WHAT HAPPENED TO REAL SONGS???

i cosign with you my dude these niccas are trippin we need that true r&b back please somebody do something!!!!!!!!

i totally agree. I’m a woman and i miss true R&B male artists. The kind of music that made u feel like the song was made just for you! people keep saying keep hip hop alive, i’m saying hell keep R&B alive!!!

I GUESS ITS CALLED KEEP’N IT REAL……

Waajeed & Coultrain …http://www.freshselects.net/waajeedcoultrainnuggets tAKE a lISTEN

JD, I have felt the same way for the longest. My question is how many artist (rappers and singers) are doing it for love? Listening to the radio sucks. I have came to the conclusion that music has become a hustle and not love. I laugh when I hear rappers even say I am not a rapper. The music business has become money oriented and not love. I understand you go into for the money, but where is the love? Then you add the keeping it real to it, and it has went wrong. In my thought when some one says I am keeping it real or 100, I laugh. There is nothing wrong with being hood, but being hood will not get you taken serious. There is a place for everything, and we must learn how to act accordingly.

the labels is what happened dont play dumb and yaw only care what people look like especially females .its like fuck the talent what dem ass n tiddies doin. yaw the labels is wut happened

OMG!! I am glad somebody who is MAJOR in the industry finally said this. I was just going through my Ipod and realized that the only male R&B artists’ that is still around making the good stuff is Usher, Trey Songz, Musiq (and he don’t really count because he is Neo Soul) and oh yeah, Ginuwine is back out. JD yall hurry and finish Ushers’ album. I have gone all the way back to 1994 (I think that was the year), just to hear some good sh@$. 🙂

@ The Phoenix
fa sho dat mama! ur speaking the truth right now!

I feel you POSH that’s why ginuwine fell off for sec he trying to bump in the club dude that aint you. Some of his best hits were slow grinding music. I think that artist these days need to stick with what they know instead of trying to follow others BE YOUR SELF,(this aint twitter lol) and its not 100% their fault you got some record companies that try to mold an artist into what they want them to be. I understand your trying to make money and cater to whats poppin and selling but theres got to be a better way than selling out and doing something totally diff than what u represent.

u are right thats why the oceans crew is here to save r&b

Wassup JD and B Cox……first in foremost I just want to say that I am officially a lifer. Keep up the great work!…and I love this subject being a HUGE fan of music….I do believe that alot of artist are afraid to do Real R&B becuase they feel that it wont sell…I think it has alot to do with just going with the flow…..Like I remember when gangsta rap came into the forefront with NWA…after that every rapper had to be a gangsta rapper…..and was afraid to be a different style of rapper (big up to Nelly for not following the trend)….I also beleive that it has alot to do with the song writers as well, not all artist write there music, (big up to you and bcox for always doing it real r&b)…..but there are alot of song writers out there who has that mentality going into a writing session too….

There are people and bands out there who still make very innovative and interesting music but they are not on the top of the charts. As far as real music goes there aint nun, thats y i still listen to old school music and Janet.

let’s face it, there will NEVER be another Janet! people r too hung up on cars and hoes and shit

Puffy marketed Jodeci to look like thugs so that guys would cop their album. A guys a guy, so some sensual guy stuff needs to come across to the females in the audience but I like the swagger of Kanye and Jay Z because they are GENTLEMAN. I don’t like thugs. Who’s an R&B thug these days? Not Trey, Day 26 or Robin Thicke they’re gentleman.

No offense JD but wasn’t your artist, on your label that started and they quoted thierselves as being the r&b thugs? If I’m not mistaking it was Jagged Edge. You have a point though, too many r&b singers and acts aren’t doing like the jodeci’s anymore except for your boys Usher and Anthony.

It feels like Usher “Confessions” was one of the last true blue R&B albums and before that I can’t even tell you
It seems like the music industry think we listen to rap all damn day. But my question to you Jd, is how are you going
Shake up how R&b is being repped? You know damn well this industry is full of copycats! Put that ocean stamp on R&B. And I’m not talking about that JE and Ashanti type of song but that Trey Songz ”Last Time”.

the blame shouldn’t be pointed at the artists but rather the executives in charge who refuse to allow any type of individuality in the music biz in this day and age….

WEFAMOUS, i don’t recall them saying that, but it may be true…yet the songs they sang were all about LOVE WITH A MORAL consciousness with it! from let’s get married to walked out of heaven! May have been a bad statement by them, but they were and lived truly R&B!

Man that’s how I been feelin for the past 3 years there is no such thing as a cookie cutter artist you be yourself and bring what you have to the table cause only you can be the best you we don’t need two of the same things…. I’m with you JD ooh yeah and yo book was off the chain peace…

I gave up on music a long time ago. Stanky leg…come on! I agree with Ty that labels are promoting the bullshit because sadly, that’s what sells. The movie Brown Sugar put it all on blast. No one wants to make good music anymore. It’s all about getting rich quick and getting as much ass and STDs as possible. The music and videos all look and sound the same. How many times can one make it rain on half naked women riding in rented cars? Really?

i agree we need some real r&b music no sampling. something in the lines of THE O JAYS , MARVIN GAY,TEDDY PENDERGRASS,LTD SOMETHING.I WANNA BE HELD NOT SLAPPED AROUND.THEY DON’T NEED TO SOUND LIKE THESE ARTIST BUT MAKE YOU FEAL LIKE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHATS GOING ON IN YOU’R HEAD OR HEART.

There are so many points I want to address but I don’t know where to start lol.
I will try to make a list ok so:

1. Why can’t people adapt to change? Times are changing and so is music! Instead of trying to RECREATE what was done VALUE what was done and either adapt or listen to the old stuff.

2. I believe the image and sound has changed because of the mentality of Black people nowadays. With this new found extreme Macho persona black men are supposed to have now you either make sure you make your songs more macho or you look and act super thug to reinforce how macho you are.

3. I always felt that when white artist do the Real R&B thing such as artist like Justin Timberlake they get so much more praise than an artist like Usher or better yet Rueben Studdard!( CD was a fucking beast that was real R&B what happened to him….exactly)

Have many more points but I gotta get to practice lol.

JD welcome to the Microwave Age.Everything looks done on the outside but you go to stick your fork in and still undone on the inside. What i’m basically saying is no one to wants to take the time develop artist, song writer or producers anymore technology has everyone and anyone believing that he/she is an producer or artist and when it comes to songs nothing really has substance anymore and its sad. This is just my opinion but I believe that years ago the Exec’s and A&R’s who ran a majority of the record labels were former song writers,musicians and producers and they were choosing those incredible songs but you know have people who are picking records who shouldn’t even be working in the music business again just my opinion..

Peace
Marley

Truthfully there’s an evolution that’s going on in R&B that in my opinion is a two-sides coin fueled by record execs and also those who aspire to be singers. On one hand one could say that times are different and so just as rappers draw from their lives so are these upcoming R&B artists. On the flip side however, there are record labels looking to incorporate hip hop into everything they can be it rock, country, etc. so now there are R&B artists being somewhat pushed into incorporating Hip-Hop/Rap into their music (i.e., I Am Not My Hair by India.Arie feat. Akon) for the sake of commercial appeal. Also if up and coming R&B artist recorded material lyrically reminiscent and similar to what Jodeci, Jagged Edge, Joe, Luther Vandross, Keith Sweat and even similar to Usher’s song “Here I Stand”, unfortunately they run the risk of being pigeon-holed as Neo-Soul artists. Sad to say too that when you’ve been stamped as a Neo-Soul artist the dollar for marketing and production etc. are much harder to get. Unfortunately Brandy’s “Human” CD (for example) which content-wise was phenominal was not well received partly among other reasons because it wasn’t a really hip hop-influenced project and more content driven. Somehow it’s now the new task and challenge to make real songs like “We Belong Together” and “Baby Tell Me The Way”–love that song Johnta, LOL–the aim of the up and coming artists looking for material for their projects and too make real money doing it with listeners dollar support. Thus making it possble for Hip Hop to co-exist with real R&B equally. It can be done; we did it in the 70s and 80s with Run DMC, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys and the Kurtis Blow etc. It’s just time to find balance.

AND THAT’S MY 2 CENTS
ER!C

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE ISN’T ANY TRUE ARTIST DEVELOPMENT ANYMORE FOR ONE. ALSO THE LABELS ARE MORE FOCUSED ON MAKING MONEY INSTEAD OF PUTTING OUT A GOOD PRODUCT SO THEY GO WITH WHATS WORKING. THEN THEY TELL THE A&R TO TEAM PRODUCERS AND WRITERS UP TO MAKE RECORDS THAT IS CURRENTLY WORKING FOR THE NEW SIGNEE OR CURRENT ARTIST.

PRIME EXAMPLE LOOK AT THE 2009 WHO’S LOOKING LIST ALL YOU SEE IS THAT A&R’S OVER PROJECTS ACCEPTING SONGS THAT IS CLOSE TO OTHER ARTIST TO ASSIGN TO THE ARTIST THAT IS LOOKING.

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER JODECI GROUP BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANIES AREN’T SPENDING THE TIME TO DEVELOP A ARTIST TO FIND THE ARTIST WITHIN. ONCE YOU SIGN THAT CONTRACT ITS LIKE YOU BEING WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO BE

I agree with JD. And for the up and coming artist the game is wide open. Usher shouldn’t have come out with his marriage, dude has lost a lot of his fan base. Chris Brown is going to college, dude already knows he is finished, they are not even playing his songs on the radio anymore. If a young guy around 17 or 18 comes out on that Bobby Brown Tender Roni tip it’s a rap….

Yo I know at lot of singers and producers get on this web site. I think this is a great site for networking and for that I want to thank JD… WITH THAT SAID!!! It’s one thing to look at the life but its another to be apart of it. If you are in the Atlanta area and you PRODUCE or are a SONG WRITER let’s hook up. I have a full studio in stone mountain, check us out. http://www.2bold.com or check me out at http://www.myspace.com/darnik. I am always looking for great R&B artist!!

Truthfully there’s an evolution that’s going on in R&B that in my opinion is a two-sides coin fueled by record execs and also those who aspire to be singers. On one hand one could say that times are different and so just as rappers draw from their lives so are these upcoming R&B artists. On the flip side however, there are record labels looking to incorporate hip hop into everything they can be it rock, country, etc. so now there are R&B artists being somewhat pushed into incorporating Hip-Hop/Rap into their music (i.e., I Am Not My Hair by India.Arie feat. Akon) for the sake of commercial appeal. Also if up and coming R&B artist recorded material lyrically reminiscent and similar to what Jodeci, Jagged Edge, Joe, Luther Vandross, Keith Sweat and even similar to Usher’s song “Here I Stand”, unfortunately they run the risk of being pigeon-holed as Neo-Soul artists. Sad to say too that when you’ve been stamped as a Neo-Soul artist the dollar for marketing and production etc. are much harder to get. Unfortunately Brandy’s “Human” CD (for example) which content-wise was phenominal was not well received partly among other reasons because it wasn’t a really hip hop-influenced project and more content driven. Somehow it’s now the new task and challenge to make real songs like “We Belong Together” and “Baby Tell Me The Way”–love that song Johnta, LOL–the aim of the up and coming artists looking for material for their projects and too make real money doing it with listeners dollar support. Thus making it possble for Hip Hop to co-exist with real R&B equally. It can be done; we did it in the 70s and 80s with Run DMC, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys and the Kurtis Blow etc. It’s just time to find balance.

AND THAT’S MY 2 CENTS
ER!C

Another problem is that there is no balance in terms of the quality of music that is being played on radio and tv. I mean living out here on the west coast I rarely get to hear music from artists like Dwele, Eryka Badu, Bobby V., Pleasure P, Trey Songz just to name a few….

Standing ovation and def encore 4 that 1 Mr.Dupree on Twitter the A&R convo was very true as well!

I’m waitin 4 more of Ush, JLack(producer trackmaster), Brian M.Cox, Johnta, Ginuwine, Trey, Musiq, Avant and artists that truly dig n 2 ur soul with music making u fall deeper in love and with the possibility if u don’t have a special someone. The rhythm and sound that makes love 2 u with sensual, passionate flow. Yes I def agree and I’m craving that sound!

Shout out to A&R Chris he feels the same way I do!

I was thinking that hte other day…I am tired of being told how aggressively I’m gonna get fucked against a wall…I would love for someone to tell me that they just want me to be their “Sweet Lady”. Dudes these days think that all a woman wants is to be handled. Even though womens personality traits are becoming stronger we still like to be handled femininly (have no idea if that a word or not,lol) I write and I don’t like to go hard in every song…There’s still some pillowtalk that needs to be had…There will be alot more satisfied women if the R&B took things back and just focused on the RHYTHM and BLUES factor and not dabbling in HIP HOP just to get noticed and have “cross over” appeal…Everybody wants to do everything…The music industry has ADHD right now…It won’t “be still”…as soon as you hear a smoothe groove here comes a rapper trashing the song…It’s like people don’t want to be satisfied in their own category. They want to take all the shine and lose the quality in their music in the process…

i think real rnb is still out there you just have to look for it musiq lyfe USHER lol and many more rnb is still around some what i think music is going to go back to what it use to be soon it has to

I just wanted to say that the young people don’t know what real music and romance is. The don’t see people in positive relationships. There is no hand holding and claiming their women, their relationships is so hidden to have to assume who they are dating and get all messed up. The R&B singers look up to rappers instead of their counterparts. Also the labels also dictate how they look and they begin to play the role.

I don’t think that there is a shortage of real songs or R&B singers, but moreso that the general public doesn’t seem to care about it unless it’s coming from specific people (Beyonce, A. Keys, Ne-yo, and a few more.) Im an 80s baby, so I remember Sade, Keith Sweat, Jodeci, Guy, En Vouge. It seemed like people wanted to hear music that touched the soul. Music that made you laugh, cry, reminicse. Now people are more interested in everything but the music. As an aspiring producer/songwriter soon moving to Atlanta (shameless plug LOL), I think about where I need to take a song commercially which can sometimes put a damper on the creative process. It’s on some shit like do I make some real creative music or something that would sound hot on a ringtone? The game is in shambles right now, so alot of people are looking for a quik fix and not classic or even great long lasting music. So focus is not on artists who don’t have a quick hit. Just my thoughts…

Preach, JD!!!!

I totally agree. Nico 90’s baby is right. There are a few “REAL” R & B singers out there, it just seems they can’t get the airtime they deserve.

What’s up JD,

I think that music died around 1999…lol! The truth of the matter is, is that we are not in control of what we hear on the radio anymore. A lot of the music we hear today is forced on us. You know it’s bad when R. Kelly isn’t “singing” anymore. People aren’t themselves anymore, and the lack of orinality does not exist in the industry. If it does, the artist is put on the shelf, or marketing lacks. Let’s be real, there are a million singers and songwriters that can bring back the true feel of R&B. For example, Johnta Austin…he has the feel of an old/new school “tell the truth” type of guy…but what happens? It takes forever for one to get an album (Been waiting since Dope Fiend). There are plenty underground music makers, but because the industry only wants bubble gum “last for a minute” singers and not longevity…the customers get crap. It’s almost like the automobile industry….what happen to the trucks and cars that last? They are not in production. Although there’s proof that these type of cars can still run….they insist on making crappy vehicles that last for 100,000 miles….i can go on and on, but until the music stops, and starts over….the universal peace keeper we call music, will cease to exist. By the way, im a singer and songwriter…and my whole dream was to be in the industry, but until im convinced that we can bring good music back…i guess i have no choice but to stay independent.

JD you just said it all. I couldnt agree with you more. Where is real rhythm and blues, thats what r&b is? Maybe we need to start saying the whole name to understand the meaning instead of just calling it r&b. I think r&b artist have gotten caught up in the title “hip hop r&b” and done took the “hip hop” part of it too far into the image. When was the last time we got some straight up pure rhythm and blues guys who not just melodically rapping on every song like its a damn hook on a Ja Rule single (No offense to Ja Rule). There are babies to be made, folk barely can find a damn wedding song now lol…Lyrics, content, image..gone.

i completely agree with you jd n b.cox! its not cool to hear an “R&B” record with as much cuss words as a RAP record, it messes with the image of R&B. Maybe its b/c sum of the rappers may not have done as well in the rap industry, n they feel hey y not try this R&B thing out for a chance. n they try to mix up both R&B and rap together on a song, just to keep that whole rap image but yet still have that R&B feel. its kinda like asking a guy if they like listening to R&B, most dudes r gonna say they dont. just b/c they may think there image might diminish.

I agree 100%. I think that the music world today relates more to the younger crowd who likes to hear that cursing and F**king songs. When we as the older crowd likes usher, brian mcknight, and so on.. There are a lot of good talent out there who has releases lik JOE for instance. But he don’t get the air play. You never see him on the grammys.. ..

Jd, you are absolutely right. R&B is on a life support just like Hip-Hop. You can’t really blame it just one things, it’s alot of factors to blame. The Record Company executives, the artists and yes even us the fans. We are all to blame for how R&B is now but instead of complaining about it it’s time for the artists to stop FOLLOWING OTHERS AND STOP TRYING TO GO THE HIP-HOP ROUTE AND JUST SING R&B LOVE SONGS THAT EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO!

I’M JUST GLAD I RECORDED OLD EPISODES OF BET’S MIDNIGHT LOVE. THAT’S LIKE A TIME CAPSULE ON VHS!!!

THE ONLY MUSIC ON MY IPOD IS R&B FROM THE 70,80,&90 AND MY SISTER JANET!!!!!

Nuff Said…..

yes so true, so tired of the Rap/Hip-hop influenced R&B, I understand to have it featured from time to time, but having it constantly is taking away from R&B.

Usher, R.Kelly, The Dream, they keeping R&B alive in the male category….

Mariah, Janet, Alicia… keeping R&B alive in the female category…

but there are far more artist that are blending hip-hop/rap with R&B that the its like 98% Hip hop and only a splash of 2% R&B…

I’m 21, but I feel so old cuz i listen to music mostly from 80s and 90s and always complain about how much I wish music would go back to being the way it was then or at least wish the artists keep R&B R&B, and Rap Rap..

maybe they’ll read our comments and take it into consideration…..maybe :-/

‘preciate the truth in that blog…damn. Dave Chappelle talked about when keeping it reals goes bad…how about, keeping it thug gone bad. And pull your damn pants up niahs….that shit is played. By the way, have anyone heard that the home of the strip club, ATL, is having a U.S. strip-off competition. Only in the A. Now that’s funny!

what up jd i thnk ur right i do only think it just the artist i think it also the has to do with the people in the suits and ties how are calling the shots.Image wise r&b has become so bland 2 me. wat ever happen 2 people singing about being in love., when did people start think that r&b was so SOFT? I think there are glimmers of hope n r&b with the jazmine sullivan. dwele ,raphael saadiq ,angie stone, alicia keys jill scott, raheem devaughn. ledesi n many others who still sing great r n b without confirmin 2 lables etc! R n b and should stay in its own lane! thats wat made it unique n so cherished! Jus like some people say hip hop is so called dead i think the similar can be said about r n b to an extinct!

The issue lies more with the record companies those saying yea or nay when it comes to some of these songs released. The bar has definitely been lowered.

Off topic, even rappers should not be pacing the stage with their hand(s) on their crotch all the while yanking and squeezing. I don’t understand why it is even considered ok for rappers.

dats is so true ..we need jagged edge genuwine ect dru hill boyz 11 men ect no love making music no more

JD I agree with you and B.Cox the divide between Hip Hop & R&B is damn near invisible…like you said everyone wants to be so hard and love is so much deeper than that it has depth, layers, it can be soft & sweet or dark & painful that’s why there are so many songs about it because it evokes so many different feelings and emotions…we need the artist & writer’s of today to be different & unique take R&B to another level …take risk! Just like MJ, Prince, Sade, Marvin Gaye, Jodeci, Mary J, Maxwell, & Bobby Brown did in their day…they need to do like Janet and take CONTROL! We do have a few diamonds in the rough such as Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele, Usher, Beyonce, & John Legend but we need more! JD keep doing want you do, your such an INSPIRATION! Keep LTL!

I think that there are artists that have “Real” R&B songs, but that’s not what the market seems to be checkin for so it doesn’t get much play.It seems like nowadays if an artist doesn’t put out a club banger 1st and foremost then they practically go unheard, and with that said they probably feel that they have to look more street (because lookin like a gentleman doesn’t fit that vibe).
How many Love Songs do u hear up in the club??????????? U look at everybody in the R&B & Hip-Hop genre’s and notice that if their shit ain’t gettin heavy club play, then they aren’t movin shit….that’s why real R&B ain’t sellin.

whatup jd. i didnt bother reading all the comments, shitd take too long. so i dont know if someone has already said what im gonna say. but i hope your ead my comment. cause good r’n’b is still out there. but its just not mainstream. its not all over itunes for ppl to buy, all over youtube. if you want real good r’n’b go djweetart.com. peep that shit. shes australian just like me. and she knows good music. hell you can get trey songz i need a girl song. and peep those ghostt boys, the songs selfish and foolish are the best ive heard in a long time. PEACE

I agree with you. I love to listen to what is call throwback music, music I grew up listening too .On my myspace page I like to put my throwbacks (Jodeci, Mint Condition, Shai, H-Town, SWV, Xscape, Changing Faces and my oldies Smokie Robinson, The O’Jays, Blue Magic, Linda Jones, Mr. Luther Vandross, Teddddddddddy, The Stylistics,The Dells-lol “Stay in my corner ” etc, eventhough most of the oldies song was loooooooong but I understand why because it gave them the chance to rubba dube, express themselves, and hold each other close.). They dont even really slow dance anymore (“Hey Mr DJ Why dont you slow this party down…..slowjam”) and thats when you really can touch a person that you wanna touch without being disrespectful (like the oldfolks call it dry f???? with class lol).Please bring those type of music back.

Thanks for posting JD. I am glad for your honesty. All I can say I know good music when I hear it. There are a lot of songs that have great beats, but the lyrics killed it, and I mean badly.

It’s not just these genres, rock is not the same as well. Some of the bands sound alike. I love rock ballads. Does any remember Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody? I don’t think you find rock bands who do ballads.

Don’t forget After 7’s ‘Till U do me right’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLZt_PnocAY

JD, you definitely picked a topic close to my heart. Have you heard Babyface’s new song about love songs? Anyhoo, I don’t even listen to the radio anymore. You can’t tell me you want to stab, cut, hit, nor pound on me and expect to make it rain. I bruise easily and those terms inflict pain yet too many women especially young ones cream their thongs when some thugged out rapper or singer says them. They’re too distracted by the tattoos and muscles. I like them too but how you speak/sing to me is even sexier. We’ve lowered our standards as women and as a people in general trying to keep it hood, keep it “real”. And it’s young women that keep these hard ass songs in heavy rotation. Listen to who’s blowing up the request line. Young Women. There wouldn’t be videos like Tip Drill (sorry JD) if WOMEN decided to keep their damn clothes on and use their asses to sit on and not for ATM deposits. Once Strip club culture and porn became more mainstream in music and videos, love was forgotten. Bend over ‘ho show me whatcha working with and we did.

Secondly, we’ve allowed everyone to define for us what real R & B music is and we created it! There really isn’t Neo Soul its just Neo Artist aka new artist. Back in the day, Jodeci had just enough thug appeal to make us damn near forget about Boys II Men. But lyrically them church boys from Charlotte, NC, were on point with expressing true love…Those Al B. Sure produced tracks, Forever My Lady, Cry For You, Come and Talk To Me are classics…And then their wedding song, All My Life, was a major hit. Fast forward to Maxwell, Jaheim’s “Just in Case”, Robin Thicke, and Prince always knew the deal. Seduction, sex, and love all played together in his music. Now dudes don’t treasure the gift of a woman’s body.

But somehow with so much going on culturally the music changed. Rap traded its soul for bling, , R&B became infused with Hip Hop lyrics that often didn’t complement the song, and the theme of love got lost in the shuffle unless a young female artist was whining about losing it. So it’s not just the labels, the DJs, the radio programmers, it’s ALL of us.

Where the culture goes, the music will follow. Check our history. So where is the love? Go back and pull out your Robert Flack and Donny Hathaway ’45 and you might find the answer.

Follow me twitter.com/hollywoodlvwork

JD, I agree with you 1000%.

and

LMAO!! @ mimi’s comment

I think a lot of what is happening in rap is somehow affecting rnb…because like JD was saying about the new rap generation not being able to see the kings of hip hop doing they thing…most up and coming people don’t pay homage to the generations that made it possible for them newcomers to get on in the first place…..bottom line the old saying is true…..u can’t know where u going, if you don’t know where you bin..

The male R&B game has been in a lyrical recession for quite some time now.
u dead right JD . …tattoos, sneakers, jeans…… u see more rappers wearing suits than R&b singers.
i think this may have stemmed from when the singer feat. rapper songs took over. its all about sales and capturing that wannabe type audience.
i mean we got kids out here probably fucking to pretty ricky. i say its insecure boy meets insecure girl. the more u disrespect her the more she’s gonna love u and the cooler u look to other guys and girls w/ low self esteem. they have nothing else to offer or admire. and they love that shit. so cha ching. i mean its one thing too sing about wanting to making love to some girl that makes u forget ur name and fucking the dog shit outta some pretty/insecure /half drunk chic with a big ass that u met in the club. so after all the unwanted calls, busted windows, slashed tires and trips to the free clinic… the good music will take over again. but when?. i mean like back in the day when everbody out was putting out good shit. they spending too mich time singing to dem hoes ’cause there easy. dats dat wannabe shit not the grown man shit. guys don’t pour their hearts out anymore. even jodeci did that.u know first its gonna be the beat then the lyrics will get u but also his voice has to captivate me. yeah i need a new R&B man.
i need that …
Can we
climb the mountain/top screamin’ ecstasy
We so high up on this love/we reach the peak
We ain’t never coming down/ baby
keep makin that sound …
thats what i’m talking about baby!

I think alot of too has to do with how our society feels about sex. We have become a sex saturated society, from commercials to billboards to songs to tv. And so it reflects in our music. Like love doens’t matter anymore. That it is just about what feels good and how quick you can get it. Like a drug. So the romance is gone, and the commitment is gone, and the finesse is gone. And when you speak on love and romance it makes people also remember that with that comes the potential of being hurt and so with everything else that we are dealing with as people we shy away from anything that might cause more pain, work, or energy…I.E. Love, Romance, Commitment, etc. And we take the easy route…your sexy, your fine, let’s have sex.
Jodeci and that generation of singers talked about sex…BUT it was often protrayed in a monogamus light. Forever my lady, Anniversary by Toni, Tony, Tone, Boys to Men, etc.
And slowly rap creeped in and RB was pushed back, because Rap was saying something we hadn’t heard, but with that came alot of misguided views on sex and love because most of those cats didn’t have an example of how a man should love on a woman and vice versa. ANd it became SEX, SEX, Violence, and MONEY, and Sex, and MOney, you get the picture.
This is why R&B singers like Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, J. Holiday, Eric Benet and Johnta are important. They sing about more than just the sex of the relationship, but the love of it, the commitment of it, the working through it part….Can’t Let Go by Anthony Hamilton, Woman and Mo Better by Raheem Devaughn, Pimp in Me and I Know Lovel by J. Holiday, Joy by Johnta…all of these songs mention the sexual part but in the context of the love and romance of the relationship.
Here’s the problem though…MOst of these songs don’t get spin s on the radio and the ones that do are only on the so called mature adult stations. So this generation never gets to hear them UNLESS Momma or Auntie or Daddy are playing them….
How do we change that JD?

JUst my $.25…LOL!

PS WHAT THE HECK HAPPEN TO MAXWELL? Somebody go find him!

I am a young dude, 25 to be exact, but I have an old soul. I come from an era where people love gangsta R&B artists (if that’s what you wanna call them) but no one appreciates real singing or real soul music anymore. JD I think you and B Cox hit the nail on the head, when listening to R&B music, we don’t want to hear the same subject matter that the rappers are talking about. Artists like Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, Johnta, and a few others are essential because they keep the whole perspective of what R&B is supposed to be about. Its about story telling but story telling that allows for the listener to feel it in their souls. I guess I piggy back this off of another comment that you made JD, in order for R&B singers to be relevant to me, they have to know of the artists that paved the way, like the Sam Cookes, the Al Greens, and even further back, the Etta James, the Ella Fitzgeralds, the Sammy Davis Jr. They have to understand what they did so that they can build on that and move forward. Everyone wants to be in the game to get the dollar, and that’s good, but the essence of R&B has to be remembered. Just my two cents. Take Care

YEA I AGREE 100 PERCENT, THERE WAS A POINT WHEN R.KELLY WAS GOING DOWN DAT CKUFD UP ROAD TOO BUT DAT DUDE KNOWS HOW TO BOUNCE BACK TO THAT REAL R N B, GOT RESPECT FOR HIM ..the only rnb group whom i think is still holding it down is JAGGED EDGE them niggaz luk nothing like da shit they say… man how i miss 1990’s r n b i’m talkn SWV “WEAK” AALIYAH “BACK AND FORTH” MJB “REAL LOVE” TLC “CREEP” SHIT HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN!!!!! oh yea and JOE still got it on lock down. J.D THANX FOR POSTING THIS CAUSE I REALLY THOT SOME PRODUCERS DON’T EVEN DISCUSS SUCH THINGS ANYMORE

Oh and sorry if i sounded like i was on a couple different pages…

Here is the bottom line. Male R&B artist have to give an illusion to the female public that they can be theirs. That is why Usher messed up coming out with his marriage. Those girls that looked at him as their boyfriend or future husband no longer see him like that. Chris Brown messed with his core audience, how many guys you know are rushing out to get a Chris Brown Album.

For the young people, they need a who new face for R&B, but if JD slept on Ludacris and so many other talented people in Atlanta do you think he will be the one to find the new one? He might, if someone has their BDS report looking good!! I can’t wait to see what So So Def does with Deondra. All them other artist that JD signed to Def Jam are looking crazy right now!! SPOCK

Shout out to Bonecrusher, I was at V-103 with him yesterday… He keeps is real!!

I agree. There is no romance, chivalry, courting, and love in music anymore. There’s no more “baby-making” music. Most artists don’t pour their hearts out. It’s all about the one night stands, cheating, clubbing, alcohol, blinging, and stripping. I don’t even listen to the radio any more. We make our own music in the lab and I listen to that. Hip Hop isn’t the only thing dead, MUSIC IS DEAD!!! It’s rare now a days to find good music. After a while you get tired of listening to the same song over and over. I’M OVER IT!
Sorry…
~Chynna~

The real love longs…. In order for us to have some real love longs peoples view on love must change. It’s viewed very differently now and that’s mainly because it seems that ROMANCE has died. To me the romance is the essence of a real love song. Dudes don’t know what it is to romance their lady anymore. It’s all about trying to get it in then what!!! What happened to knocking her off her feet making her feel like a woman. ROMANCE…. theres none. I’m not trying to knock your boy….JOHNTA. Look how you dudes talk about women. If a chick have a couple of drinks ON YOUR DIME. You expect what!!! Come on you really know what’s up… When brothas start feelin that love and start romancing their women then the real love ballads will start to come because it would be effortless to write. Right now all they could write about is the skeeze they picked at the club or bar last night and took to the tellie.

Brothas I’m not downing you because my sistas make it too easy. You guys can only do to us what we allow. So when my sistas stop being so open, relax , and get to know a brotha then maybe we can get to see that other side of a brotha. Then maybe that element of courting, dating, romancing would find its way back to our ears.

**Missy B**

I agree with you JD. Right now the R&B music is a lot like hip hop. I agree with what someone said above. They want a song that’s gonna bump in the club so they turn to do what the hip hop heads are doing. Which is so not cool. I want to hear some “Let me love you down”, “Tender Roni”, “Every Little Step”, “If it Isn’t love”, “Cry for You”, and “Promise”. Not no “Beat, Beat”, and whatever else some of the artist are coming out with today. That’s why Johnny Sinatra (Johnta), and The Lite (Usher) need to come and save the day. There are artist out there that still have good R&B music, but they just don’t get the recognition like the other artist. Like Raheem Devaughn, 00711(Trey Songz), The Lite (Usher), Ryan Leslie, John Legend, and NEYO just to name a few. I think that Diddy is trying to take Day 26 in the right direction, and I think they will be successful because of it. Good music will come back to us one day.

well im reading what everyones saying and i feel the same way about it-where is the real r&b only difference is im a artist and i do r&b but when i do it, it actually sounds like real soul and has a message behind it, im not trying to front for anyone, or portray a fake image and make music just so you can dance, i make music so that when you listen to it, you look over at that one you love and tell them how much you love them and kiss them right there on the spot,all music i write is based on real life situations, but every good artist has to sometimes fabricate the lyrics to touch the hearts of listening artist, its not all about sex, can we just lay here and hold each other.thats what im about.

Jermaine, I think the biggest misconception artists and labels today are making is to think that all the public want is street records with electric shit flying around, and when the public doesn’t support that kind of music the labels are so quick to blame it on downloads e.t.c.

Look, I was listening to Usher’s “Burn”, “You Got It Bad” & “Confessions” the other day it struck me how “simple” those records are.
They are just straight to the point, they are not trying to be something they’re not.
It’s like you guys used 5-7 instruments on each track, and that’s enough, it leaves space for Usher to get the message across without electric shit flying around and disturbing the harmony.

What I want to say is that it doesn’t matter if you today drop a record that sounds like it’s 10 years old, the importance of a GREAT track weights more than it must sound “current”. (Loudness war is killing that shit also Jermaine)

Artists today are afraid of being themselves, so they try to be product, not a person with a soul.

I co-sign. I’ve been saying this for days, to people, around this blog, etc etc.

Seriously. Anything to make that quick paper I guess.

Remember Sweet Lady by Tyrese, or Angel of Mine by Brandy… All those songs you listed! Jagged EDGE: They can really speak the truth about a lot of relationships through a song, that people who go through can’t put on paper…, Genuwine: I think he can back, but no one really checked for his song, omg. I agree though JD!!!

Even Johnta’s stuff sounds more r&b than anything out there. Ne-Yo, he brought some r&b to the table, but most of his stuff is mixed with pop, but atlease he wears a suit to perform and doesn’t have pants hanging off his assssssssss.

R&B has changed for the worse. When willl it ever come back?

And another thought, people don’t even sing passionate LIVE anymore during promotion. It’s more like a JOB to them, something they do for the money, and that kinda stuff really doesn’t draw an audience..

Take a look at some of the performances from back then. And seriously, Craig David kills it liveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Go YOUTUBE his old stuff folks. Musiq Soulchild, man…

The biggest problem is, A&Rs, DJs, etc. tell R&B artists that in order to get a street buzz, they MUST have a song bangin’ in the clubs, and in order to get a R&B record played in Atlanta, it has to be a “party” record (it MUST have a hip hop feel to it). Trust me, I have a record label, Reign Check Ent. and we hear this ALL the time. The R&B group signed to my label is Next2U, the group has CLASSIC R&B records like “Lover’s Lane” but the DJs will only spin Next2U’s hip hop songs like “The Baddest” or “Dip It Low”—–if you listen to Next2U’s music, you’ll hear what I am talking about (myspace.com/reigncheckent) It seems as if R&B artists are in a losing battle!!!!

Yes, I agree, you’re part of the problem, aren’t you? You have not made “real” music in years….

JD!

I really believe that in this age and time the general music buyers aren’t into true R&B singers. In the 90’s and before the listening audience was much different. Today it seems to be all about a gimmick. Not to knock anybody that is doing the damn thing but where is the true craft? Alot of people ask where are the true singers…they ARE out there but people aren’t looking for them. True singers aren’t getting signed cause record companies don’t know how to market them!! And when a company actually brings out a TRUE singer with good material there is NO promotion and they are barely heard from again. So my question to you JD is HOW can this be changed?

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