Earlier this year we collaborated with online music video giant VEVO to curate a list of the ‘Best R&B Videos of 2012.’ Today, we are happy to present our latest collaboration — ‘13 Artists To See Live in 2013.’
With concerts, festivals and simply the live performance business back to the forefront of the music businesses revenue machine, we highly encourage you to get out and see more live music. There are so many talented acts to see live, from not only the ones featured on this list, but from every genre and walk of life. With summer coming, it’s the perfect time to check touring schedules and get out there!
Posted on January 31st, 2013 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, NEWS |
Red Bull Music has released the first episode in a new series of mini web-documentaries entitled ‘H∆SHTAG$.’ Fittingly the first piece focuses on the explosion of the developing internet bred, underground, and experimental styles of R&B and Soul are becoming more and more popular. Over the last 2-3 years the genre has seen a renaissance in a sense with an evolution of the sounds and stylings fans, and the music industry, most associated with R&B or Soul. With many of the contributing artists remaining on an underground or indie level, some of today’s most acclaimed new artists such as Miguel, Frank Ocean or The Weeknd, have all been labeled under the newly popular terms of Alt-R&B or Alternative Soul. Miguel has a few scenes in the piece, as does rising newcomer Rochelle Jordan.
In this first episode of H∆SHTAG$, we take a look at the current renaissance of contemporary R&B in the “always-on” age, featuring former half of The Weeknd, Jeremy ‘Zodiac’ Rose, How To Dress Well, Miguel, Rochelle Jordan, KLSH, BadBadNotGood, and more. How has the Internet inspired and galvanized this new breed of artists? Have online communities and media been too quick to label genres and movements? What does the future hold for the many strains of the R&B genre?
H∆SHTAG$ is a new series of mini-documentaries from the Red Bull Music Academy, chronicling some of the most fascinating themes emerging from the web in recent times, from #cloudrap to #seapunk, #postdubstep to #advancedpop.
It’s an interesting watch…take a look, and let us know what you think?
New year, new you. Before you engage in a ménage à trois with Ben & Jerry or champagne your pain — listen to these songs and proceed to flex on your ex & let your success be your best revenge.
Add these tunes to your playlist and be a better version of you. Did we leave anything out? Comment with your thoughts.
What a year it’s been for R&B. As we began reflecting on all of 2012′s releases, we were reminded that, not only was this a huge year for the amount of R&B releases, but the genre is making a major comeback. In between the various styles and branches R&B has extended, there are multiple realms and sub-genres beginning to thrive. Within it’s own progression into Pop, or the music critics new favorite – Alt-R&B or Alt-Soul, there is an exciting, rising new class, who are bringing classic soul stylings and organically incorporating their own honest youth, and contemporary perspective.
This year was filled with comebacks from some R&B legends, and a few of it’s popular stars who were looking to make up for less than stellar previous releases. There were newcomers making very impressive debuts, and some outstanding sophomore releases. It’s always a labor of love making these lists, but after much debate and discussion, we are confident in the result. As the New Year is right around the corner, reflect on 2012′s best with our ‘Top 12 R&B Albums of 2012′ below…
This year was certainly filled with plenty of R&B. It was one of the biggest release years for the amount of albums that came out, and with the trend of mixtapes still at an all-time high, it seemed like there was always a new project to listen to, or discover. The crop of emerging talent has been impressive, and with the R&B genre progressing and expanding into new styles, it’s an exciting time for what’s next and what’s new. Following last year, we felt it’s just not enough doing an albums list, when there are so many mixtape and EP releases, and there were lots! So, after much debate, here is our list of the ‘Top 12 R&B Mixtapes & EP’s of 2012′! See below…
Posted on December 24th, 2012 by Brian in TWITTER FIND |
When twitter goes right. Here’s the 1st single from my twitter find, Maurice Fonson, off of his forthcoming EP “Love, Life, and Stereo.” Granted it’s a little sad for the holidays, but none-the-less; I like it.
Posted on December 12th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in MUSIC |
With the holidays in full swing and Christmas 2012 just around the corner we felt it fitting to share a playlist of some of our favorite R&B and Soul classics. These should be on most of your lists too, as its not often a new song comes along that makes regular rotation. So, here are 12 must-play tunes, not in order of favorite, but what sounded good mood wise.
Stream below, and let us know what some of your favorites are too… Happy Holidays!
Posted on October 11th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in NEWS |
In what may become a very important moment and the latest progression of the genre, Billboard has announced the launching of a new chart for only “R&B Songs.” A fact that many music fans where not aware of in the past is that the current R&B/Hip-Hop chart was not filed the same as the more popular Hot 100 list. The biggest and major difference between the genre charts and the Hot 100 is the tally of radio play, physical sales and more importantly today, digital sales (which make up a huge portion of the influence), so the R&B/Hip-Hop chart became almost solely based on radio play when physical singles died off.
The newly created “R&B Songs” chart will follow the same change to the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and other genre charts, which will now incorporate the same airplay/sales/streaming hybrid formula as the Hot 100, but rank the week’s top R&B-only (non-rap) titles.
