The honey-sweet soul tunes of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) emerged in African American communities in the 1940s, combining jazz and gospel/soul music. R&B not only became an iconic genre but also set the foundation for other popular genres, such as rock and roll, soul, and funk, to flourish. R&B, after a couple of decades, emerged as the subgenre of “alternative R&B,” which started in the 2010s, with artists like Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, and SZA being fairly popular. This genre of R&B has evolved.
“MUTT” by Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas’s song “MUTT” is an immersive, vulnerable alternative R&B song with a steady drum base and a beautifully done melody. Throughout the summer when it was released, the song had thousands (including me) bumping it at home, in the shower, in the car, and especially at cookouts, with people even describing it as the “revival of R&B.” The song discusses Leon’s struggles with his relationships, using his dog as a metaphor in an upbeat song.
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino:
Childish Gambino has generally been considered one of the OG Black alternative artists, starting in 2008, emerging in genres like hip-hop, funk, R&B, and funk. His song “Redbone” is a classic; he incorporated a funk slow-jam instrumental, basically warning people to stay vigilant and “stay woke” within their relationships. He also warns, “Don’t close your eyes.” It is a really cool alternative R&B–style song that gives hints of the movie Get Out by Jordan Peele.
“TWENTIES” by Giveon
Giveon has been an artist since 2018. He has sung famous songs like “Heartbreak Anniversary” and “Like I Want You.” He has received multiple Grammy nominations in R&B-related awards. In the last couple of months, he has released a lot of popular singles, my favorite being “TWENTIES,” which expresses his vulnerability, regretting a six-year-long relationship and spending important years of his life with a person who did not care for him. The song has a light, upbeat drum pattern and a beautiful instrumental, incorporating guitar and keys.
“Back of the Club” by kwn
kwn has begun her music journey in the past couple of months, and one of her biggest songs on Spotify so far is this one. “Back of the Club” explores her sexuality and the relationships she has to keep hidden. She explores this with her astonishing vocals and a beautiful instrumental that includes drums and a consistent guitar riff. The first listen made me feel like I was levitating. She has recently received praise among many R&B listeners, as well as hip-hop listeners, as she incorporates the two styles to create alternative R&B.
