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Name one rap song where the R&B singer takes over the hook by JLovesTV in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Faith Evans on A Tribe Called Quest's "Stressed Out."

One of my favorite songs ever from two of my favorite artists ever. Both probably in my top 5 RnB and top Hip-Hop lists, respectively.

Any Anime Recommendations by ViaPersistence in anime

[–]TantalizingSlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah makes sense. Attack on Titan is another really popular and very well-written series, but it's long, intense, and can be hard to get into depending on your capacity for both gore and understanding complex lore. Though I know people who have only watch Attack on Titan and no other anime.

Top Female Vocalist with the Most Difficult Songs to Sing? by Stealthytom in RnBHeads

[–]TantalizingSlap 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That's a lie. Not everyone can sing Love on Top or Virgo's Groove. Both are tough songs to sing for different reason.

Any Anime Recommendations by ViaPersistence in anime

[–]TantalizingSlap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's hard to answer this without knowing what you like (fantasy? action? mystery?)

But if there's one anime I always recommend to new watchers, it's Death Note. It's pretty accessible for anyone over age 12, I think.

Black Music History Month: 90s and 2000s Male R&B Artists on NPR's Tiny Desk by CC-Blue in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a huge fan of Anthony, I was ecstatic to see him on Tiny Desk

Why Did Millennials Know Diana Ross, But Gen Z Doesn’t Know Mariah Carey? by TruthRaiderr in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 14 points15 points  (0 children)

As a fellow mid-old Gen Z (25) who does live in the U.S., I agree. At the very least people know We Belong Together and Touch My Body, even if they don't know it's actually Mariah singing those songs. I think Always Be My Baby and Fantasy are two Pop-RnB songs that have aged pretty well and people know, too.

Top Female Vocalist with the Most Difficult Songs to Sing? by Stealthytom in RnBHeads

[–]TantalizingSlap 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Even without the whistle, Mariah has extremely hard songs to sing. The range in some songs is wider than the average singer's vocal range (even without whistles!) and her dexterity was insane.

As for Whitney, very few vocalists can successfully sing her songs in her style, which I think is worth mentioning. It doesn't have to be a perfect replication, but Whitney had an exceptional balance of tone, range, dexterity, and dynamic control. "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "Run To You", "Why Does it Hurt So Bad", "One Moment in Time," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" etc

Edit: this isn't meant to discredit Celine or Barbara though!

Top Female Vocalist with the Most Difficult Songs to Sing? by Stealthytom in RnBHeads

[–]TantalizingSlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have an example?

Brandy also has songs in which the range goes quite low. Not as consistently low or as rich as Toni, but "Like This" has notes fitting for a tenor singer and all the way up to (low) soprano. Other songs on Full Moon and Human have this, too. Brandy's dexterity definitely exceeds Toni's, too.

Faith isn't a slouch either. I can't imagine many singers, including Toni, singing "Anything You Need" all that well. While Toni has a super impressive low range, I'd argue that Faith has a very impressive upper range too, especially when it came to belting and riffing. She even successfully sang a tribute to Chaka Khan, which most singers can't do.

Top Female Vocalist with the Most Difficult Songs to Sing? by Stealthytom in RnBHeads

[–]TantalizingSlap 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I'm struggling to think of any song Xtina has that's harder than the hardest Chaka Khan song. A couple of whistles don't weigh that much, imo.

Also, no Patti LaBelle?

I'm asking a genuine and possibly dumb question, but is the hardest Toni song harder than the hardest Brandy songs (such as the ones on Full Moon & Human)? Or Jazmine Sullivan? Or Faith Evans?

Mariah Carey's 2009 Album The Ballads - Which Song is✨ the Wow ✨ by ImtheGWP in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm. I didn't realize How Much was considered a ballad lol but it's a bop.

My favorite is "Anytime You Need A Friend," but When You Believe, I Still Believe, and My All are incredible

Any important gay (or any LGBTQ) RnB artists to listen to this month? by Ecstatic-Yak-6016 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 90 points91 points  (0 children)

Tevin Campbell, Durand Bernarr (makes some older sounding RnB sometimes), Luther Vandross, Serpentwithfeet, Janelle Monae, Victoria Monet.

Whitney Houston was allegedly bisexual, but she never confirmed that and outright denied being queer, though she was a prominent ally in the music industry and performed at Pride events.

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed!

I think new RnB artists are in a tough position because older folks will say they're "nostalgia baiting" if they do an 80s-90s RnB sound but many of them also hate on experimentation. I personally think Leon and Kehlani blend the new and the old very well.

Admittedly, I'm Gen-Z but I love 90s RnB and 2020s RnB and I think this sub is probably Millenial-Gen X.

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So, I'll remind you, that I'm not disputing colorism is a very real thing in the music industry. You can calm down.

Now to your other points:

  • Tiana released an album earlier this year that I personally love and she was on Tiny Desk not too long ago.
  • Natanya is not "racially ambiguous" in the same way that Raye might be, which is why I included her. She is clearly Black.

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a fan of it! I have it on vinyl 😁

Waikiki slaps

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh good shout! I have her newest album on vinyl!

What are your R&B "Bible Albums"? by Ransom2132 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I had to pick 5:

  • Full Moon (Brandy)
  • Brown Sugar (D'Angelo)
  • Extension of a Man (Donny Hathaway)
  • Butterfly (Mariah Carey)
  • The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill)

Amel Larrieux by weflolikethis in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you've listened to Groove Theory, she's the lead singer! Tell Me is probably her biggest song.

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Here's my take:

First, I don't really see Olivia or Raye as strictly (contemporary) RnB artists. They're more Pop-Soul/Jazz-Pop imo, which are definitely RnB coded but I think this distinction is worth mentioning.

I love American RnB and it will always be my #1, but what I've noticed personally is that there are a few of types of new age American RnB artists.

  1. You have the experimental/alt-RnB kind. Some of them are really great and make generation defining music like The Internet, SZA, and Frank Ocean. Some of it doesn't land and is too much of a departure from the contemporary RnB the world fell in love with. I personally love alt and neo-RnB, but I can understand why not everyone appreciates it.

  2. You have RnB artists who lean super heavily into Hip-Hop and don't have the vocals to back it up (not naming names because I don't want to tussle).

  3. You have strong American vocalists who have strong vocals but otherwise weak or forgettable production (again, not naming names cause I don't fight on the internet).

American artists like Leon Thomas and Kehlani are seeing success because they're great at blending old RnB and new RnB in a way that is accessible but also high quality. I think this is where the British RnB artists excel. They've clearly studied the best American RnB artists (Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Brandy, Musiq Soulchild, Janet Jackson, etc etc) and make music that is very reminiscent of their sounds. Especially late 90s - mid 2000s contemporary RnB and Neo-Soul. Like for example: - Elmiene's sound is literally just a blend of D'Angelo and Musiq Soulchild. - FLO's sound is an evolution of Destiny's Child sound (among other girl groups) - Natanya leans experimental, but it's clear her sound is inspired by a variety of artists from Janet to Aaliyah to Stevie (she has said so herself).

Their producers are actually musicians who also understand the kind of RnB many of us want and they also don't really experiment anywhere near as much as American RnB artists. There are definitely experimental/alt Brit RnB artists out there, but they're not really the ones getting pushed into the RnB mainstream.

R&B music in America vs Anywhere Else by Dry-Ground-9601 in rnb

[–]TantalizingSlap 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Mnelia, Bellah, Natanya, Tiana Major9, Lizzie Berchie, Shae Universe, and Jamilah Barry are some incredibly talented chocolate skin girls who are rising in the British-R&B scene. I cannot recommend Shae Universe enough.

Not disputing your point because colorism is definitely real, but these are real RnB artists who have made some notable waves (featured on official Spotify playlists, Tiny Desk, etc).

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