Rhythm and blues or often known as R&B, has been popular since the ‘40s and has been thriving ever since. It is one of the most popular music genres in the world today for good reason. The genre of R&B has deeper significance than most realize, so analyzing the feeling of R&B was essential.
Grace Salley, a sophomore at Hillgrove high school, believes that “The Weeknd” is the best R&B artist. “I like the way he sounds when he sings because he has a unique voice, and he writes good lyrics. The weeknd portrays different relationships and he takes a turn with R&B, instead of writing about only happy sensual love, he talks about some of the more toxic aspects of relationships". R&B influences many people every day which is the beauty of it, it can give off so many different emotions and touch hearts in so many ways. Love fills the room when R&B is played and given that she feels a sense of peace listening to the way love is described. "R&B makes me happy and sometimes it calms me like depending on the song, most of them have soothing melodies, the ones I listen too" (Grace Salley). Although R&B has been nothing but a success, it has changed over time, just as genre would, “I feel like it's kind of downgraded only because it used to be about actually building a relationship and the way R&B artists write now are more mature themes than they used to be" (Grace Salley).
R&B has shown so much cultural diversity as well. Being that it has most of the African American culture in it, it’s not limited to it and that’s what makes the diversity of R&B so interesting. Taneyah Baxter, a junior student at Hillgrove, states on the topic of diversity by stating, “it is more directed to the African American culture, and I am African American”. Taneyah’s favorite R&B artist is “Anne Marie” because “she makes really relatable music and she's a very understanding person”. As stated, R&B can give off many emotions depending on the song and artist, “sometimes it can make me feel lovey, angry, or sad" (Taneyah Baxter). Music, especially R&B is known to inspire and heal, “R&B music heals my broken heart everyday". (Taneyah Baxter).
Not only does R&B music help people relate to each other, it also helps a single listener to understand more about themself. Zamarion Matthews, a sophomore at Hillgrove high school, mentions “R&B gave me a better understanding of what music is truly about and it taught me how to not get caught up in the world". His favorite R&B artist is Drake because “his music was really influencing, and he gives off such good vibes". R&B is commonly known for the idea of expressing feelings and emotions and there are so many examples. Zamarion’s example is, “I feel like the artists who makes the song knows how to fit it with what people are going through and it tends to influence or encourage them to act accordingly to the ones around them" A remarkable aspect of R&B though, is the introduction of other genres. Rap music came from R&B, so without it, the rap game would be very different. “R&B definitely influenced rap because a lot of new rappers base their songs off of old R&B songs and if I never listened to R&B, I would have never listened to rap, R&B inspired me to listen to the rap genre" (Zamarion Matthews).
R&B music has had huge impacts on many lives and without it I think it’s a mutual feeling that the world would not be the same. All the cultural diversity, Songs of love and peace, introduction to the rap genre, and that good vibe that comes from R&B music would be missed out on.
Grace Salley, a sophomore at Hillgrove high school, believes that “The Weeknd” is the best R&B artist. “I like the way he sounds when he sings because he has a unique voice, and he writes good lyrics. The weeknd portrays different relationships and he takes a turn with R&B, instead of writing about only happy sensual love, he talks about some of the more toxic aspects of relationships". R&B influences many people every day which is the beauty of it, it can give off so many different emotions and touch hearts in so many ways. Love fills the room when R&B is played and given that she feels a sense of peace listening to the way love is described. "R&B makes me happy and sometimes it calms me like depending on the song, most of them have soothing melodies, the ones I listen too" (Grace Salley). Although R&B has been nothing but a success, it has changed over time, just as genre would, “I feel like it's kind of downgraded only because it used to be about actually building a relationship and the way R&B artists write now are more mature themes than they used to be" (Grace Salley).
R&B has shown so much cultural diversity as well. Being that it has most of the African American culture in it, it’s not limited to it and that’s what makes the diversity of R&B so interesting. Taneyah Baxter, a junior student at Hillgrove, states on the topic of diversity by stating, “it is more directed to the African American culture, and I am African American”. Taneyah’s favorite R&B artist is “Anne Marie” because “she makes really relatable music and she's a very understanding person”. As stated, R&B can give off many emotions depending on the song and artist, “sometimes it can make me feel lovey, angry, or sad" (Taneyah Baxter). Music, especially R&B is known to inspire and heal, “R&B music heals my broken heart everyday". (Taneyah Baxter).
Not only does R&B music help people relate to each other, it also helps a single listener to understand more about themself. Zamarion Matthews, a sophomore at Hillgrove high school, mentions “R&B gave me a better understanding of what music is truly about and it taught me how to not get caught up in the world". His favorite R&B artist is Drake because “his music was really influencing, and he gives off such good vibes". R&B is commonly known for the idea of expressing feelings and emotions and there are so many examples. Zamarion’s example is, “I feel like the artists who makes the song knows how to fit it with what people are going through and it tends to influence or encourage them to act accordingly to the ones around them" A remarkable aspect of R&B though, is the introduction of other genres. Rap music came from R&B, so without it, the rap game would be very different. “R&B definitely influenced rap because a lot of new rappers base their songs off of old R&B songs and if I never listened to R&B, I would have never listened to rap, R&B inspired me to listen to the rap genre" (Zamarion Matthews).
R&B music has had huge impacts on many lives and without it I think it’s a mutual feeling that the world would not be the same. All the cultural diversity, Songs of love and peace, introduction to the rap genre, and that good vibe that comes from R&B music would be missed out on.
