's Coffee, Trey Songz's music, and other songs represented 2015.

One of the great comeback albums of 2015 was Janet Jackson's Unbreakable. Janet, by this time, has
been in the music industry for over 3 decades. Janet Jackson was the icon by that time too. It was
released on October 2, 2015. It was her first album released under her independent label of Rhythm
Nation, distributed by BMG Rights Management. One of her signature songs on the album are No
Sleep featuring J. Cole and Unbreakable. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (or the famous songwriting,
production duo) worked with Janet Jackson on the album. Missy Elliot is on the album too. Unbreakable
dealt with many issues of love, the passing of her brother Michael Jackson, and socially conscious issues
(as found in the 1989 Rhythm Nation album). Unbreakable debuted number one at the U.S. Billboard
charts. Some songs have dance, R&B, pop, and other styles. It had EDM beats in the song Shoulda
Known Better. The singer Tamia released the album of Love Life on June 9, 2015. It was released by
Plus One Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. Tamia worked with Rachel Assil, Claude Kelly, and
Dillon Pace. Production came from many people like The Dream and Pop and Oak. Her album is a
grown-up sound with songs like Sandwich and a Soda, Stuck with Me, and Love Falls Over Me. This
album is a total R&B ode to old school excellence. It's one of her best albums in her whole career. Erykah
Badu, Kehlani, Raheem DeVaughn, Jill Scott, Jeremih, Ne-Yo, Tyrese Gibson (with Black Rose),
Bryson Tiller, Leon Bridges, Charlie Wilson, Ciara, August Alinsa, Jamie Foxx, Babyface, Kelela, Kali
Uchis, Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, and other artists released albums. Tamar Braxton had Calling All
Lovers, Prince, Jodeci, Alessia Cara, Jason Deulo, Andra Day, FKA twigs, Teedra Morris, and Charlie
Wilson shown albums in 2015 too.

2016 in R&B had 2 groundbreaking albums from Beyoncé with Lemonade and Solange with A Seat At
the Table. In 2016, diversity was the name of the game. Kehlani released the song of Gangsta. Starboy
was the song released by The Weeknd. The singer Bruno Mars had 24K Magic. Do You Mind was
song with artists like DJ Khaled, Nick Minaj, Chris Brown, Alsina, Jermih, Future, and Rick Ross.
Beyoncé had Hold Up, and Solange made the black empowerment song of F.U.B.U. Kaytranada and
Syd had music. BJ The Chicago Kid released the music of Turnin' Me Up with mentioned about love
and romance. No Limit is a song from Usher and Young Thug. Partynextoor ft. Drake had Come and
See Me. 6lack had the song of Prblms. Anderson.Paak released music too. Rihanna and Drake made
the very popular song of Work.

Beyoncé released her 6th studio album of Lemonade on April 23, 2016. It was released by Parkwood
entertainment and Columbia Records. The album was Beyoncé’s 2nd visual album. Lemonade
changed the R&B game forever. It was one of the greatest albums of all time, and it was the greatest
R&B album of the 2010's other than Toni Braxton's and Babyface's duet album. The album was
described Beyoncé’s vulnerability, happiness, joy, pain, and her husband's infidelity (which we all
knew years before the album was released, but Beyoncé publicly discussed in her Lemonade songs). It
had art, pop, R&B, blues, rock, hip hop, soul, funk, gospel, country, electronic, and trap. It had other
artists in it like Kendrick Lamar, James Blake, Jack White, and the Weeknd. It was her greatest work
as an artist. It has been her most acclaimed album. Lemonade was the greatest album of 2016, and it
caused Beyoncé to be a super legend or icon beyond just a superstar of music. It debuted at number one
earning tons of records. Formation was the song that promoted black liberation, BLM, opposition to
police brutality, and justice. The song Formation was presented by Beyoncé and her dancers during the
Super Bowl performance (in celebrating the 50th year anniversary of the start of Black Panther Party of
Self Defense). Here are some of the lyrics of Beyoncé’s Freedom song:

"...[Verse 1: Beyoncé]

Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder

Tell the storm I'm new

I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular

Painting white flags blue

Lord, forgive me, I've been running

Running blind in truth

Black is King is Beyonce’s celebration of
I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
Blackness in its regal beauty and power.
Tell the sweet I'm new

[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]

I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away," oh

May the last one burn into flames

[Chorus: Beyoncé] K Michelle is a great R&B singer from

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move the South. She has been performing,
making songs, and being on her grind
Freedom, cut me loose! Yeah for years. She is one of the underrated
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? artists whose vocals are incredible and
whose albums show her life in an
honest fashion.
'Cause I need freedom, too!

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

More Unsung Singers
Hey! I'ma keep running

'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

Paula Dondria Spensha Baker

[Verse 2: Beyoncé] Campbell

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters

Tell the tide, "Don't move"

I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders

Call me bulletproof

Lord, forgive me, I've been runnin'

Runnin' blind in truth

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love

To love R&B music, you must respect the
Tell the deep I'm new.." accomplishments of the legendary artist
Ledisi.

Lemonade won Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video. Even Adele said that
Lemonade deserves to be placed as Best Album of the Year involving the Grammys. Lemonade won a
Peabody Award in Entertainment. Lemonade was recorded between June 2014 and July 2015 in 11
studios in America. The act of Lemonade was Beyoncé’s therapy session to show the diverse emotions
of a black woman. The Lemonade film had 11 chapters of Intuition, Denial, Anger, Apathy, Emptiness,
Accountability, Reformation, Forgiveness, Resurrection, Hope, and Redemption. Beyoncé said that
she wanted to make mention of slavery and how dysfunctions in many black families have to be
confronted in order for healing and resolution to occur among black men and black women. Beyoncé
wanted to celebrate the words and legacy of her grandmother and Jay Z's grandmother. Also, the album
has been called an example of black feminism. Even Don't Hurt Yourself was a song that quote
Malcolm X when he accurately said that, "The most disrespected person in America is the Black
woman. The most unprotected person is America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in
America is the Black woman." Lemonade wanted to destroy anti-black women stereotypes by showing
a diversity of black women and citing literature from black women like Julie Dash, Alice Walker, Toni
Morrison, etc. Deep Southern culture from music to cuisine is celebrated by the album. She cites Yoruba
culture, Igbo peoples, Oshun, Creole food, jazz, etc. Lemonade is a whole lot of Blackness spiritually,
intellectually, physically, and inspirationally. Regardless of how anyone feels on Beyoncé, you can deny
the skill and talent of her album of Lemonade. She won 5 BET Awards in 2017. Her song of Freedom
featuring Kendrick Lamar was a 21st century anthem in calling for freedom for black human beings.
She won many MTV awards too. My favorite song on the album is Freedom, because it talks about our
people and the fight for justice. Artists of every color and of every genre were inspired by Lemonade.

Solange made her 2016 album of A Seat at the Table. It was released on September 30, 2016. It was
music made up of many messages of celebrating black people, loving Blackness, honoring black
women, and eliminating the stigma of mental health issues (that is still taboo to talk about in public
among certain segments of the black community). This comes after her EP of True. A Seat at the Table
could be Solange's greatest album. It had artists like Saba, Lil Wayne, Q-Tip, BJ the Chicago Kid, Kelly
Rowland, Tweet, Sampha, Kelela, David Longstreth, The Dream, etc. It was Solange's first Grammy
nomination and win. Master P worked with her too. The album had empowerment, hip hop, rage, and
love. It uses funk, neo-soul, and R&B. Rise was a song about Ferguson and Baltimore. Cranes in the Sky
is about mental health and using alcohol, sex, and music to try to stop the pain. Don't Touch My Hair
is about not wanting people to touch a black woman's hair without her permission (which
unfortunately common in America and in the world in general). F.U.B.U. is a song not only giving ode
to For Us By Us. It is about the call for black ownership and realizing that black culture is not up for sale.
A Seat at the Table dealt with race with psychedelic funk. A Seat at the Table represents Solange's soul,
thinking, and musical intentions.

2017 was a year where R&B music was in transition. New school sounds and imagery were abundant.
You have Starboy being popular done by The Weeknd featuring Draft Punk. Rae Sremmurd made
Black Beatles featuring Gucci Mane. Bruno Mars had That's What I Like. I'm the One was released by
DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne. One song that was very
popular was Wild Thoughts done by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller. Khalid made
music too. This was the year when Khalid increased his popular in the R&B world. Jacob Banks made
a song called Unknown (To You). He also made a powerful song called Chainsmoking, which is about
life and people's diverse experiences. Cyphi The Prynce made the song of No Dope on Sundays ft. Pusha
T. This year saw a continuation of R&B/hip hop hybrid songs like Dawin'sBreek done by Ty Dolla
$ign ft. Jeremih. Knox Fortune made the song of Lil Thing. Toro y Moi released the song of Girl Like
You. Sampha made the song of No One Knows Me like the Piano. His song was a tribute to her mother,
who lost her life to cancer. It is a very emotional record. Provider is a song made by Frank
Ocean. Godlink released the song called Crew featuring Shy Glizzy and Brent Faiyaz. The Weekend is
a song made by SZA. Blessed is music from Daniel Caesar. The Canadian group of Majid Jordan made
the record of Gave Your Love Away. The albums of 2017 involving R& B were diverse like SZA's Ctrl,
Khalid's American Teen, Kehlani's SweetSexySavage, Daniel Caesar's Fruedian, Sampha's Process,
Miguel's War and Leisure, Thundercat's Drunk, Kelela's Take Me Apart, Syd Tha Kid's Fin, Mary J.
Blige's Strength of a Woman, Jhene Aiko's Trip, Bryson Tiller's True to Self, Majid Jordan's The Space
Between, Sharon Jones' Soul of a Woman, Curtis Harding's Face Your Fear, and K. Michelle's
Kimberly: The People I Used to Know.

The Real McCoy’s Another Janet Jackson’s All for You I Wanna Know by Joe Patrice Rushen’s Remind
Night (1993) (2001) (1999) Me (1982)

Chante Moore’s Love Brandy’s Have You Ever Stevie Wonder’s For Once Mariah Carey’s Always Be
Taken Over (1992) (1998) in My Life (1969) My Baby (1995)
 “Don’t try to lessen yourself for the
world; let the world catch up to you.”
-Beyonce Knowles-Carter
Lemonade’s album cover
outlined her creative
energy.
Beyonce’s Black is King is a
great visual album too.
If you love freedom and
liberation, you must love
Blackness. It is as clear as
that.
There is always an R&B album that
changes the whole world. This is such an
album. In 2016, it was released to
universal acclaim. Lemonade reached
into the soul of Blackness to talk about it
all from infidelity to the resiliency of black
humanity. It was also in praise of black
women of every walk of life. Filled with
soul and with a love of African culture,
Lemonade is easily one of the greatest
albums in history. This album will be
talked about for decades into the future
with its vocals, messages, and power. It’s
overtly the best studio album of Beyonce’s
career. Its music videos were intricate too.
R&B musicians, hip hop artists, rock
artists, and pop artists were all inspired by
Lemonade. American musician Steve
Wonder called Lemonade, “a great work,
a great art piece.” Lemonade used rock
and country elements in its compositions
too. Songs like Freedom, Daddy’s
Lessons, Don’t Hurt Yourself, Formation,
and All Night make everyone know that
Beyonce is a grown woman with her own
insights, emotions, and views that ought
to be acknowledged.
By 2018, there were songs like Rockstar and Finesse. Drake had the R& B and hip-hop fusion song of
God's Plan. Ella Mai had the son of Trip including Boo. The artist of Childish Gambino had the song
called This is America. This is America is about the epidemic of anti-black violence, murder, and
injustice in general. The irony of Childish Gambino is that he acts like he's pro-black, but he is known
to made anti-black jokes in his comedy routines years ago without apologizing for it. Ella Mai Howell
stood out in 2018 too involving R&B culture. She is an Afro-British singer and songwriter. Her singing
career began at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in London in 2014, during which time
she auditioned as part of a trio on the 11th season of The X Factor. In 2015, she uploaded a four-track
solo EP of originals to SoundCloud titled Troubled, and it was discovered on social media by American
record producer Mustard and signed with his record label, 10 Summers Records. From 2016 to 2018,
she released three EPs on the label, including Time, Change, and Ready. Her self-titled debut studio
album was released in October 2018. She was born on November 3, 1994 at London, England. Her
mother is Jamaican, and her father is Irish. In 2019, "Boo'd Up" was nominated for two Grammy
Awards: Song of the Year and Best R& B Song, winning for the latter, as well as Mai herself being
nominated for British Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards. At the 2019 Billboard Music Awards,
she won three awards, including the award for Top R& B Artist. She is a fan of Arsenal F.C. By 2020,
she released Not Another Love Song. She is inspired by Lauryn Hill, Chris Brown, Brandy, Destiny's
Child, Alicia Keyes, and Mariah Carey. Ella Mai is also inspired by 90's R&B music too. 2018 had tons
of complex, history making R&B albums. One such album in 2018 was Janelle Monae's Dirty
Computer. It showed music videos showing her songs as well. It featured subjects that deals with love,
romance, computers, sexuality, feminism, and empowering women. Dirty Computer uses pop, funk,
hip hop, R&B, and neo-soul. It has space rock, trap, futurepop, new wave, electropop, and other genres.
Her four singles out of many include Make Me Feel, Django Jane, Pynk, and I Like That. The album
had a 46-minute narrative film project of the same name. Many people have praised the album. Prince
inspired her to make more music. Janelle Monae said that Dirty Computer is a homage to women and
the spectrum of sexual identities. No one can deny Janelle Monae's talent. In 2018, Teyana Tyalor
released the album of K.T.S.E., The Weeknd had the album of My Dear Melancholy, Mariah Carey
released Caution, The Carters released Everything is Love, 6LACK released East Atlanta Love Letter, Dev
Hynes released Negro Swan, Islation was released by Kali Uchis, Jorja Smith released Lost and Found,
and The Internet released Hive Mind. Toni Braxton made the huge comeback album of Sex and
Cigarettes too in 2018. Toni Braxton's album was about love and disappointments at fraudulent
partners. The song Sorry shows some of her best vocals and lyrics on the album. Ariana Grande released
Sweetener.

By early 2019, songs like Trip by Ella Mai, Sicko Mode by Travis Scott, and Please Me were high on the
charts. Khalid made Better and Talk that expanded his power in music. Khalid Donnel Robinson was
born on February 11, 1998. He is part of the new generation of R&B singers with something to say. He
was born at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Khalid released the number one pop songs, “Love Lies” with
Normani and “Eastside” with Benny Blanco and Halsey, both of which tied the record for longest
charting songs on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and reached the top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In
September 2018, Khalid released the number one rhythmic song, “Better”, as the lead single from his
top-10 EP, Suncity. In April 2019, he released his second studio album, Free Spirit, which debuted atop
the Billboard 200 chart. The lead single, “Talk”, peaked at number 3 in the US, and earned him a
Grammy Award for Record of the Year nomination. Khalid has received multiple accolades including
six Grammy Award nominations, six Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards and an
MTV Video Music Award. In 2019, Khalid was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential
People. Khalid cites his mother as his leading musical inspiration, and he has cited Kendrick Lamar,
A$AP Rocky, Father John Misty, Frank Ocean, Grizzly Bear, Chance the Rapper, Lorde, India.Arie, and
James Blake as other influences. In 2019, some of R&B greatest music came from Bryson Tiller, Ari
Lennox, and Jacquees. In 2019, Summer Walker made the song of Fun Girl, Marco McKinnis made
the song of Give It Up, Ann Marie's My Body, Hope Tala's Lovestained, Rotimi's Love Riddin', Girl
Utra's Discrecion, Ride by YK Osiris and Kehlani, Ari Lennox's BMO, DJ Snake's Smile ft. Bryson
Tiller, and other music. In 2019, Solange released the album of When I Get Home. It is her 4th studio
album. Knowles produced the album alongside a variety of collaborators, including John Key, John
Carrol Kirby, Standing on the Corner, Chassol, Jamire Williams and Pharrell Williams. The album
also features contributions from several high-profile musicians, including Sampha, Playboi Carti,
Gucci Mane, Panda Bear, Tyler, the Creator, Metro Boomin, The-Dream, Abra, Dev Hynes, Steve Lacy,
Earl Sweatshirt and Scarface. The work has jazz, hip hop, and R&B elements. It celebrates the Houston
hip hop culture in the Third Ward. It celebrates African American women from Houston too. She
made a visual film in relating to the album too. Songs like Things I Imagined, Down with the Clique,
Way to the Show, Stay Flo, Dreams, My Skin is my Logo, I'm a Witness, etc. represent how she feels
about her life. Summer Walker released the album of Over It, Jamila Woods released Legacy! Legacy!,
Anderson Paak shown the album of Ventura, and Sir released Chasing Summer.
Kem has been a great singer for decades. For years,
he has been an underrated R&B artist. He has
been a producer and songwriter. He was born in
Nashville, and he was raised in Detroit. For a time,
Kem was homeless. Yet, he made many albums
like Kemistry. He signed with Motown records in
2001. His famous song was Love Calls. By 2005,
his platinum album called Album II was released
with the single of I Can’t Stop Loving You. He was
featured in the song of My Favorite Thing with
Ronald Isley. By 2014, Kem made the album of
Promise to Love. Kem won many awards. People
know about his famous duet with Toni Braxton
called Live Out Your Love. To this very day, he
performs and sings worldwide. His lyrics takes a
great concern to the greatness of love and
togetherness in relationships. He loves his wife
and his daughter.

Congratulations to Kem and his wife Erica. Black

Love is Beautiful and a Blessing.
Ari Lennox released Shea Butter Baby on May 7, 2019. This album was produced by Elite. The album
has R&B, soul, neo soul, and jazz. The title track being the second single "Shea Butter Baby" with J.
Cole, was released on February 26, 2019, which first appeared on the Creed II soundtrack on November
16, 2018. The song was accompanied by a music video on February 20, 2019 and surpassed three
million views via YouTube within the first week. On April 30, Ari Lennox announced the release date
and tracklist of the album, and released the single "Up Late", and the music video for the song was
released on May 14. This album is about Ari Lennox showing herself to the world in merging neo-soul
with R&B music. Her passions, her love, and her intentions are all displayed in Shea Butter Baby. Lizzo
released Cuz I Love You in 2019, Kehlani had While We Wait, Toro Y Moi had Outer Peace, Tinashe
had Songs for You, and Raphael Saadiq had Jimmy Lee. Snoh Aalegra had Ugh, Those Feels Again.
Beyoncé released The Lion King: The Gift in 2019 that celebrates African culture and heritage. The
album was also produced by Beyoncé and features African artists such as Wizkid, Shatta Wale, Burna
Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Busiswa and Salatiel, as well as appearances from Jay-
Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake,
and Jessie Reyez, among others. At the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards, "Spirit" was nominated for Best
Video of the Year and Best Dance Performance, while "Brown Skin Girl" was nominated for Best
Collaboration and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award, winning the latter. The album was
praised by African musicians too, and it caused a new era of Beyoncé’s legendary career. Mahalia
released Love and Compromise. Jacquees released the album of The King of R&B, Lucky Daye released
Painted, and H.E.R. released I Use to Know Her. 2019 R&B music saw tons of new artists and a new
chapter being written constantly.

Famous Musical Songs from Tamia

Tamia is one of the most underrated singers of all time. Tamia was born in Windsor, Ontario at Canada.
She has had a long career involving music, philanthropy, and other endeavors.

You Put a Move on My So Into You (1998) Stranger in My House Beautiful Surprise (2012)
Heart (1995) (2001)

Leave It Smokin’ (2018) Officially Missing You Missing You (with Brandy, Tell Me Who (2001)
(2003) Gladys Knight, and Chaka
Khan) (1996)
A New School R&B legend
with an Old School Soul
“I have epiphanies all the
time, because I’m always
thinking. I’m a thinker. I’m
always writing poetry; I’m
always coming to
conclusions.”
-Chrisette Michele

She is one of the greatest singers of the 21st century. When

people say that there is no R&B, people need to listen to her
music. She loves to perform R&B and soul music. Chrisette
Michele is almost 39 years old now. She was born in Central
Islip, New York. As a young person, she performed in the
gospel choir. Gospel music inspired tons of legendary artists
from Aretha Franklin to Toni Braxton. Many legendary
singers grew up in the church. Her father was a sociologist, and
her mother was a psychologist. She worked with many artists
like Nas, Jay, the Game, Kanye West, etc. Her debut album
was I am from 2007. Her songs like Be Ok, Your Joy, and If I
Have My Way were inspiring. Flowing with charisma and a
beautiful sound, she outlines her gifts. She was in the song
Rising Up ft. the Roots in their album of Rising Down. She
toured with her peers like Solange Knowles and Raheem
DeVaughn. She gave a tribute to Patti Labelle too. Her 2nd
album was Epiphany. Her recent 2020 song was Wait. She won
many Awards like the Centric Music Award and a Grammy.
Her music always has an exquisite jazz quality to it. People
from my generation and other generations know all about her
great, beautiful talent.
 MOTHER,
SONGWRITER,
The song of New Love from
Victoria Monet that was DANCER,
shown in 2018 is one of her
best videos vocally and in
terms of choreography.
PRODUCER,
AND
OUSTANDING
The image above shows her
live performance of the
MUSICIAN
song Jaguar which is part of
her debut album of the
same name.

Out of every new school singer of this generation, this great singer gives
me Aaliyah vibes. She can sing, dance, write songs, and produce music.
She has it all, and Victoria Monet has been doing this since she was in a
youth choir at her church. Monet was born in Georgia and later raised in
Sacramento, California. Her music describes topics about life, the sensual
aspect of love, romance, and other subject matter. Her vocals are
incredible, and her stage presence is hugely memorable. She worked with
the prominent producer Rodney Jenkins too. She made many EPs (like
Nightmares and Lullabies: Act 1 in 2014, EP Nightmares and Lullabies Act
2 in 2015, Life After Love Pt. 1 and Life After Love Pt. 2 in 2018), and her
debut album was Jaguar which was released on August 7, 2020. Monet has
written songs for Nas, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Lupe Fiasco,
Chrisette Michele, Coco Jones, and other human beings. Victoria Monet
is continuously growing her legacy. Motown, 70s music, and music from
the 1990’s has inspired her artistry. She is a woman with all the talent and
gifts in the world. Victoria Monet will continue to reach more heights in
her life for decades to come too.
 More underrated artists of the 2020s
R&B Music is still here in 2020 and beyond. Boundaries with sounds were broken. One of the great
songs in 2020 in dealing with R&B was Do It with the sister team of Chloe X Halle. SZA made a song
with Hit Different ft. Ty Dolla $ign. New artists like Arizona Zervas, Kehlani, Roddy Ricch, Lizzo,
Doja Cat, and other people have released music. Ella Mai released Not Another Love Song. Giveon had
Stuck on You. Summer Walker ft. Partynextdoor released My Affection. Also, Usher released Bad
Habits. That song alluded to his real-life drama. Inhale was a song released by Bryson Tiller.
Summer 2020 was a song released by Jhene Aiko. Teyana Taylor ft. Davido released Killa. dvsn ft.
Snoh Aalegra had Between Us. Snowchild was a song released by The Weeknd. Justin Beiber, JoJo, and
other people have outlined their songs too. Kelly Rowland in 2020 released the song Coffee to celebrate
the beauty of black women. H.E.R., Khalid, Disclosure, and other people have outlined their music
about love, romance, etc. Lianne La Havas is a very talented artist with songs like Bittersweet, etc. 3 am
in London is a song by Ebenezer. Ari Lennox, Kiana Lede, Brent Faiyaz, Gashi, and other people of the
new generation certainly have made R&B evolve further.

By 2021, R&B had hits like Blinding Lights from The Weeknd. R&B music by now is heavily a hybrid
with slow jams, quiet storm, electronic influences, and hip-hop influences. Peaches is a song of Justin
Bieber, Daniel Casesar, and Giveon. Leave the Door Open is a 2021 song by Anderson Paak and Bruno
Mars in a duo called Silk Sonic. Hit Different is a song by SZA, The Neptunes with Pharrell Williams,
and TY Dolla $ign. Girl Like Me is a song by Jazmine Sullian featuring H.E.R. Caution is a song made
by Kaytranada. Still Yours is found by Bryson Tiller and Big Sean. H.E.R. released Fight for You as part
of the Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired album. Eden was released Brent Faiyaz. Mahalia ft.
Rico Nasty made the song Jealous. 80/20 is a song released by Chloe X Halle. Justine Syke and
Timbaland have the 2021 song of Intruded. Syd made the song of Missing Out. SZA released Good
Days. Jazmine Sullivan, Ari Lennox, dvsn, Miguel, and other people have released music in 2021
too. Jon Batiste released his R&B and neo-soul album of We Are on March 19, 2021. It has songs like
We Are, I Need You, and Cry. Batiste is from Metairie, Louisiana. He grew up in Kenner, Louisiana.
He performed at the Juneteenth celebration in June 2020 at Brooklyn, NYC. The singer Tinashe
released her album of 333 on August 6, 2021. It worked with many people like Jeremih, Kaytranada,
Kaash Paig, Absolutely, Wax Motif, Buddy, and Tinashe’s brothers (Quiet Child and Kudzai). The 333
album (which is her best album in my view). further shows Tinashe’s evolution as a great R&B
musician. The songs are artful, has power, and represents her promotion of independence as an artist.
Today, we have R&B in 2021 filled with people like Normani, WizKId, Chloe, Ari Lennox, and other
human beings making sure that R&B is in great hands in the future too.

Yes, Justine Skye knelled down

during her singing the national
anthem to protest racial injustice
and to stand up for the human
dignity of black lives. Black Lives
always matter forever and forever.

Justine Skye is part of the new generation of very talented R&B singers.

The Culture of R&B

R&B Culture is diverse. It deals with music a lot. From the pianos, trumpets, base, and electronic
devices, R&B Music has existed in the modern world since the 1940's. Also, the culture of R&B deals
with soul. Soul is not something that is artificial. It is not something that is fake or generated via
deception. Soul is a tangible part of the human soul that endorses creativity, originality, and the love of
the audience. African American culture relates to R&B culture too, as black people invented R&B music,
rock music, hip hop, and other genres. Today, the culture of modern-day R&B is international. Singers
of R&B are people of many nationalities and colors including ages. It has helped to shed a light on
problems, to evaluate love in complex terms, and expand fashion profoundly. In terms of fashion, from
shades, suits, dresses, shoes, and other clothes, R&B music had dealt with clothing for generations.
Pentatonic scales and bass guitars are regularly utilized in R&B music.
One example is how SZA used a guitar when Toni Braxton sang her classic song of "Gotta Move On."
Snares, drums, and other beats are found in R&B like the song of Experience done by Victoria Monet,
Khalid, and SG Lewis. R&B music is worldwide. Like other genres, the paradox of R&B is that there is
a problem with many lyrics being anti-women, while an increase of women R&B singers has carried
the genre forward. Tons of women R&B artists have great talent in the 2020s like: Victoria Monet,
Chloe x Halle, Chloe x Halle, Ari Lennox, Jade Novah, Ruth B., Jhene Aiko, India Shawn, Normani,
Teyana Taylor, Rochelle Jordan, Sza, Brandy, Monica, H.E.R., Keke Palmer, Justine Skye, Jessie
Reyez, Kiana Lede, Sevyn Streeter, Summer Walker, Ella Mai, Mahalia, Ryan Destiny, Kehlani, Sudan
Archives, Jenevieve, Jorja Smith, TeaMarrr, and Tinashe. Yes, I listen to much of their music. Even
though I am almost 40 years old, I know how the younger generation acts. Black culture is R&B music.
We invented it, and it is a music at the same time meant for all people to listen to and express themselves
in it. Music is never limited based on background. It's meant for everyone. Music changes over time,
but greatness in music always remains potent forevermore.

R&B Culture definitely deals with the business of the music industry. The important thing for any
musician in any genre is to study contracts, publishing, and other facets of economics. The industry
has always been cutthroat and protecting assets and funds is always the responsibility of any artist. Also,
R&B culture is involved in advertising, art, dealing with fans, hotel privileges, and the development of
businesses. Many businesses, both large and small, use R&B music to sell merchandise, foods, and
other services. R&B music is not monolithic or static either. It evolves witness the shifting times.
Musicians should inspire younger artists to follow lessons, cultivate their talents, and to grow their gifts.
Today, we live in a time where were have old school sounds and new school energy in overall R&B
culture.

Tiara Thomas and H.E.R. talk about the song I Can’t Breathe and
music in general. Both women won a 2021 Grammy Award
for Song of the Year during the 63rd Annual Grammy
Awards. It took place on March 14, 2021.
A very talented artist of the 2020’s

He is the living example of how modern R&B music has great

talent. Jon Batiste is a bandleader, a musician, a TV
personality, and he was born in Metairie, Louisiana. Jazz can
be performed by him too. Batiste serves as the Music Director
of The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz
Museum in Harlem. To know R&B music fully, you must
know something about jazz and the blues. In 2020, he was the
co-composer on the Pixar animated film Soul, for which he
received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a
BAFTA Film Award (all shared with Trent Reznor and Atticus
Ross). Many members of his family were well known Batiste
family New Orleans band dynasty like Lionel Batiste of the
Treme Bass Band. He could play the drums and percussion
since he was 8 years old. His music also celebrates Blackness,
Juneteenth, and the power of our black ancestors. He has a
Bachelor of Music in 2011 and a Master of Music in 2013
from the world-famous Julliard School. Many of his famous
songs from his recent 2021 album of We Are include:
Freedom, Mavis, Cry, I Need You, and Tell the Truth. That is
his 8th album too. Jon Batiste is a great artist in his own right.
 The album of blackSUMMERS’night was
released on July 1, 2016. When it first came
out, it was an immediate classic. The song
Maxwell’s Classic 2016 fifth of Lake by the Ocean was Maxwell at his
best with the sound and lyrics. Maxwell
studio album of doesn’t have to prove what he is anymore.
Ever since the 1990’s, we all knew that
blackSUMMERS’night Maxwell is a legend. Now, he just extends
in his legendary career into another level of
prominence. With a masterpiece album in
2016, Maxwell proves once again that R&B
music is alive and well. Songs like Lake by
the Ocean and 1990x show how powerful a
person showing love to a woman is. Lake by
the Ocean won Best R&B song for the
Grammys. He won the NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Male Artist, and he
won the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards for
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist. Maxwell is a
multi-instrumentalist too. He, Erykah
Badu, D’Angelo, and others made neo-soul
what it is. In 2019, he received the Lifetime
Achievement Awards for his contributions
to music as a singer, songwriter, and
producer by the Congressional Black
Caucus Foundation and Congressional
Black Caucus.

SOME OF MAXWELL’S GREATEST SONGS

Maxwell - Ascension (Don't Fortunate (1999) This Woman’s Work (2002) Pretty Wings (2009)
Ever Wonder) (1996)

Stop the World (2009) We Never Saw It Coming Sumthin' Sumthin' (1996) Lake by the Ocean
(2018) (2016)
 R&B is here to Stay
( )
Ever since I was a child, R&B music has always inspired my soul. It motivated me and caused me to
appreciate further the beauty and wonder of black culture. Black culture is the heartbeat of
American society and world society in general. We give the world humanity as black people, and
our contributions remains powerful to this very day. It is fitting to close this historic R&B music
series on the end of 2021. For almost 80 years now, R&B music has been in existence. The long roots
of R&B existed from the blues and jazz. Long ago (over 100 years ago), black Americans experienced
lynchings, pogroms, rape, and other injustices. Music was promoted not only as a way for our
ancestors to celebrate creativity and music. Music was part of our coping mechanisms to counteract
tyranny, music was used a way for us to see brighter days ahead, and it was a way to expand our
culture worldwide. During both Great Migrations, jazz and blues evolved into R&B. By the 1940's
and the 1950's, we saw how R&B music consisted of soul artists and ballad musicians like Ruth Brown
and Ray Charles. From the Deep South to the West Coast, R&B sounds flourished.

From the Supremes and Stevie Wonder to SZA and H.E.R., R&B music has been through tons of
changes over the decades. We have been through a lot. Even the recent event of a black man almost
killed by the police in Windsor, Virginia shows us that we have a long way to go. Yet, excellence in
music remains strong. We know that great music is still here. Music inspires creativity. It can build
up the souls of people in transcendent ways, and it can promote our minds to stand up against
injustice. Back then when R&B was born, a lot of jazz and blues influences were found in R&B. Early
artists like Dinah Washington tried to show their gifts to the world. The Motown era of R&B had
legends like Tammi Terrell, Marlena Shaw, Odetta, and Otis Redding during the 1960's. The 1960's
saw Stax Records with Otis Redding giving his ballads about loving the awesome humanity of a
woman. Aretha Franklin displayed anthem on civil rights and women empowerment with her music
like Respect during the 1960's. David Ruffin sang his heart out. There was no voice like David Ruffin
at all. He was that talented. R&B have gospel roots too, as tons of the legends of R&B music were
literally raised in the church. Disco of the
1970's and funk showed the world that R&B
can expand into new heights. The 1980's was
highly experimental songs with funk, the quiet
storm, and ballads from the legendary
Boyz II Men is one of the greatest R&B groups in history
Whitney Houston to the powerful sounds of being from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have used
Chaka Khan. The 1990's saw a huge Golden great harmonies and outline messages about love
Age of R&B music with people like Brandy, (including showing love to a woman in eloquent terms),
Aaliyah, Monica, Toni Braxton, Deborah Cox, respect for cultures, and honoring mothers. Their
members (past and present) are Nathan Morris, Shawn
and others. Stockman, Wanya Morris, Michael McCary, and Marc
Nelson. Some of their greatest songs were
The 2000's saw both the start of new school Motownphilly, It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to
singers and old school legends like Ashanti, Yesterday, End of the Road, One Sweet Day, I’ll Make
Rihanna, Beyoncé, Fantasia, Amerie, Leona Love to You, The Color of Love, One Bended Knee, and
A Song for Mama. Boyz II Men was a blueprint on how
Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, and Melanie Fionna. many bands function today.
The 2010's saw the growth of the new school
almost neo-quiet storm types of artists like Bryson Tiller, H.E.R., Carolyn Malachi, SZA, and other
artists. During the 2020's, we see the torch being passed to other artists like Chloe X Halle, Victoria
Monet, Khalid, Justine Syke, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, Lion Babe (made up of Jillian Hervey and
Lucas Goodman), Shakespeare, and other human beings. In 2021, Diana Ross released her new song
called "Thank You" in celebrating her fans, her music, her legacy, and the beauty of music in general.
It is a very outstanding song from her. Her album of the same name has been released to the public
on September 2021. It is fitting to end this portion of this work with Diana Ross, as she gave so many
people an opportunity to express their gifts to the world. Miss Diana Ross deserves all the credit in
the world with her grace and resiliency including her strength.

Keri Hilson is 38 years old. For years, she has made many songs that relate to love
and many issues of appreciating the dignity of women. She was born in Decatur,
Georgia. She has used R&B, hip hop, and pop in her music. Her debut album was in
2009 called In a Perfect World. She made many songs with the Virginia producer
Timbaland. Some of her well-known songs are Knock You Down, I Like, and Pretty Girl
Rock (which paid homage to the many black women entertainers and other
entertainers of the past decades in the 20th and 21st centuries from Josephine Baker
to TLC). Pretty Girl Rock was a platinum single. She has worked in many charities
involving fighting against HIV/AIDS, helping people who suffer natural disasters, and
educational organizations. She has been on the movie screen. She won a BET Award,
a MOBO Award, a NAACP Image Award, and 2 Soul Train Music Awards. Keri Hilson
is a well-known songwriter and background singer during the early part of her career.
She sang background vocals for Ciara, Toni Braxton, Kelly Rowland, etc. She studied
theater in college. She wrote Mary J. Blige's Take Me as I Am in 2006 and Omarion's
Ice Box in 2006. By 2007, she was on Timbaland's song of The Way I Are. She toured
in 2019 with artists Mya, Brandy, Ashanti, Monica, and Amerie. Keri Hilson was
inspired by the legends of Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, Take 6, Sade, Anita Baker, and
other artists. Keri Hilson's legacy is about making music on her terms, and her
songwriting ability is incredible. She is a very talented artist who will make more
accomplishments in the future.
 She is one of the most talented artists and
musicians of our generation. She broke down
barriers and is honest about who she is. She is
Sister Janelle Monae, and she is almost 36 years
old. Now, she is a singer, songwriter, producer,
rapper, and actress. Assigned to Atlantic
Records, she has her own Wondaland Arts
Society. She won many awards and is CoverGirl
spokesperson. She was born in the Midwest at

A Transcendent Kansas City, Kansas. Her parents are working

class people, and her wearing suits give tribute
to both of her parents. Her music has the
Artist elements of R&B, funk, soul, pop, and hip hop.
When Prince gives you all the praise in the
world, you know that you're something special.

She was raised in a household where she sang at

a local Baptist church. She wanted to sing. She
was in musicals during her teen years. After she
attended F. L. Schlage High School, she studied
musical theater at the American Musical and
Dramatic Academy at NYC. She studied at
Perimeter College at Georgia State University at
Atlanta, Georgia. The Audition in 2003 was her
demo album. She worked with Big Boi and P.
Diddy on many projects. She has a unique dance
style and said in an Obama dance battle she
didn't lose (Usher was battling too). Metropolis
was her first solo project in 2007. Immediately,
she was part of the new generation of alternative
artists. Songs like Many Moons, Tightrope, Cold
War, etc. expressed her untold skills. No one is
like her. When I first heard of her music, I knew
that she would blow up in massive popularity.
She made more songs and albums dealing with
politics, love, romance, self-identity, etc. She was
on commercials and promoted the Sonos
device. She worked with her friend Erykah Badu.
By the 2010s and the 2020s, she has been on
movies, made more albums, and she is a person
who has inspired a generation of folks to express
their honest selves. She worked with Stacey
Abrams in using the song Turntables to promote
voter registration. Now, Stacey Abrams and
others contributed to making Georgia blue. I
never thought that in my lifetime that Georgia
would be blue, but I'm glad to see it happen.
 KHALID
A YOUNG ARTIST ON THE
SCENE

Khalid Donnel Robinson is a person who is

23 years old who won many awards as an
artist. He was born in Fort Stewart,
Georgia, and he worked hard in his music.
For a while, he has worked with Normani,
Benny Blanco, Alessia Cara, and other
artists. He has 6 Billboard Music Awards,
3 American Music Awards, and an MTV
Video Music Award. He graduated from
high school at El Paso, Texas. His style
includes R&B, hip hop, pop, and pop-soul.
He can sing in the baritone and tenor
ranges. He is inspired by his mother as the
leading musical inspiration in his life.
 THE PROMINENT MOVIES OF THE 2010’S AND THE 2020’S
Skyfall is a 2012 spy film about
James Bond (played by Daniel
Craig) who tries to stop a former
agent Raoul Silva from ending
the MI6 completely. Action,
vulnerability, and self-reflection
are themes in the movie. Naomie
Harris and Ben Wishaw star in
the film too. Later, the films of
Spectre (2015) and Craig’s final
film as James Bond would exist in
No Time to Die (2021).
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
documents the U.S.
government’s role in finally
getting Osama bin Laden. Bin
Laden was killed in a raid at
Pakistan in 2011. The film was
directed by Kathryn Bigelow and
written by Mark Boal. The search
for Osama was a long,
complicated process. The film
starred Jessica Chastain, Jason
Clarke, and other human beings.
The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies
of Gospel (2020) was released by
Lifetime. It honestly showed the
history of the legendary Clark
Sisters from their ups and downs.
It was directed by Christine
Swanson. It stars Christina Bell,
Kierra Sheard, Shelea Frazier,
Raven Goodwin, and Aunjanue
Ellis. The Clark Sisters sacrificed
so much to be the highest selling
gospel group in music history.
They kept the faith.
Keanu Reeves stars in the neo-noir
action thriller movie of John Wick
(2014). The movie is about an assassin
(played by Reeves) who seeks revenge
against wealthy people after their
agents kill his dog and assault him.
Martial arts, action, and tons of plot
lines are found in his movie. Future
sequels are John Wick: Chapter 2
(2017) and 2019’s John Wick: Chapter
3-Parabellum (which has Laurence
Fishburne and Halle Berry).
Creed (2015) was more than a boxing
movie. It was a film that was one of the
most inspirational films of our
generation. It was directed by Ryan
Coogler, and it starred Michael B.
Jordan, Phylicia Rashad, Sylvester
Stallone, Tessa Thompson, and other
people. This film showed Michael B.
Jordan’s continued range as an actor.
Great plot, great boxing scenes, and a
romance storyline are all included in
this epic. Creed 2 was released in 2018.
Matrix Resurrections (2021) is a long
time in the making. It is a movie about
the Matrix in the future after Matrix
Revolutions. It was produced, co-
written, and directed by Lana
Wachowski. People like Keanu Reeves,
Carrie-Ann Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith,
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica
Henwick, Jonathan Groff, and other
people star in the film that deals with
reality, the machines, and other
advanced philosophical questions
about life.
The highest grossing film of all time
is the 2019 film of Avengers:
Endgame. It shows the prominent
influence of superhero movies
based on Marvel Comics. It is a film
with an ensemble cast from Robert
Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Brie Larson,
Danai Gurira, Mark Ruffalo, Don
Cheadle, etc. The movie is about the
surviving members of the Avengers
and their allies trying to reverse the
destruction caused by Thanos in
Infinity War.
The movie of Inception (2010) dealt
with dreams and the desires of the
subconscious mind. It was directed
by the visionary director
Christopher Nolan. The film stars
Leonardo DiCaprio being a thief
who steals information by
infiltrating people’s subconscious
dreams. The film won 4 Academy
Awards. Reality and dreams relate
to the movie in a complicated,
philosophical fashion.
Shaka King directed the film of
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).
That film has one of the top 3
greatest trailers in human history in
my view. The film is about the life
and assassination of the freedom
fighter Fred Hampton (played by
Daniel Kaluuya). Hampton’s family,
his Black Panther allies, and the FBI
trying to infiltrate the Black
Panthers are all mentioned in the
film. The traitor William O’Neal is
played by Lakeith Stanfield.
The controversial story of the union
leader Jimmy Hoffa is shown in the
2019 film of The Irishman. This movie
was directed and produced by Martin
Scorsese. It was written by Steven
Zaillian. It stars Robert De Niro, Al
Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Ray Romano. The
movie shows Mafia history and the
Mafia’s ties to the powerful Teamster
Jimmy Hoffa (played by Al Pacino). It
deals with Nixon, Kennedy,
Fitzsimmons, and other people.
The massive movie of Black Panther
(2018) dealt with many subjects like
Blackness, Africa, the African Diaspora,
and science fiction. The movie was
directed by Ryan Coogler. Chadwick
Boseman played T’Challa along with
other characters being played by
Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o,
Dana Gurira, Martin Freeman, Angela
Bassett, and other people. The film is
the highest grossing film from a black
director and caused a cultural change
in the world.
The best batman movie of all time is
the movie of The Dark Knight Rises
(2012). Christopher Nolan directed the
movie. It stars Christian Bale, Michael
Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hatahway,
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and other
human beings. The movie shows the
Batman saving Gotham City from
nuclear destruction. Its plot and action
are very powerful. The movie has anti-
hero themes and outlines the
complexities of human existence.
 \
Young Artists on the Move

Source: LOS ANGELES, CA -

FEBRUARY 10: Chloe Bailey (L)
and Halle Bailey of Chloe x
Halle during the 61st Annual
GRAMMY Awards at Staples
Center on February 10, 2019 in
Los Angeles, California. (Photo
by Michael Kovac/Getty Images
for The Recording Academy).

Chloe and Halle Bailey are famous young artists from Georgia. Both are singers,
producers, songwriters, and actresses. They want the world to know that they are
grown women now, and they will express their own creative energies as they
desire. They have been part of the R&B duo of Chloe X Halle. Now, they have
their own solo careers. Both were raised in Mableton, Georgia and later moved
into Los Angeles in 2012. Chloe Bailey was in movies like The Fighting
Temptations in 2003 ft. Beyoncé and Let it Shine in 2012. Halle Bailey has been
on the show Grown-ish, and she will portray Ariel in the upcoming live action
Disney film of The Little Mermaid. Halle (who loves to swim, running, and bike)
has been inspired by Billie Holiday since she was young person. Halle can play the
guitar too. Chloe Bailey has been inspired by Beyoncé and Kelis including Missy
Elliott, Grime, etc. Both will have a long career, and we all wish them the best in
their future endeavors.
Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Rufus (including Chaka Khan), Stevie Wonder, and
Diana Ross always inspire the souls of people for decades.

Appendix A: Honoring Singing Legends who laid

a Foundation for Modern R&B Music
In our time, we always give credit when credit is due. This R&B Music history series have taught me
so many lessons. This series further allows human beings to love music in another level. I did this
series for many reasons. One reason is that I wanted to improve my knowledge about music history.
I have learned so much about unsung artists by this series. Also, I want people to honor the essence
of black music in general. Black music is a cornerstone of American and world culture. Music has
inspired doctors, lawyers, teachers, athletes, and other leaders of the world. Fans of R&B music exist
among people of every color and background. The power of the Four Tops (whose song of
Bernadette is one of the greatest songs of a man showing love to a woman), the inspiration from The
Supremes, the collective talent of The Temptations, and outstanding voices of the Three Degrees
show us that R&B music is very sacrosanct. I did this series also to make sure that the younger
generation realizes that the legacy of music has a long history. Many young people don't know
anything about Dinah Washington or Sarah Vaughan, so I made this work to show people of every
background about how R&B music has evolved over the course of time. The following men and
women honored here helped to set up a great legacy which has allowed modern artists including
future artists to shine their lights gloriously.
 Marva Whitney
One of the most unsung singers in the world was Marva Whitney. She had such an outstanding voice
singing music that she was called the Soul Sister Number One. She could sing R&B, soul, and funk
music. Kansas City, Kansas was the city of her birth. When she was a child (at the age of 3 years old),
she was on tour with her family's gospel group called The Manning Gospel Singers. She lived from
May 1, 1944 to December 22, 2012. When she was 16 years old, she joined the Alma Whitney Singers.
During the 1960's, her career has grown massively. One funky song that she made was Unwind
Yourself. Her early albums were Unwind Yourself (1968), Live and Lowdown at the Apollo [actually
live in Georgia] (1969), and It's My Thing (1969). She joined many groups, and she worked with James
Brown, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, and Lyn Collins. She even worked in gospel music
too. Marva Whitney loved to tour worldwide in Europe, Japan, and in other locations. Her friend
Dawayne Gilley said that she was one of the first women to embody the authority of funk. Whitney
loved to show her voice amid a bass, guitar lines, and horns. Her 2007 album of I Am What I Am
was critically acclaim. Marva Whitney was fully a legend of musical expression.

Ella Mai is 28 years old. She is part of the new generation of R&B singers
with great songwriting skills and inspirational music. She was born in
London, United Kingdom. Her mother loved jazz music. She is named after
the jazz great Ella Fitzgerald. Later, she lived in New York City when she was
12 years old. She graduated from Queens High School of Teaching in Glen
Oaks, Queens, before returning to the UK. She is a fan of Arsenal F.C. and
club's legend Thierry Henry. She worked hard in studying at the British and
Irish Modern Music Institute London (BIMM London) in 2014. Later, she was
on The Z Factor. Her EPs started in 2015 called Troubled. One of her
popular songs was Boo'd Up. Her first self-titled debut album was released
on October 12, 2018. She won a Grammy early in her career. She had the
album Heart of My Sleeve in 2022 (which is a very talented album). She has
been inspired by Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Destiny's Child, and other artists. She
loved the 1990's R&B artists too. Recently, she had a song with Babyface
called Keeps on Fallin. We all wish her more Blessings in her life.
 Lyn Collins

Lyn Collins (or Gloria Lavern Collins) lived from June 12, 1948 to March 13, 2005. She was an
American soul singer. Her 1972 funk single Think (About It) had a classic sound. She worked with
James Brown too. Dime Box, Texas was the place of her birth. Since she was 14 years old, she recorded
music. She played with Charles Pike and The Scholars. She possessed gospel influences too. Her
music was heavily sampled by hip hop artists, because hip hop is a descendant of funk music literally.
She worked in house music with the song of “Shout.” House was born in Chicago by the 1980’s as a
powerful form of self-expression. In February of 2005, she formed her first solo tour. For three weeks,
she performed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She is respected
by her peers and colleagues as an outstanding singer.

The 2012 film of Sparkle was

SPARKLE the last film of Whitney
Houston. It is a fitting tribute to
Houston’s excellence as an
actress and as a musician. She
also gave advice to the young
singer Jordin Sparks (who is a
very talented singer too).
Whitney always have been a
mentor to Brandy, Jordin
Sparks, and Monica. The film is
based on Motown’s The
Supremes in showing the
growth of artists during the
1960’s. It is a great film.
 Levi Stubbs

Levi Stubbs is one of the greatest singers in all of human history. His voice was outstanding. He was
the lead singer of the R&B group called the Four Tops. He was born in Detroit, Michigan part of
the Motown explosion of revolutionary singers plus groups that excelled massively in the world. His
voice is baritone. His emotional, dramatic style of singing has been noted by many people. He lived
from June 6, 1936 to October 17, 2008. Many people don’t know that he was a voice artist in film and
television. Tons of people admire his musical skills. Levi Stubbs loved his wife named Clineice with
their 5 children. His cousin was Jackie Wilson. His brother Joe was in the group of 100 Proof (Aged
in Soul), The Falcons, The Contours, and The Originals. He worked with his friends to form the
Four Aims in 1954, and they changed the name to the Four Tops in 1956. They signed with Motown
Records in 1963. They made many classic songs like Baby I Need Your Loving, I Can’t Help Myself
(Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), It’s the Same Old Song, I’ll Turn to Stone, Reach Out I’ll Be There,
Bernadette, Still Water (Love), Standing in the Shadows of Love, etc. Levi Stubbs supported the
Four Tops even when people offered him to go solo. He didn’t do it or left the Four Tops. He was
loyal to the group which takes a lot of courage and compassion. When Lawrence Payton passed away
in 1997, Theo Peoples replaced him. The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1990, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013. They sold over 50 million
records worldwide. Levi Stubbs was one of the best, and his legacy lives on forever. Berry Gordy,
Martha Reeves, Hall and Oats, Brian Holland, Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Dennis Edwards all
supported him. Levi Stubbs Day exists in the city of Detroit to this very day.

Ciara is at the music video of
Rooted on the left side. Ciara and
her husband Russell Wilson are on
the right side at the Espys, which is
the awards show to celebrate
athletes.
Ciara has grown so much over the course
of years. She is a singer who made songs
that made people have fun and think
about real philosophical issues. Also, she is
one of the greatest expert dancers of our
generation who has been inspired by the
greats of Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson,
Whitney Houston, etc. Ciara's dance
choreography is out of this world. Not to
mention that she is a model, a songwriter,
and a mother to many children. She is
married to a real man who cherishes her
and doesn't have to confirm to negative
stereotypes on how a black man ought to
act like. A real black man can act like a man
without foolishness (as tons of black men
and black women have outstanding
character), and Russel Wilson (who is
Ciara's husband) represents a righteous
human being. She is Sister Ciara, and she
is 36 years old. Fort Hood, Texas is the
place of her birth. Ciara was born in a
military family, so she grew up in Germany,
New York, Utah, and Nevada including
Arizona.
She is a Black Women
who is an Outstanding
Mother, Wife, Dancer,
Performer, Singer, and
Trailblazer of Music.
Here is Ciara
honoring Janet
Jackson at the BET’s
Black Girls Rock
ceremony.
Later, she lived in Georgia as her home. This was in her teen years. Back then,
she created an all-girl group called Hearsay with 2 of her friends. Later, Ciara
wrote songs for people like Blu Cantrell and Fantasia Barrino. Jazze Pha is the
famous producer who worked with Ciara early in her career. In 2004, her debut
album of Goodies was made. Later, people called her the First Lady of
Crunk&B. She also made more hits like 1,2 Step ft. Missy Elliot, Oh ft. Ludacris,
and other songs. Many of her early songs fit her dancing personality. She won
many awards. Lose Control was a dancing masterpiece from Ciara ft. Missy
Elliot. Ciara: The Evolution came out in 2006.
That album had more grown folk themes in them. She made more albums
like Fantasy Ride and One Woman Army. She had done movies like Mama, I
Want to Sing! in 2012. She was on the show The Game too in 2013. Her
2019 album was Beauty Marks with music like Greatest Love, Level Up, etc.
One of her great songs was Rooted featuring Ester Dean celebrating black
beauty. Russell Wilson and Ciara work together in business ventures. In
2009, Ciara has advance the So Somethin 101 campaign to fund supplies for
schools. Ciara sells fashion too via her Dare to Roam collection. She and
Russell own the film production company Why Not You Productions since
2021 affiliated with Amazon Prime Video. Ciara has innovated music videos,
dance culture, and other realms of society in a myriad of ways. She is a
great artist indeed with a glorious soul.
 Annette Simmons

Annette Simmons is a great R&B singer and soul singing legend. She was an original member of the
group of Martha and the Vandellas during the 1960’s. Now, she is a member of the singing group of
The Original Vandellas. July 4, 1943 is the date of her birth. She worked on doo-wop, rock and roll,
funk, and disco music. Detroit, Michigan is the city of her birth. Her parents are Ann and Roger El
Wood Beard. Like many legends, she sang in church choirs at an early age. When she was 14, her
career grew. She was in The Del-Phis in 1957. She had a child back in the 1960’s and left the group
in 1964. She continues to be friends with her former bandmates. In 1995, Beard joined Reeves,
Ashford, Betty Kelly, and Lois Reeves as Martha and the Vandellas were inducted to the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame. Annette Simmons loves her husband Dann Simmons RN or Ashland, Ohio. She
lives in Madison Heights, Michigan and Ashland, Ohio.

BET’s The Encore definitely takes
R&B fans back through memory lane
in showing 9 former R&B group
members and recording artists
trying to form a supergroup to create
an album within 30 days.
.
The series has artists like: Shamari Devoe (of Blaque), 702 sisters
Irish and LeMisha Grinstead, Nivea, Cherish twins Fallon & Felisha
King, Pamela Long (of Total), Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day, and Kiely
Williams (of 3LW & The Cheetah Girls fame). Announced to
premiere on June 9, 2021, the series drew 2.5 million viewers in its
premiere across all BET-related networks. The talent of artists, the
sacrifices that musicians go through, and the complex nature of the
music industry are fully shown in the series of The Encore indeed.
 Vicki Anderson

Soul singer Vicki Anderson was born on November 21, 1939. She is the mother of Carleen Anderson.
Vicki worked with James Brown, and she is the widow of Bobby Bryd. Houston, Texas is the place
of her birth. She joined James Brown in his singing group in 1965. James Brown said in his
autobiography that Anderson the best singer he ever had in his revue. In 1970, her most famous song
was The Message from the Soul Sisters displaying a feminist anthem. She toured the world too.
A Timeline of Many Classic R&B songs in the Past Recent Years

Tamia’s song of Leave it Smokin’ Ledisi’s Anything for You

Tink’s Million in
Melanie Fiona worked with Common and Aloe Blacc’s song of in 2020 was one of the
2015 was an ode to (in 2018) has a retro vibe with
John Legend on the song of Wake Up the Man in 2013 most powerful songs of
the late Aaliyah’s great vocals.
Everybody (in 2010) to address real defined his career her career. The power of
One in a Million
conscious issues.
in many ways. song. love is truly excellent.

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

This year of 2021 is the 50th year anniversary of Soul Train. Soul Train is a cultural staple of the black community. It
has promoted some of the greatest musicians of all time from Stevie Wonder to Jody Watley. It was the brainchild of
Don Cornelius and so many other Brothers and Sisters (including the preceding show of SOUL!) who desired
expression to be widespread. Its birth came from Chicago where Don Cornelius worked hard on promoting black
music. Back in 1965, the UHF station in Chicago called WCIU-TV promoted youth-oriented dance programs. Many of
these programs showed African American in studio dancers. Don Cornelius was hired by WCIU in 1967 as a reporters
and sports reporter. He was a backup DJ at the radio station of WVON in Chicago. Cornelius brought The Soul Train
show on TV. After securing a sponsorship deal with the Chicago-based retailer Sears, Roebuck and Company, Soul
Train premiered on WCIU-TV on August 17, 1970, as a live show airing weekday afternoons. Beginning as a low-budget
affair, in black and white, the first episode of the program featured Jerry Butler, the Chi-Lites, and the Emotions as
guests. Cornelius was assisted by Clinton Ghent, a local professional dancer who appeared on early episodes before
moving behind the scenes as a producer and secondary host.

Later, he moved into Los Angeles where Soul Train studios was located. Its showed aired form October 2, 1971 to
March 2, 2006. Though Don Cornelius moved his operations west, a local version of Soul Train continued in Chicago;
Cornelius hosted both the local Chicago and Los Angeles–based national programs simultaneously. Yet, Don soon
focused his attention solely on the national edition. He continued to oversee production in Chicago, where Clinton
Ghent hosted episodes on WCIU-TV until 1976, followed by three years of once-weekly reruns. Soul Train featured
great dancers too. It showcased R&B, soul, dance, pop, jazz, disco, funk, gospel, and hip hop. Many people hosted
the show like Mystro Clark, Shemar Moore, Dorian Gregory, and other people. Soul Train was a show that inspired so
many generations. Some of the greatest Soul Train dancers were Bobcat, Thelma, Reggie, April, Damita Jo, Myron,
Derek Foxtails, Louie Ski Carr, Sharon, Cheryl Song, Rosie Perez, Cookie Morris, Linda Howard, Jody Watley, Monique
Chambers, Crystal Calhoun, Toni Basil, Pat Davis, Fanta C, Diesel, Fred "Rerun" Berry, Greg Pope, Tyrone Proctor,
Charles Washington, Don Campbellock, Shabba Doo, Jeffrey Daniel, etc. To this day, the Soul Train Music Awards is
here to celebrate the best in music from across genres. Questlove, drummer for hip-hop band The Roots and a fan
of the program, authored Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation. ISBN 978-0-0622-8838-7., which
was published in 2013. The channel of Vh1 had the 2010 documentary of Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America. I
saw the documentary before. BET had its TV series that celebrated the history of Soul Train also. It is fitting to close
with the words of: Love, Peace, and Soul.
 Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff

The songwriting and production team of Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff are very influential in
music in general. Gamble is from Philadelphia and Huff is from Camden, New Jersey. The helped
to form the Philadelphia soul music genre of the Philly sound of the 1970's. Gamble and Huff have
written and produced 175 gold and platinum records. That is why they were inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category by March of 2008. Leon Huff worked on
keyboards. Gamble was on a DJ assisting people. Kenneth Gamble was a solo artist. Gamble, Ross,
and Huff worked on the song I'm Gonna Make You Love Me. They produced their first Top 5 hit of
Expressway to Your Heart by The Soul Survivors. They worked with people like Archie Bell and the
Drells, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, and the Sweet Inspirations. Jerry Butler and Dee Dee
Warwick worked with them too. Gamble and Huff formed Philadelphia International Records in
1971. The Philly sound inspired songs like If You Don't Know Me by Now by Harold Melvin and the
Blue Notes, Love Train by the O'Jays, and Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul. Gamble and Huff used
basslines, lush strings, and hit-hat rhythms (which would be found in disco later). By 1975, Gamble
and Huff were the premiere producers of soul beyond even Motown. Gamble and Huff were political
activists by promoting songs that advanced Blackness and self-determination like the O'Jays' Give
the People What They Want (1975) and Billy Paul's Am I Black Enough for You? (1972). Gamble
worked to help properties in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago via his Clean Up the
Ghetto project. Gamble and Huff made so many contributions in R&B, that you can't know R&B
fully without mentioning their names.

She is a musician who has used her talent
to inspire change. She has brought up
important issues about Blackness, mental
health development, the love of the arts,
romance, and creative energy in general
among her LPs and albums. She is Sister
Solange Knowles, and Houston, Texas is
the place of her birth. Performance art is
one of her many gifts. Her album Seat at
the Table from 2016 was a classic. It
showed a lot of what black people,
especially black women, are feeling. Her
journey started in Houston. She studied
dance as a child including theater. She
toured with Destiny's Child. Solange
honors her sister Beyonce, and Solange is
true to who she is. The theme song of the
Proud Family cartoon show had her as
lead singer of it. She has worked in many
movies.
MOTHER
SINGER
PERFORMANCE
ARTIST
ACTRESS
PHILANTHROPIST
Her first album was Solo Star (2002)
was produced by Jermaine Dupri, The
Neptunes, Linda Perry, Timbaland,
etc. As an eclectic musician, she has
always been influenced by art, R&B,
soul, jazz, pop, reggae, electronica, hip
hop, etc. Solange worked on the TV
show One on One, the Johnson Family
Vacation movie, etc. Solange sang the
song entitled, Freedom. I Decided was
another of her classic songs too. She is a
writer, a producer, a philanthropist,
and a mother of one child. True is the
title of her famous LP. Cranes in the
Sky and Don't Touch My Hair (which is
about a black woman’s right to her
autonomy involving hair & her body)
are anthems that Solange has created to
make very important points. Solange
loves to paint too. When I Get Home is
the name Solange's fourth studio album
released on March 1, 2019. When it is
all said and done, Solange Knowles
personifies great 21st century music
and excellent creativity.
 Marlena Shaw

One of my favorite singers is Marlena Shaw. She can sing jazz, blues, and soul music. September 22,
1942 was when she was born. By the 1960's, she became an icon of music. Her music has been sampled
in hip hop music and television commercials. New Rochelle, New York is the place of her birth. Her
uncle and jazz trumpet player Jimmy Burgess introduced her to music. Shaw listened to Dizzy
Gillespie, Miles Davis, gospel, and Al Hibber. Marlena Shaw worked in jazz clubs all of the time.
She worked with jazz trumpeter Howard McGhee in 1963. She performed California Soul which is
my opinion is the best version that she has sung. It was written by Ashford and Simpson. It was sung
by the quintet the 5th Dimension. The song is found in Dockers, KFC, and Dodge Ram trucks
commercials. She made music in the 1970's and beyond. The Spice of Life album was released in
November of 1969, and her album of Marlena was released in 1972.
SHE IS A
CONSUMMATE
EXPERT OF MUSIC,
A REVELATION OF
MUSIC, AN
ALLURING ARTIST,
AND A HUMAN
BEING WITH A
HUMBLE SPIRIT.

Sister SZA has always been one of the most

innovative, talented artists of the 21st
century. She appeals to a lot of people who
SZA made EPs before. Her debut EP was on October 29, 2012
love the artistry of musical talent. Right
called See.SZA.Run. S was her 2nd EP released on April 10,
now, she is 31 years old, and SZA was born
2013. She had the song Ice Moon. Divinity was her song with
in St. Louis, Missouri. Her whole name is
Jill Scott in 2014. SZA wrote songs for Beyonce and Rihanna.
Solana Imani Rowe. Later, she was raised in
She has co-written Rihanna's Consideration song for Anti in
Maplewood, New Jersey. Her father was an
2016. Ctrl was SZA's debut album on June 9, 2017. All of the
executive producer at CNN, while her
Stars featuring Kendrick Lamar was one of her greatest records
mother was an executive at AT&T. She has
from the Black Panther movie soundtrack. SZA mixes neo-
a unique childhood as her mother is a
soul, hip hop, ethereal R&B, and other genres. She is inspired
Christian, and her father is a Muslim. Her
by people as diverse as Wu Tang, Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald,
older half-sister is Tiffany Daniels, and her
Macy Gray, Mos Def, Bjork, Common, etc. When it is all said
older brother is Daniel (who is a rapper
and done, SZA will continue to show that mystery, creativity,
named Manhattan). SZA attended a Muslim
and honesty in her craft of music.
prep school every day after her regular
schooling. She was active in gymnastics and
cheerleading at Columbia High School. She
experienced bullying during the 7th grade,
because she wore her hijab. Religious
bigotry is always wrong. She settled at
Delaware State University to study marine
biology. She has worked with Top Dawg
Entertainment to promote her music.
 Odetta Holmes

Odetta Holmes is one of the greatest folk singers in history. She lived from December 31, 1930 to
December 2, 2008. She inspired many artists. As the voice of the Civil Rights Movement, Odetta
was always a civil and human rights activist for decades. She can play the guitar, act, and worked so
hard in her walk. She loved to perform folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. She inspired everybody
like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. One of my favorite songs from her is Take
This Hammer. Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were fans of her music too. She was born
in Birmingham, Alabama on December 31, 1930. Later, her family moved into Los Angeles. Her
teacher noticed her singing talents. She started operatic training at the age of 113. Odetta sang
professionally in a musical in 1944. She toured with singing groups. Later, she Odetta recorded
Odetta and Larry with Larry Mohr for Fantasy Records in 1954. She made solo albums too. She sang
Water Boy and There's a Hole in My Bucket in 1959 on Tonight with Belafonte TV special. Dr. King
called her The Queen of American Folk Music. She sang at the 1963 March on Washington with the
song O Freedom. She had jazz/blues albums like Odetta and the Blues (1962) and Odetta (1967). She
was on many films as an actress like The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) and Dinerama
Holiday (1955). She made more albums too. She was a friend to Ella Fitzgerald and made a CD in
her honor called "To Ella." It was released in 1998. Odetta was honored everywhere. She wanted to
perform at Barack Obama's inauguration in January of 2009. She passed away on December 2, 2008
at New York City. Odetta influenced Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Maya Angelou, John
Waters, Carly Simon, and other artists. Odetta was a black woman with a one in a lifetime talent
that was so excellent.
 UNDERATED
SINGER
SONGWRITER
RECORD
PRODUCER
MULTI-
INSTRUMENTALIST

By March of 2014, he made his 11th album called Bridges. He worked

with Kelly Rowland around this time too. By November 11, 2016, he
released his 12th album called My Name is Joe Thomas. On this album,
he worked with Derrick Allen, Gerald Isaac, and Damo Farmer. His
music always has been heartfelt revolving around love, self-reflection,
and the love of romance. Some of his well-known songs on this album
are So I Can Have You Back, Happy Hour, Lean Into It, Don’t Lock Me
Out, etc. Out of many singers of this time, Joe remains probably the
most underrated R&B singer (who is a man) of this generation. A lot of
people don’t know that Joe is also a songwriter and a producer too. He
has written and produced for groups like Ideal, Xscape, and Hi-Five.
From February to March 2017, Joe co-headlined a European concert
tour alongside Ashanti. Since 1992, Joe has shown music to the masses
of the people. His legacy is always etched in stone as one of the great
R&B singers of our time.
 The Summer of Soul (1969)
One of the most important, unsung moments of R&B history was the Summer of Soul celebration
in 1969. It was a black cultural festival in Harlem, New York City. Back then, Black Power cultural
power was prominent, the I'm Black and I'm Proud song (expressed by James Brown) was in the
atmosphere, and black heroes continued to fight for justice. Stevie Wonder and the Isley Brothers
performed. Also, the events are shown in the documentary called "Summer of Love: Or When the
Revolution Could Not be Televised.” The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was very historic. It had
stars perform soul, R&B, blues, jazz, and soul music. More than 300,000 people showed up for over
6 free concerts being held at Marcus Garvey Park. Other performers were Nina Simone, Gladys
Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, the Staples Singers, B.B. King, Ray Barretto, David Ruffin,
the 5th Dimension, and more musicians.
Harlem remains one of the great cultural places of black America. The documentary of Summer of
Love is a documentary that was directed by Questlove or Ahmir Thompson. Ahmir Thompson is
the famous drummer of the iconic group of The Roots. Questlove gives his insights, showed new
interviews, and allowed musicians to tell their stories about going into the festival. Marilyn McCoo
of The 5th Dimension told the truth that her music is part of real music being in love with black
people. Many people cried in showing their experiences at the festival. Producer Musa Jackson said
that it was tons of black people there like the ultimate black barbecue. Other people spoke their
minds in the documentary like Chris Rock, Luis Miranda, and Sheila E. Mahalia Jackson and Mavis
Staples sang Take My Hand, Precious Lord. That was the favorite gospel song of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. who was assassinated a year before. David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, and Joseph Patel
produced the film. Questlove promoted this documentary, because he wanted to stop black erasure.
40 hours of footage was kept from the public until now in 2021. Today, we can further appreciate a
great part of musical history filled with Black Excellence to the Fullest.

By Timothy
THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MUSIC CONSUMPTION IN
AMERICA IN 2018 (VIA A SURVEY FROM THE STATISTA
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT)

Hip Hop/Rap
Other 22%
24%

Latin
9%
Pop
20%

R&B
11%

Rock
14%

It’s time for those of us who have a voice to speak out for
life, for love, and for justice using the same media we’ve used
throughout our careers.”
-Chaka Khan
 UNIVERSAL MUSIC DURING THE 2010’S AND 2020’S

Jay Z’s 4:44 album was about his

honest life and him desiring to I have heard of Santigold and
move forward from his Dawn Richard is a
listened to her music for years.
imperfections. Marcy Me is one of famous dancer and
She was born in Philadelphia singer who also worked
his best songs in the album. and worked hard in being a in amination project. She
singer and songwriter. She does was born in New
electronic, new wave, indie, and Orleans, Louisiana and
alternative dance music. has Haitian descent.

Music in the 2010’s and the 2020’s has been defended by

Tinashe’s new 333
album (released in
2021) is about many
issues, and it’s one of
her best if not her
best album of her
career vocally and
lyrically. It has
received universal
acclaim. Massive
talent is in her music.
popular streaming platforms (i.e. Spotify, Amazon Music, and
Apple Music) showing music to world audiences. The cultural
atmosphere has been dominated by futuristic hip hop, rock,
R&B, dance, and electronic music. Popular artists of this time as
diverse as Lizzo to BTS have massive followings. From TikTok
Weeknd’s Blinding
to other social media platforms, artists have outlined a more Lights song was one
digital, interactive format in expressing their talent. The of the popular songs
pandemic definitely have an impact with music and how people of 2020. It was
travel too. Genres like synth-pop, house, reggae fusion, indie- released on
pop, and nu-disco have gained a more prominent role in November of 2020. It
international popularity. Musicians like Little Simz, Cleo Sol, became a turning
Silk Sonic, Summer Walker, and Erykah Badu have shaped our point in his career.
time in a myriad of ways (with lyrics about the philosophies The song is part of his
March 2020 album of
about love including life in general).
After Hours.

Medicine at Midnight is
the tenth studio album
In this generation, more women artists are by American rock band
asserting their aspirations and creative Foo Fighters. It was
powers like Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion released through RCA
(who is from Texas), and Lady Leshurr. and Roswell Records on
February 5, 2021.
Soul artists of Ragz Orignale (on the left) and Shae Universe (on
the right) showed great music from the UK.
Nas’ King Disease 2
album of 2021 featured
Lauryn Hill’s comeback
in a song. Also, it had
many artists making this
sequel the best of the 2.
After 30 years of his hip
hop career, Nas remains
the top 3 greatest MC of
all time.
Diana Ross performed Michael Jackson did the Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 50 Marvin Gaye’s rendition of
in the rain in New York memorable moonwalk at the performance of Formation the National Anthem was
City at Central Park. Motown celebration in 1983. (in 2016) is about opposing one of the best, if not the
This occurred on July With Michael Jackson’s police injustice, promoting best, performances of the
1983. Diana Ross was albums of Off the Wall in Blackness, and honoring national anthems in history
Detroit born, and she 1979 and Thriller in 1982, the 60th year anniversary in 1983.
still makes music in Michael Jackson was already of the Black Panther Party.
2021. an icon.

Whitney Houston’s In 1974, Stevie Wonder won By 1999, singer and hip- On April 19, 1939, Marian
rendition of the the Grammys for hop artist Lauryn Hill won Anderson sang music in the
National Anthem sent Innvervisions. He was the many Grammys. Lauryn Lincoln Memorial. It was a
chills up people’s first black musician to win Hill changed so much of very historical moment
spines. Whitney Album of the Year. Stevie our culture in positive that promoted the power
Houston was the Wonder’s songwriting ways. Lauryn Hill’s lyrics of black musical excellence.
greatest vocalist of our ability, great message, and deal with spirituality and Marian Anderson was a
generation. love for people are always consciousness. well-known American
respected by us. contralto.

“What do I think of myself? I know my

worth. I know my value. I know I have
to lead by example. I can't just be all
over the place. I put the energy out
that I want given back to me. And
again, I'm true to me.”

-Brandy Norwood
 Numerous Underrated R&B Musicians of the 2010’s and the 2020’s

Jade Novah Kem Victoria Monet Lianne La Gregory Porter Jacquees

Havas

Khalid Makaela Adeline Michele Normani Tinashe Lucky Daye

Anderson.Paak Ari Lennox Dvsn Jhene Aiko H.E.R. Bryson Tiller

Carolyn Leon Bridges Solange Sevyn Streeter Lady Wray SZA

Malachi

Keri Hilson Adele Giveon Jon Baptiste Ne-Yo Emeli Sande

Tink PARTYNEXTDOOR Flo Keisha Muni Long Leon Thomas III

Christian
 A Creative Artist with a Monumental Voice
“People will
appreciate who you
are when you're
naturally being who
you are.”

-Ari Lennox
Here are Jazmine Sullivan and Ari
Lennox performing the songs of
Tragic and On It at the 2021 BET
Awards. Ari Lennox continues to
inspire the world with her musical
expression.

She is the young black woman who proves that great R&B
music from the new school is here to stay. She is Sister Ari
Lennox, and she is 30 years old. Ari Lennox was born in
the Washington, D.C. area. She has a great voice with
messages about love and romance. She is the first woman
artist signed to J. Cole's record label of Dreamville
Records. Her first EP was Pho back in 2016. Her first
studio album was Shea Butter Baby in 2019. She was born
in Northern Virginia and lived in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. She showed music on the Internet in
2019. She made EPs and mixtapes. She can sing and write
music. Her music appeared on the Creed II soundtrack.
Her voice is soulful and has been compared to Erykah
Badu. Ari Lennox said that she is inspired by 90s and
2000s R&B singers like Bilal, Whitney Houston, Erykah
Badu, D'Angelo, Ciara, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, SWV,
etc. Ari Lennox combines Motown, modern R&B, and
new school vibes. She is a very talented human being.
 A Musician with Massive Talent

H.E.R. is part of a roundtable discussion

about the film Judas and the Black
Messiah. The other participants in this
dialogue are Director Shaka King, actor
Daniel Kaluuya, and former NBA Player
Dwayne Wade.

Sister Gabriella Wilson, known as H.E.R., is a young, famous singer. She is now 24
years old. Vallejo, California is the place of her birth. She can play the guitar and the
piano too. She was raised in the Bay Area. Her music deals with the personality of
the music beyond just the identity of the artist. Her 2014 single was Something to
Prove under her real name. Her debut was H.E.R. Vol. 1 which was released on
September 9, 2016. She has been supported by artists like Usher, Pusha T, Wyclef
Jean, Tyrese, Alicia Keys, Bryson Tiller, etc. Her music has been praised by many
quarters. Her follow up EP was H.E.R. Vol. 2 from 2017. She won many awards like
Best R&B Album for the Grammys. She has toured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in
other places. Love, mystery, romance, and philosophies involving life encompass her
lyrics. Her 2019 album was I Used to Know Her. She won many Soul Train Music
Awards too. Her future is bright, and her intention is clear to advance the culture of
R&B music into the next level. Back of My Mind was her 2021 album that was
released on June 18, 2021. Her recent songs of Fight for You in 2021 and I Can’t
Breathe outlines her social consciousness in full display. In other words, we must
allow the younger generation to fly and flourish with their gifts.
 TWO GREAT ARTISTS WHO DESERVE THEIR RESPECT
AND FLOWERS
Tamar Braxton
Sister Tamar Braxton is 44 years old. She is a singer and TV
personality. Severn, Maryland is the place of her birth. She
is a youngest of the 6 Braxton children. She and her sisters
were raised in the church choir. They sang many songs. She,
Toni, Traci, Towanda, and Trina sang together as the
Braxtons music group back in the late 1980’s. They signed
with Arista Records in 1989. Their first single was Good Life.
Later, Toni Braxton established her solo career and became
another outstanding signer. Tamar was a background
singer. In 1996, Tamar, Trina, and Towanda had their album
of So Many Ways in 1996. Tamar Braxton started to have
her solo career by the 2000s. Tamar Braxton is a great
singer. She made songs like If You Don't Wanna Love Me.
Her album of Love and War was powerful from 2012. It was
9 weeks at number 1 on the Adult R&B Songs chart. Songs
like The One, All the Way Home, etc. showed her versatility.
She made Calling All Lovers in 2015. She is a 4-octave
soprano vocal range. She lists her influences as Mariah
Carey, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and other human
beings. She has been on films and TV shows. She will be on
new projects in the future too. She won many Soul Train
Music Awards and a BET Music Award. She is a living legend
as Patti Labelle praised her vocal skills before.
Sylenna Johnson
She is a woman who has been a singer and an inspiration for a
myriad of years. Her songs talk about real issues from
empowerment to relationships in general. She is Sister Syleena
Johnson, and she is 49 years old. Harvey, Illinois the place of her
birth. Today, she is a songwriter, talk show co-host, actress, and
soul singer. Her father was a singer named Syl Johnson. Her
mother, Brenda Thompson, was the first black woman police
commissioner of Harvey, Illinois. During her childhood, Syleena
Johnson listened to the songs from legends like Aretha Franklin,
Al Green, Tina Turner, The Dells, and Mavis Staples. By her time
in high school, she was part of the high school gospel choir. She
loves her husband Kiwane Garris, and their 2 children. Chapter 2:
The Voice was one of her early albums. Her music is distinct filled
with power and soul. Johnson can sang greatly in real life. She
has worked with hip hop artists like KRS-One, Crucial Conflict,
and Twista. By June 2015, she graduated from Drake University
earning a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, summa cum
laude. Her recent albums are Rebirth of Soul in 2017 and Woman
in 2020. Syleena Johnson continues to live her life in the realm of
excellence.
She is a modern-day legendary artist whose vocals, albums,
and influence are worldwide. She can sing and write songs.
Many of her music represent anthems about love,
empowerment, and a sense of freedom. She is Sister Jazmine
Sullivan. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the city of her birth.
Her mother was a singer, and her father was a curator for
Philadelphia's Historic Strawberry Mansion. She lived into
the historic landmark. When she was a child, she sang at a
children's choir. Also, she graduated from the Philadelphia
High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in 2005.
Jive Records signed her when she was 15 years old. She gave
vocals for Kindred and the Family's Soul song of "I Am." Also,
she worked with Missy Elliot too. By 2008, her breakthrough
song was Need U Bad. Fearless was her first album. She
worked with Salaam Remi, Missy Elliot, and Peter Edge on
the album. Stevie Wonder has always praised Sullivan's song
including the song Bust Your Windows.
Lions, Tigers, and Bears was her classic song too.
Ruthless was her 2nd studio album with the led
single of Champion. She worked with Ryan Leslie
and performed at the June 2009 Essence Music
Festival. Sullivan wrote for artists like Mary J. Blige.
She loves to collaborate with artists like Bryson Tiller.
By the 2020s, she released music like Tragic. By June
27, 2021, she was awarded the BET Award for Album
of the Year. Jazmine Sullivan has an old school song
with new school flavor with a contralto voice.
Throughout her life, her songs reflect honesty,
complete transparency, and a great deal of authentic
soul. Modern day R&B music is in great hands with
human beings like Jazmine Sullivan. She is an
outstanding musician of our time.
 I must end this series with the great artist Aretha
Franklin.

The soul of R&B is still here albeit in a new time in the 2020s.
Soon, it will be 2030, and the future will continue to exist along
with the glorious legacy of R&B music. Selah.

Peace and Blessings Y’all