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Raise The Bar for R&B



R&B deserves more than what we've been giving it. We've almost abandoned its true authenticity. Remember the days when you would turn on the radio and hear "I Wanna Know" by Joe or "Lately" by Tyrese? These days, songs like that wouldn’t even stand a chance to make it on the radio and climb the charts.

Is R&B ever going to get it’s old sound back? With people like Kali Uchis, H.E.R., Jorja Smith etc, It feels like R&B is in a transition right now, out with the old and in with the new type of time, and it’s long overdue. This isn’t meant to be an article full of complaining, because there is still great R&B artists out there. However, we rarely see them or they don't always get the credit that they need and deserve, unfortunately. 

What’s most popular these days are upbeat lyrics and flows over a beat thats meant for a rapper. In a true R&B fans eyes, thats not real R&B, it isn't r&b at all actually. What ever happened to actually singing ballads? Showing the world that you have a nice voice, showing them your talent. Showing the world your songwriting skills, what happened to that? Those things make the art what it is, and lately people have been getting away with being mediocre, at best. It isn’t fair to the people that paved the way. It isn’t fair to the people that actually take the craft serious. It isn’t fair to the fans either.

It’s time for these labels to start back demanding that people have a passion for this industry and the craft. Give people opportunities that are based off of their talent, and not how many views or plays they can get on Spotify and Instagram. You wouldn’t let a basketball player on the court if they didn’t know how to dribble right? Demand more for r&b, demand more from artists. Make them earn the title, and if they cant, then they just aren’t qualified for the job.