Contemporary R&B (also known as simply R&B) is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, pop, soul, funk, hip hop and electronic music.
The genre features a distinctive record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, pitch corrected vocals, and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. Electronic influences are becoming an increasing trend and the use of hip hop or dance-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness and grit inherent in hip hop may be reduced and smoothed out. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of melisma, popularized by vocalists such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Craig David, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.
Now, how many of you had to look up “melisma”? Yep, we thought it was a breakfast cereal too. The definition in Webster’s Dictionary is “a group of notes or tones sung on one syllable in plainsong.” Okay, now how many of you had to look up “plainsong”. We don’t care how you define it. We like it.
- I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again – Vee Mcdonald
- Summertime 2020 – Donna Lewis
- Lowkey [Explicit] [feat. Erykah Badu] 2020 – Teyana Taylor
- Dear Dad – Jude Cole
- Pursuit of Happiness (Rap Version) – Kool and The Gang
- One Nation – The Freedom Affair
- Other Side 2021 – Aloe Blacc
- Thank You – Diana Ross
- Hi [Explicit] 2021 – Wu-Tang Clan and Texas
- You’re Not Alone (Single Mix) – Paul Carrack
- How Many Ways – Keith Sweat feat. K-Ci
- Creepin’ 2020 – Bootsy Collins featuring Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
- A Love of Your Own 2021 – Eliot Kennedy
- I’m Gonna Take My Time 2020 – Lamont Dozier Jr
- Live Out Your Love – Kem
- Step Up 2020 – Tower Of Power
- Get Through This [Explicit] 2020 – Alan Walker
- In The Morning – Jennifer Lopez
- We Get By – Mavis Staples featuring Ben Harper
- When Love Breaks Down 2021 – Eliot Kennedy
- Reflection (2020) (From "Mulan") – Christina Aguilera
- Mirror Ball (I Remember) – Ian Donaldson
- Where Is Our Love Song [feat. Gary Clark Jr.] 2021 – Stevie Wonder w/Gary Clark Jr.
- I Didn’t Know the Time – Stone Temple Pilots
- FIND YOUR WAY BACK – Beyoncé
- Love Struck (From Songland) 2020 – Boyz II Men
- Wild – John Legend Gary Clark Jr.
- Reach 4 Me – En Vogue
- The Soul Singer 2020 – The Waterboys
- Do It – Toni Braxton
- Save The Day (2020) – Mariah Carey with Ms. Lauryn Hill
- Human Child – Belly
- Finally (feat. SWV) – Bell Biv DeVoe
- Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Backstreet Boys
- Already Gone
- Buddha – Macy Gray
- Work To Do 2019 – Marc Cohn and Blind Boys Of Alabama
- You’re All I Need to Get By (feat. Jade Jones) 2019 – Emma Bunton
- Hello Happiness – Chaka Khan
- Steady Love 2019 – India.Arie
- Back On The Dance Floor 2018 – Mark Knopfler
- Get Along – Blessid Union Of Souls
- Runnin’ Out – After 7
- Shine Your Light (feat. Akon) 2021 – Master KG and David Guetta
- When the Magic Happens (feat. Jocelyn Brown) – Tito Jackson Featuring Jocelyn Brown