What Happened to R&B Music?

Yo, real talk, what happened to R&B, though? Like, remember back in the day when R&B had that soul, somethin’ you could actually feel deep down? Cats like Anita Baker, Teddy Pendergrass, Sade—man, they used to sing about real life, love, heartbreak, and all that. The music had substance. It wasn’t just background noise; it was a vibe. You threw on some R&B to set the mood, to reflect, or even just to vibe out on a Sunday afternoon.

But now? Man, it ain’t the same. R&B today, it got all mixed up with trap and hip-hop, and I ain’t knockin’ it, but they took the soul out of it. Everything’s about a catchy hook or somethin’ that’ll go viral, not the deep, emotional storytelling. You remember when artists used to actually sing? Like, hit them notes that give you chills? Now it’s all about auto-tune, and half the time, you can’t tell the difference between R&B and some watered-down rap.

Back then, R&B had layers—vocals, harmonies, and the lyrics were poetry. It made you think about your relationships, your life, made you feel somethin’. Today’s R&B? It’s like they tryna sell a product instead of create a moment. Everything sounds the same, and folks just followin’ trends instead of bein’ true to that real R&B sound.

I’m not sayin’ there ain’t no talent out there, ’cause we got some folks still holdin’ it down. But as a whole, it feels like we drifted away from what made R&B special. Like, what happened to those albums where every track told a story, where the whole thing was a journey? Nowadays, it’s like artists are just throwin’ songs together, chasin’ hits, instead of craftin’ timeless music.

I think it’s comin’ back around, though. Folks are startin’ to realize we miss that real soul in the music. It’s gon’ take time, but R&B can’t stay lost forever.