With a career spanning two decades, Boyz II Men remain R&B’s most influential troupe with feats that include one LP certified 9x platinum and 4 #1 singles under their belt.
Releasing their latest album ‘Twenty’ back in October, the trio sat down with our friends over She’s So Major recently for an insightful interview, which saw them weigh in on the state of today’s R&B.
Details below…
On Contemporary R&B, Wanya explained:
The state of R&B is in a transitional stage right now. There are artists in the industry right now that are trying to maintain the integrity of it such as the Ne-Yo’s, the Beyonce’s, Usher, Chris Brown but R&B has taken a backseat for a minute to hip-hop. Now it’s starting to poke it’s little head up there and starting to make it’s way into the hearts and minds of the consumer that want to fall in love all over again and hopefully with this album Twenty, we can help people to do that.
Adding to this, Shawn commented:
It’s just one of those things that still exudes a certain soul and feeling that will always have it’s place in people’s hearts. If it becomes mainstream…that’s something else.
Like Adele, a lot of people don’t consider her “R&B” because she’s white but she’s singing R&B music and she’s singing soul music.
You see what type of year she had. So, R&B music still has it’s place in the minds of people. It’s just all the matter of artists actually believing in themselves and with that, they’ll make it more of what it is.
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I concur …..
Truth is about Adele!!
R&B is dead since the beginning of 2000.
Adele isn’t authentic r&b to me. Her voice and music just lacks something….
Well put Both Wanya and Shawn
If Adele was black that b**** would be in the church choir!
R&B and Rap are both dead sadly. The music industry isn’t about talent anymore. How I miss the 80’s and 90’s music.
I like Adele but I dont consider her r&b, more like soul. Amy Winehouse was the Adele before there was an Adele in some ways, Adele having the bigger voice but amy def brought that 60’s soul back to the forefront. Unfortunately Amy went about things a whole other way. OAN, R&B has been dead since about 2000. Thats when the Dru Hills faded, B2M fell off, Jodeci was long gone, but we still have r kelly trying to keep it alive.
I love Boyz II Men 😀 And I agree with everything they said.
I totally agree with these men. I wasn’t a fan of the group, but I can recognize their awesome talents. I think they summed it up perfectly. I personally think R&B died in 2010. Right now Adele is the only one with huge success doing soul music. Beyonce and Chris (and Brandy soon) are keeping the genre alive, but so many great artists aren’t given a shot . There are some problems on the inside, half these R&B artists are using the same formulas over and over and not pushing forward to new/greater heights.
I don’t think the last decade R&B was dead because we’ve seen:
Alicia Keys Songs in a Minor (2001), Aaliyah – Aaliyah (2001), Beyonce DIL(2003), A. Keys Diary (2004), Usher Confessions(2004), R. Kelly Happy People(2004), Mariah Carey Emancipation(2005), Mary J.Blige Breakthrough (2005), Keyshia Cole The Way It is (2005), Chris Brown Exclusive (2005) , Ne-Yo In My Own Words(2006), Chris Brown Exclusive (2007) , Keyshia Cole Just Like You (2007) and A. Keys As I Am (2007) and more all winning with very successful R&B/Soul music.
Now the only R&B albums that did well are: ‘4’, ‘Fame’ and ‘My Life II’.
http://www.thepagewithroyalkev.com
@royalkev
Chris brown is not r&b.
these days, why do we call every black POPstar, R&B?
same with jason derulo.
@ The Real xoxo
Your right in a way, but that’s why I listed Chris first 2 albums (which were both Pop/R&B) and ‘Fame’. He sort of gets the label because he partial represented R&B on those albums, especially with Fame (‘Dueces’, ‘No BS’, ‘She Ain’t You’, ‘Wet The Bed’). Still he keeps a balance in his music.
http://www.thepagewithroyalkev.com
Who said Adele´s voice lacks something? Maybe you were talking about Beyonce´s emotionless voice. It has everything it needs for the music she does. Her songs+her voice are a perfect mix. She doesn´t need anything else. Not saying she is the best or something though
And… I can´t see Adele as R&B sorry
Soul music will forever be relevant. Ppl love soul music & they love Jazz – yet another “dying” genre according to some! The problem isn’t the talent but the opportunity to showcase your abilities due to limited media ownership! When you don’t own your media outlets then you ge what you GOT!
Jill Scott, Ledisi, and dozens of other Soul singers could sing Adele into a grave. I like Adele but we should all know by now her success is not simply based on the type of music she sings. If so, many of todays R&B artists would also sell CDs like wildfire! Success these days is dictated by “the machine” backing the artists!
@the real xoxo
Chris Brown has always been classified as R&B this shouldn’t come as a surprise all of a sudden. Chris has had a firm foot in a few genres for awhile so his blending different sounds and musical styles also shouldn’t come as a great surprised! Fame and Griffiti had solid R&B, Pop & Dance tracks with that said, Chris is still a R&B act and there isn’t a thing wrong with that!
****(Whitney voice) I will always love you –> R&B 🙂
@mobwife
i wouldnt class him as r&b. i would class him as urban pop.
saying chris brown is an r&b artist is like saying nicki minaj is a hiphop artist.
Chris Brown found fame with POP music and Urban music. Sure his songs have elements of R&B but nearly every song nowadays have that. Unlike say R. Kelly, Usher, Beyoncé, whatever, who found fame IN R&B music, but the the latters branched out to Pop and dance.
Doing pop music isn’t bad though. I never understood that issue. If ur a fan of an artist, u should enjoy them branching out instead of doing the same s*** over and over again. AKA why R&B died past 2008 in the first place.
Career spanning 2 decades please. They were hot for 5 years tops. ThatFLOPjuice always twisting s***
R&B will make a comeback on the first row but maybe next decade.
This decade looks pretty much like the 80’s. A lot of multiple one hit wonders who can’t sing live and care only about their looks…
@shioniedoo
ya they were hot for a minute but they still making music and playing shows. That’s still having a career.
R Kelly has stayed true to the genre.
Adele isn’t r&b, but her music is r&b influenced. I definitely agree with the person who said Jill Scott and Ledisi can sing Adele into a grave.
B2M were NOT popular for only 5years.
Every decade had/has artists who aren’t really vocalists but entertainers, some of whom were or will be one-hit wonders
B2M are a class act imo they set a standard for other male groups at their peak. No one has even come close. I also agree with their comments on state of R&B today.
Adele is r&b leaning, but she’s more than just one genre of music. As far as Jill singing Adele under a bus hts absurd. Adele can certainly hol her own. People like to try to knock Adele because other soul/r&b artists are flopping. It’s more than just the music. You gotta connect with the audience.