Mark79 made a good point about the other R&B acts who possibly didn't achieve commercial success, should get back into the studio and join into the commercial resurgence of R&B.
That's is an AWESOME IDEA!!! I would be in heaven. And I'm sure most of you will be too...
But let us not forget that these artistes received critical acclaim, just not commercial success. This was because THEY DIDN'T PROMOTE THEIR RESPECTIVE LP'S. OR DIDN'T PROMOTE IN ENOUGH/INTERNATIONALLY.

The resurgence of Justin Timberlake shouldn't way them back to R&B in any way... Realistically, Justin will always win because he is a white dude and has mass appeal. The red necks in the boondocks will buy his music.(Sad to bring race into it-but fact still remains). PLUS HE PROMOTED HE SHIT OUTTA 20/20 EXP.

If they aren't prepared to do that level of promotion, (even at their own expense) then it doesn't matter whether the music is R&B or not.
And if you are honest with yourself TWO ELEVEN, NEW LIFE, WOMAN TO WOMAN, LOOKING FOR MYSELF, WRITE ME BACK, LOVE LETTER, AND EVEN MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OBSESSED)was GOOD R&B...