When everyone was claiming that hip-hop was dead, or dying, on life support or suffering in some way about three years ago I was watching R&B slip away. What happened in R&B that took the soul out the beat? It was as if the pop explosion of the late 90’s rolled over and began to suck in the R&B artist… there just seemed to be a lack of soul, passion, love songs, ballads, and real singers (I mean people that can BLOW not Ciara or Chris Brown). I love Christina Aguilera but it struck me as odd that “Back to Basics” was one of the best R&B albums of 2006 (no knock though, it was an amazing album). Do not get me wrong there are artists who hold strong to their R&B roots but little attention or not enough exposure until they come out with “cross-over” or pop hit. Now let’s say you’re thinking about the question that I’m posing regarding the state of R&B and you don’t agree that Chrisette Michele, Ryan Leslie, Melonie Fiona, Solange Knowles, Robin Thicke, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Jennifer Husdon and a few other relatively new comers are reviving a genre that fell upon hard times… then tell me who was holding it down for R&B in let’s 2006 and the three preceeding years.
I’m happy to say that R&B is coming back and Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Musiq aren’t the only ones making love songs nowadays. Amongst the mundaness that has taken over the artist in the industry today I’m realizing that the new trend is to be different which unfurtunately results in everyone being the same… There are a lot of new talents coming up and I’m hoping that ten years from now I’ll still be excited about the music industry as I am now.
BUT for the time being I’ll put up a few new R&B songs I heard today.
Ryan Leslie – You’re Not My Girl
Melonie Fiona – You Stop My Heart
Melonie Fiona – Walk On By
Melonie Fiona – Magic
Mario – More Than Friends
NiaFree
If you grew up in the 90’s and hip-hop (specifically East Coast) played a major role in your everyday life then you will be happy to hear that Bussa Buss is back… I Bullshit You Not. With his new mixtape gives the people a lil something before the 
Just when some were starting to question what was going on in the world of R&B, Chrisette Michele’s second album Epiphany quiets all naysayers. Chrisette Michele stated that this album would be more upbeat and youthful than her 2007 release I Am, which in many cases means “this will be a pop-filled album with about 7 or 8 singles.” Luckily for those of us who appreciate the emotion, soul and power Chrisette possesses with her voice, that is not the case. Epiphany does have tracks that you can vibe too: “Playing Our Song,” “Fragile,” and “Mr. Right,” but the soul is still there. Each song gives you a different facet of Chrisette’s diverse voice: she can sing jazz, soul, comtemporary R&B (and no they are not the same!); she can make you feel her on “I’m Okay” or make stir up a few emotions on “Blame It On Me” or remind of the love you let walk by on “Notebook.” It is a great album for the true R&B lover; not overtly commercialized, great lyrics, no auto-tune, and a beautiful… It all makes for a great listen as you get ready for the day, as you settle down before dinner, or as you chill out that evening.