Top Contemporary R&B Artists on Rhapsody Online

Rihanna

Thu, 9 May 2013 05:53:26 +0000

Talent and a dose of good luck got Barbados-born Rihanna signed to Def Jam when she was 16 years old. She was discovered by producer Evan Rogers during his island visit in 2003, and went on to impress Def Jam CEO Jay-Z so much that he grabbed her for a multi-album contract. The singer's first single, "Pon de Replay," was released in June 2005, with the full album Music of the Sun dropping a month later. But her big break came in 2006 with the release of the single "S.O.S." and the subsequent album A Girl Like Me. The single, which sampled Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," was one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially popular songs of that year. Though Rihanna had basically moved away from dancehall, she was moving toward a new aesthetic that married R&B, synth-pop and hip-hop. She continued in this direction with 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad, which featured the infectious singles "Umbrella" and "Shut Up and Drive." In early 2009, she was assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown en route to a pre-Grammys party; that November, she released Rated R, a highly personal album with an unmistakable darkness. The next year, she issued her fifth album, Loud. - SCHENNAULT

Justin Timberlake

Fri, 3 May 2013 04:30:18 +0000

From his adolescence on Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club through his coming of age in the hugely popular boy band *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake became one of the 1990s' biggest heartthrobs, and everything from his romance with Britney Spears to his love of fast cars turned into headline fodder. Unlike so many ex-boy band boys before (and after) him, *NSYNC's most popular member managed to parlay his teen-idol status into credible adult stardom. And how: Two phenomenally successful albums and four Grammys into his solo career, Justin Timberlake is arguably the world's most celebrated pop star; his frequent collaborations with super-producers like the Neptunes and Timbaland and his undeniable knack for white-hot blue-eyed soul-pop have earned the respect of the hip-hop community, while his dreamy looks and wounded-puppy falsetto still make the little girls ... and their sisters ... and their mothers swoon. Wardrobe malfunctions? Messy breakups? JT skates past them all, a designer fedora cocked to one side. Not too shabby for a former child star from Millington, Tennessee, who got his start singing country (and losing) on Star Search. - RDEVITT

Beyoncé

Wed, 8 May 2013 16:48:27 +0000

Beyonce Knowles, the leader of Destiny's Child, always knew she wanted to be a star. She formed the first incarnation of Destiny's Child in 1990 -- when she was 9 years old. By 2001, the group began to dissolve. Knowles nabbed a lead role in Mike Myers' Austin Powers: Goldmember; an appearance in MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera cemented her reputation as a formidable entertainer. Her solo debut, Dangerously in Love, came out in 2003. The first single, "Crazy in Love," was a duet with beau Jay-Z that zoomed to the top of the charts. B'Day, her stunning 2006 sophomore turn, featured hits like "Deja Vu" and "Ring the Alarm." Later that year, Beyonce starred as Deena Jones in the Oscar-winning movie musical Dreamgirls. In 2007, Beyonce made a Latin-crossover attempt, dueting with Shakira on "Beautiful Liar" and releasing a deluxe edition of B'Day, featuring "Amor Gitano" with Mexican crooner Alejandro Fernandez and a Spanish version of the anthem "Irreplaceable." For her third studio album, I Am ... Sasha Fierce, Beyonce split herself into two personae -- the tender, traditional Beyonce and the club diva Sasha Fierce. And for 2011's 4 she switched things up again, delving into old-school R&B, soul and boogie-funk. - LRYAN

Chris Brown

Fri, 3 May 2013 04:30:27 +0000

With his handsome looks and slick, Michael Jackson-inspired dance moves, Chris Brown became one of the biggest R&B stars of the 2000s. He seemed very close to achieving pop mega-stardom -- until an ill-timed domestic abuse scandal nearly destroyed his career. Born in Virginia, Brown honed his rapping and singing skills as an adolescent. After his family moved to New York, a label bidding war ensued. Released on Jive Records in 2005, "Run It!" became the 16-year-old Brown's first No. 1 hit. His subsequent self-titled debut included two more Top 10 hits. He solidified his stardom with 2007's platinum Exclusive, which featured "Kiss Kiss," "With You" and "Forever." That same year, Brown got to show off his excellent krumping skills on Stomp the Yard, and he landed a role in This Christmas. But his high-profile romance with fellow "pop&B" star Rihanna ended in disaster when he assaulted her on the evening before the 2009 Grammy Awards. Lingering negative public opinion ensured that his third album, 2009's Graffiti, would be a flop. In 2010, Brown made an impressive comeback with "Deuces," and defying all odds, 2011's F.A.M.E. became his first No. 1 album. - MREEVES

Mariah Carey

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:58:02 +0000

Say what you may about her fashion sense or "diva-tude," but there is no doubt that Mariah Carey defined 1990s urban pop music. Carey ruled the charts during the Clinton decade -- her 1990 self-titled debut album alone spawned four No. 1 hit singles, and she would have 11 more before the new millennium. Over the years, artists from Christina Aguilera to Ciara would name her as an influence. Her albums are always expertly crafted and performed, making her MTV Unplugged EP a surprisingly warm change of pace. Her dominance of the charts in the 1990s earned her the title of Billboard's Artist of the Decade. Despite heavily publicized personal trials in the early part of the new century, Carey returned to the forefront of modern music with The Emancipation of Mimi, which spawned her 16th and 17th No. 1 hits. In 2008, Mariah returned with the hit single "Touch My Body" and the subsequent album, E=MC2. The single pushed her past Elvis into second place (behind the Beatles) for the most No. 1 singles for an artist in the modern era. - RLANDY

Usher

Mon, 6 May 2013 06:13:20 +0000

By the time he entered puberty, Usher had a record deal and a gold album. By the time he graduated high school, he was one of the most visible artists in R&B. Between 1994 and 2004, he released six albums, appeared in several films and earned multiple platinum records. However, 2004 was the year he reached the upper echelons of superstardom, thanks to the chart-topping, Lil Jon-produced "Yeah!" His subsequent album, Confessions, netted him three Grammys and sold 11 million copies. In the four years that followed Confessions' release, Usher found himself embroiled in a series of widely publicized controversies surrounding his mother, who was also his manager until Usher "resigned her." In 2008, he got back in the spotlight for musical reasons with the ubiquitous summer jam "Love in This Club" from Here I Stand. After that album, Usher again found his personal life making headlines thanks to his drama-ridden divorce from Tameka Foster. This time around, he channeled his struggles into his craft, namely the edgier, introspective 2010 album Raymond vs. Raymond. - RDEVITT

Robin Thicke

Thu, 9 May 2013 01:17:06 +0000

Robin Thicke -- or just "Thicke" as he was known until 2005 -- is the product of a strong, if slightly sappy, musical lineage: his mother is adult contemporary singer and soap star Gloria Loring and his father is Alan Thicke, who played Jason Seaver on Growing Pains and penned family-friendly theme songs for game shows like Wheel of Fortune and (with Loring) sitcoms like Diff'rent Strokes. After dabbling in acting as a kid, he set his sights on a career in music, and was fortunate enough to befriend Andre Herrell, the president of Uptown Records. He began writing pop hits for artists like Mya, Christina Aguilera and Marc Anthony, while focusing his own oeuvre more on the funkiest blue-eyed soul this side of Jamiroquai. Songs like "When I Get You Alone," which sampled Walter Murphy's disco hit "A Fifth of Beethoven," made fans out of the likes of Usher and Pharrell, who signed him to the Neptunes' Star Trak label. - RDEVITT

Michael Jackson

Wed, 1 May 2013 03:02:31 +0000

It doesn't really matter if Michael Jackson bullied the world's media into calling him the King of Pop in the early 1990s or if they just started using that sobriquet on their own. Either way, he earned it. Whether singing "I Want You Back" as the 11-year-old frontman of the Jackson 5, breaking the MTV color line with the explosive "Billie Jean" or defending the world's downtrodden and misunderstood (himself, that is), Jackson set the standard for pop singing, songwriting, dancing and, let's face it, weirdness for the better part of a quarter century. He came of age in the Jackson 5, then moonwalked out of the family's clutches and into his own universe with three groundbreaking albums made with producer Quincy Jones. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad blended soul, funk and rock influences into a taut dance-pop that transformed the sound of radio for the rest of the century. Singers and producers from Madonna to Timbaland are still trying to catch up. Prosecutors and paparazzi have been playing catch-up, too, with some of Jackson's questionable life choices, and since the late 1990s, he has seemingly spent more time in the tabloids than on the pop charts. On June 25th, 2009, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50. - MKARAS

R. Kelly

Wed, 8 May 2013 15:22:29 +0000

Let's just put it this way: R. Kelly's voice is smooth. His songs are so sensual that he's turned into a virtual relationship soundtrack, from your first meeting to your first night together, to a broken heart and through a tearful breakup. He's got a song for each stage, touching the depths of your soul with his acrobatic voice that glides from a sultry whisper to a high falsetto wail. Hints of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson peak through his soul-tinged voice, but his production and style are all his own, from bass-heavy hip-hop to crisp romantic ballads. Kelly is a talented multi-instrumentalist and arranger, not to mention a certified hit maker; see the chart-topping "Ignition (Remix)" and "I Believe I Can Fly" as well as his writing and production credits for other singers. Not many R&B singers could get away with "Trapped in the Closet," his 35-minute pop opera that defies dramatic structure, radio formatting and just plain good sense. Kels not only pulled it off, but he made it one of the biggest singles of that 2005 summer. After 15 years and 10 albums, including the 2007 offering Double Up and another thrilling (and equally bewildering) 10 chapters of "Trapped in the Closet," there is little doubt that R. Kelly is one of the most accomplished R&B singers of his generation. - JTERRY

Miguel

Thu, 2 May 2013 05:11:51 +0000

This Los Angeles singer-songwriter came up slinging hooks on other people's tracks (like Blu and Exile), writing songs for other people's albums (Usher, Asher Roth) and earning underground buzz with a 2008 mixtape. Along the way, he slowly but surely earned the respect of industry insiders for his funk-inflected, vintage-hued grooves and the thoughtful pillow talk he crooned with his sweet, sexy tenor. But in 2010, he finally got his big break, releasing his studio debut, All I Want Is You. Anchored by the J. Cole-featuring title track, the album showcases Miguel's beguiling voice and impressive musicality. - RDEVITT

Alicia Keys

Fri, 3 May 2013 04:30:32 +0000

Alicia Keys seemingly came out of nowhere in the summer of 2001, storming up the charts with her braids and heaping servings of soul. But Keys is no pre-fab diva; she's been studying music since age five and began writing songs at age 14. She wrote (or co-wrote) and produced most of the songs on her debut, Songs in a Minor, and subsequent singles have proven she's no one-hit wonder. She took home five Grammy Awards in 2002 (including Best New Artist and Song of the Year), and returned triumphantly with The Diary of Alicia Keys the following year, racking up more hit singles ("You Don't Know My Name," "If I Ain't Got You"), and winning four more Grammys. 2007's As I Am spawned the unstoppable "No One" and the Prince-infused "Like You'll Never See Me Again." One of the most talented and likeable R&B superstars in the game today, Keys shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Trey Songz

Fri, 3 May 2013 04:30:34 +0000

Bridging the gap between teen R&B and a classic Motown soul, Songz is as talented as he is cuddly. Talent runs in the family, apparently, and the Petersburg, VA native was initially introduced to soul music while listening to his grandmother sing in her church choir. By the age of 15, Trey had won over 20 local talent shows, yet his real break didn't come until he met Troy Taylor. The SWV producer was impressed with Trey's original composition, "All The Things I Do," and after Trey graduated from high school, Taylor took the young singer under his wing and helped him secure guest work on Trick Daddy's "Ain't a Thug" as well as on the debut album from Caribbean Soca artist Kevin Lyttle. Trey's smooth tenor proved to be the perfect foil for these gravely voiced urban music icons and paved the way for the 2005 release of Trey's top-40 debut, I Gotta Make It . Though no one would mistake that album for anything other than a pop record, Trey was able to inject the smoother melodies and lush rhythms of old-school soul into the songs. Aretha Franklin was featured on album's intro, and the remix for "Gotta Make It" even included an unlikely duet between the legendary diva and former Hot Boyz emcee Juvenile. - SCHENNAULT

Mary J. Blige

Sun, 5 May 2013 08:00:39 +0000

When What's the 411 dropped in 1992, critics and everyone else hailed Mary J. Blige as the voice of R&B's future. That's a pretty heavy reputation to live up to (Lauryn Hill might agree with that), but Mary J. has kept up her end of the bargain pretty well. While she could have rested on her laurels and kept the same pop-friendly sound from album to album, she branched out with Mary (1999), trying out some classier material that showed off her voice and turned her image radically around from her previous ghetto sister style. No More Drama (2001) may seem like another about-face, but it's not: the material's strong and Blige sounds as good as ever. - SBARDEEN

Prince

Thu, 9 May 2013 01:17:04 +0000

In this age of musical genre ghetto-ization, Prince stands alone. The Artist can get funky, he can rock up a storm, he can croon a soulful ballad, he can spin out webs of jazz piano, he can hip and he can hop. He can do it all, often brilliantly. Prince takes chances and often fails -- especially on the (hopefully abandoned) film front -- but every one of his albums is chock full of gems. Prince hasn't sustained the massive popularity he earned in the Purple Rain-crazed '80s, but that seems due more to bad publicity surrounding his tabloid lifestyle than his musical output. He can't hide the fact that he is an odd, fuzzy little man, but genius doesn't come in perfect packages. While legions of Prince's contemporaries crash and burn, he sits in his Minneapolis tower and continues to expand the boundaries of popular music. - NDEDINA

Ciara

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:22:52 +0000

An R&B singer out of Atlanta, Ciara hit the scene in the summer of 2004, hooking up with Lil Jon and Petey Pablo for her debut single "Goodies." Set to a synth-powered beat very similar to the one in Pablo's hit "Freek-A-Leek," the song (which she described as "Crunk&B") raced up the charts, setting the stage for her debut album of the same name. Goodies, the LP, was released in the fall of 2004. In 2006, Ciara returned with The Evolution, a more grown-up effort that bangs from the moment you press play. The singer/songwriter/producer/performer once again skyrocketed to the top, with hits like the symphonic "Like a Boy," the sultry-sweet "Can't Leaven 'Em Alone" featuring 50 Cent, and the sexy Polow Da Don-produced hit "Promise." - BWINNING

Ne-Yo

Fri, 3 May 2013 04:30:42 +0000

Considering his gorgeous voice and boyish good looks, it's surprising that Ne-Yo started his career as a songwriter for some of the biggest names in R&B. But after years of paying his dues under Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and B2K, the Las Vegas singer finally branched out on his own in late 2005 with the single "Stay," featuring Peedi Peedi. In early 2006 he dropped his subsequent Def Jam debut, In My Own Words, yielding three Top 40 singles, the most popular of which was "So Sick." In 2006 Ne-Yo was R&B's King Midas, writing songs for Beyonce (the smash hit "Irreplaceable") as well as working on new projects by Usher, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Whitney Houston. It's amazing that he found time to work on his sophomore solo album, but 2007's Because of You was every bit as irresistible as his freshman effort. His success granted him license to get melancholy on 2008's Year of the Gentleman -- it was his party, after all, and he could cry if he wanted to. - SCHENNAULT

Christina Aguilera

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:58:07 +0000

A former star of The New Mickey Mouse Club who hit it big with an innuendo-laden single, then traded in her implicitly not-so-good-girl image for an explicitly not-so-good-girl image. Where have we heard this one before? The child of an Ecuadorian-American father and a Caucasian mother, Christina Aguilera started her career as a professional performer at age ten with a 1990 appearance on Star Search. Her subsequent Mickey Mouse Club stint led to Disney using her "Reflection" on the 1998 Mulan soundtrack, and RCA released her self-titled debut in 1999. Dance-pop smashes like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants" showcased her big voice, which, along with her Spanish-language version of the album (Mi Reflejo), set her apart from the late-'90s crowd of pop-star ingenues.

Yet Aguilera was still coming in second to Britney. Her appearance on the sexy 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" suggested a way into the spotlight. She radically altered her image for 2002's Stripped and became Xtina, widely mocked for her look even as her voice proved soulful and mature. But in 2006 she released the acclaimed Back to Basics, a tribute to the jazz and soul she says inspires her, and cemented her status as a grown-up diva. - RDEVITT

The Weeknd

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:22:33 +0000

Ambient, dream-like beats and lyrics of sex and debauchery: R&B has never seen an artist quite like The Weeknd. - MREEVES

Fantasia

Wed, 1 May 2013 14:37:35 +0000

This young singer from North Carolina went from unknown teenager to worldwide superstar after winning the third season of American Idol. Sixty-five million people voted for her, leading to her record deal with Clive Davis' J Records. Her debut album, Free Yourself, dropped in 2004 and earned several Grammy nods. Despite her successes, life has not always been easy for Fantasia. She chronicled her struggles to reach the top as a young single mother in the 2006 book Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, which was later turned into a Lifetime television movie (starring Fantasia as herself). Her self-titled sophomore album dropped later that year, followed by a 2007 star turn as Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple. Not long after, however, Fantasia faced a new set of problems, including fans' ire and lost ticket sales after missed Color Purple performances (which turned out to be due to a cyst on her vocal cords), spiraling debt and her record label dropping her. But the scrappy singer revived herself yet again in 2010 with a new album, another Color Purple run and a reality show. - RDEVITT

Emeli Sandé

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:43:18 +0000

John Legend

Thu, 2 May 2013 05:11:23 +0000

An accomplished singer, musician, songwriter and producer, John Legend (ne Stephens) has been making music since his early childhood. Influenced by a musical family, the young Legend embraced gospel, classic soul and hip-hop, and the fusion of all three epitomizes his unique sound. His first major break came from erstwhile Fugee Lauryn Hill, when he played piano on her mega-hit single "Everything Is Everything." But it was Kanye West who really put him on the map, recruiting him to play and sing on the multiplatinum album The College Dropout. After releasing several self-made CDs, Legend dropped his highly anticipated major label debut Get Lifted in early 2005. The single "Ordinary People" is the sort of sweet lovers' lullaby that will haunt Valentine's Day for years to come, and it solidified Legend's status as one of R&B's most promising young talents. For his next project, 2006's Once Again, Legend refined his brand of martini soul, plucking elements of classic pop and '70s soul for an album that was every bit as popular and as satisfying as its predecessor. The 2008 release Evolver found the singer employing a more modern sound. - SCHENNAULT

Keyshia Cole

Thu, 9 May 2013 05:53:25 +0000

Hailing from Oakland, California, Keyshia Cole fell in love with music at a young age. Talented and determined, she recorded with a diverse group of local artists (MC Hammer, Messy Marv, Dwayne Wiggins) as a teenager, before leaving the Bay Area and relocating to Los Angeles. Once in L.A., she was quickly signed to a major label, and hasn't looked back since. She contributed songs to several movie soundtracks, then released her debut solo album The Way It Is in 2005. The record was a hit thanks to popular singles like "I Changed My Mind" and "I Should've Cheated," setting Cole on the path to R&B stardom. Her sophomore album Just Like You (2007) finds Cole's heart and mind in the same contemplative tug of war on love, but this time around, she mixes lachrymose balladry with some "I'm-so-over-you" dance-floor heat (i.e. "Let It Go"). - BWINNING

Jennifer Lopez

Mon, 6 May 2013 06:34:39 +0000

She's been called a lot of things: J-Lo, Jenny from the Block, Mrs. Anthony. Just don't call La Lopez a diva, although she deserves it -- and not just for her alleged outlandish demands-making, entourage-rocking, fur-wearing behavior. Love her or hate her, you have to respect a woman who went from being a "Fly Girl" on In Living Color to a captain of the movie, music and fashion industries.

Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Jennifer Lopez dabbled in musical theater as a child before moving on to small roles in film and television and backup dancing gigs for artists like New Kids on the Block and Janet Jackson. Several small movie roles followed, but it was her portrayal of beloved Tejano singer Selena in the 1997 film of the same name that catapulted Lopez to true stardom. After co-starring with George Clooney in 1998's well-received Out of Sight, Lopez recorded her first album, 1999's On the Six. All of which left people asking: sure, she can dance, act and sing, but can she design a fashion line? Yes, yes, she can. In 2001, Lopez founded Sweetface Fashion Club, home to her J.Lo and Sweetface lines.

Four more studio albums and a series of high-profile relationships (one word: Bennifer) later, Lopez settled down with hubby No. 3, Marc Anthony. The two of them produced and starred in 2007's El Cantante, a biopic about Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe. That same year, Lopez put out two albums: Como Ama Mujer and Brave. - RDEVITT

Whitney Houston

Mon, 6 May 2013 06:08:09 +0000

Although she came to mostly make news for the drama in her private life, Whitney Houston was the first of the modern R&B divas, one of the most successful singers in the history of popular music. Houston got her start singing gospel with her mother, Cissy, while her pop chops were influenced by cousin Dionne Warwick. Whitney began her professional music career with the experimental jazz ensemble Material. When Clive Davis offered her a contract in 1983, the woman who would become the first artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 singles finally launched her pop career. By 1987's Whitney, Houston was a full-fledged star. After 1990's I'm Your Baby Tonight, she virtually abandoned an album career in favor of phenomenally successful singles, some (like the Dolly Parton cover "I Will Always Love You") attached to films in which Houston starred, and some the kind of stuff only she could pull off (who else could make "The Star-Spangled Banner" a hit single?). By the end of the '90s, Houston had gotten together with (and split from) husband Bobby Brown several times, stopped showing up for gigs and spent time in rehab. Fans still hoped for a comeback, even after 2009's "comeback" album I Look to You flopped. But sadly, Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, just a day before the Grammy Awards, which she was scheduled to attend. - RDEVITT

Kelly Rowland

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:23:48 +0000

Kelly Rowland initially found success as one third of the Contemporary R&B act Destiny's Child, who put themselves on hiatus after a couple of multi-platinum albums to concentrate on solo releases and acting gigs. The second "Child" to offer a solo album (Michelle Williams was first with the Gospel album, Heart to Yours), Rowland hit big with "Dilemma," the chart-topping duet she performed with the popular Midwest rapper, Nelly. Rowland's album, Simply Deep, incorporated elements of hip-hop, classic R&B and even (gasp!) classic rock, successfully creating a signature sound for this emerging talent. - LRYAN

Anthony Hamilton

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:40:46 +0000

Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., Anthony Hamilton began singing in church and local talent shows before moving to New York in the early 1990s and signing with Uptown Records. After the label folded, he bounced to MCA and released his debut album, XTC, in 1996. Sporting a classic vocal style different from the neo-soul crooners who were then coming into vogue, the LP got good reviews but failed to generate much hype. Hamilton soon started writing songs for artists like Donell Jones, toured with D'Angelo and sang on records by Eve and Tupac, among others. He finally hit the big-time in 2002 after teaming up with Nappy Roots for their single "Po' Folks" and earning a Grammy nomination in the process. Hamilton then hooked up with Jermaine Dupri, who signed him to So So Def and produced Comin' From Where I'm From in 2003. A steady stream of records followed, including the archival collections Soulife and Southern Comfort, and 2008's The Point of It All. - BWINNING

Frank Ocean

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 04:09:15 +0000

R&B singer-songwriter Christopher "Frank Ocean" Breaux chronicles the dark side of underground Los Angeles. - MREEVES

Avant

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:36:05 +0000

Cleveland's Avant may have originally signed to Magic Johnson's label, but that doesn't mean he writes jock jams. On the contrary, this smooth mover has precisely the opposite of adrenaline in mind when writing his sultry, satiny bedroom jams. On Avant's albums, sexing up his lover is a fait accompli, given the way these languid tracks blush with a rosy, unmistakably post-coital glow. The pulse does occasionally pick up, testifying to the artist's openness to a broad crossover, as with funk-fueled tracks like "Six in Da Morning," and Avant's cover choices -- like a version of Christopher Cross' lite-rock staple "Sailing." - PSHERBURNE

Luther Vandross

Tue, 7 May 2013 17:36:45 +0000

The 1980s were a period of unchecked greed and decadence, when the world donned rose-colored glasses that filtered out the homeless and made the hole in the ozone layer seem patched. All those good feelings and denial of social woes meant that romance was back in style, and while the glasses clinked and millionaires' bankrolls flourished, so too did music to love by. Luther Vandross was the primary voice who provided the soundtrack for romantic rendezvous in the Reagan era, and by the mid-1980s, merely mentioning his name conjured up images of happy couples sipping Merlot in dimly lit rooms and chuckling at inside jokes -- and, alternately, jilted lovers consoling themselves. Blessed with a voice that was warm and soulful, Vandross' songs dripped with romance, promised love on the horizon, or turned a teary eye towards duos fading into solitude. When things came crashing in and bleak reality reared its ugly head in the mid-1990s, florid R&B gave way to less sentimental music . Even so, Vandross could always be counted on as the perfect complement to a night spent with a "friend" or the first few nights spent sleeping alone. He passed away on July 2, 2005, at the age of 54.

Janet Jackson

Mon, 6 May 2013 19:23:40 +0000

While the rest of her illustrious family was making music history, Janet Jackson spent her childhood on sitcoms. Under her father Joe's supervision, she released two unsuccessful albums in the early '80s. At 18, she eloped with James DeDarge, but annulled the marriage the next year. She called on producer/writer team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to record her true debut, the phenomenally successful Control. By the time she followed that up with Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989, Michael's little sister had recreated herself as a sexy (but sweet), self-sufficient pop success in her own right. A bracing combination of dance pop, modern R&B and hip-hop that buoyed Jackson's thin voice, it set the stage for the rest of her career. With her 1993 self-titled album, she properly introduced the world to Janet the romantic sex kitten, a persona she's brought back with each subsequent album. Since then, other facets of Janet's life (her physique, breakdowns and, yes, wardrobe malfunctions) have often earned more notice than her music, but a steady flow of successful, diverse singles shows Janet continuing to explore her musical identity while her siblings continue to get more eccentric. - RDEVITT

Destiny's Child

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:39:34 +0000

Amongst the most commercially successful female groups in the music industry, Destiny's Child has been cranking out multi-platinum crossover R&B for many years. Founded in Houston, Texas in 1990, they were originally put together by Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) when the members were still in their preteens. They paid dues performing on Star Search (rapping, not singing) in the early nineties and eventually went on the road, touring as an opening act for Dru Hill and SWV among others. Their first official release came about in 1997, with the song "Killing Time" off the soundtrack for Will Smith's summer blockbuster Men In Black. The group released their self-titled debut album the following year, scoring a huge hit with "No, No, No," produced by Wyclef. In 1998 they returned with The Writing On The Wall, which featured two more smash singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name." Though they were now bona fide chart-topping superstars, internal strife and financial grievances led to the departure of LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett, who were replaced by LaTavia Robertson and Farrah Franklin. Bad press and a lawsuit ensued, but when the smoke cleared, the album had sold over eight million copies. In the summer of 2000, Franklin left the group, and later that year they released their first single as a trio, finding another hit with "Independent Woman, Pt. 1" (the theme song to Charlie's Angels). Soon after, Destiny's Child dropped their third LP Survivor, which debuted at number one and featured two more hugely popular singles, "Bootylicious" and the title track. A Christmas collection and remix album followed, after which all three members released solo albums. Beyonce, who had long been the star of the group, became bigger than ever thanks to her wildly successful LP Dangerously In Love as well as a starring role in Goldmember, six-figure endorsement deals, and high-profile relationship with Jay-Z. Though rumors swirled that their life as a group had come to a close, the ladies reunited for Destiny Fulfilled, which was released in late 2004. After a highly successful tour, the group announced their permanent break-up to pursue solo projects in 2005, performing their last official show together in Vancouver, Canada, and releasing a greatest hits album that same year. A few pseudo-reunions followed, most of them involving Beyonce's solo career, but for now, the trio seems to be set on remaining just friends. Regardless, Destiny's Child will forever be revered and remembered as a group that overcame numerous obstacles to reshape the sound of pop music, in the process becoming the most popular girl group since TLC. - BWINNING

Boyz II Men

Wed, 8 May 2013 14:50:14 +0000

With their early 1990s hit "Motownphilly," Boyz II Men assured their status as big-time chart-toppers, able to control the No. 1 spot for weeks at a time (often only to be replaced by another one of their singles). Their tight harmonies give a nod to the Doo-Wop artists of the 1950s, while crisp production assures a distinctly modern sound. They've had success with smoking R&B dance tracks, but their true talent lies in their rendering of syrupy romantic ballads that can drive just about anyone to tears. Their perfect A Cappella songs can melt your heart like butter, moving through open chords with exacting precision. Scores of weak imitations later, Boyz II Men continue to sell millions of records as they work with hot producers like Babyface and superstar singers such as Mariah Carey. - JTERRY

Akon

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:30:39 +0000

An R&B singer originally from Senegal, Akon first came to America when he was seven years old. The son of well-known African percussionist Mor Thiam, he was exposed to lots of music at a young age, learning multiple instruments as a child before getting into hip-hop. His appreciation for rap music is evident on his self-titled debut album, especially in the overall production. And, unlike most of today's R&B vocalists, Akon eschews the shirtless bravado and bedroom scenarios and instead deals with inner-city strife. This focus, as well as his plaintive voice, led him to collaborate with hip-hop royalty such as Young Jeezy ("Soul Survivor"), Styles P ("Locked Up") and Eminem ("Smack That"). And while his gritty subject matter appeals to the streets, his hooks are so sweet that they may leave listeners toothless. Akon's sophomore album, 2006's Konvicted, cemented his spot as one of urban music's most important singers. Two years later, after a mix tape presciently titled Black President, he released his third official studio album, Freedom, which found him breaking out in search of broader pop accessibility. - BWINNING

Jill Scott

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:32:59 +0000

Jill Scott was all set to burst on the scene, having recorded the catchy hook (and featured single) to the Roots smash hit "You Got Me." Whoops -- the carpet gets pulled out from under her feet and Erykah Badu is called in to give the single "star power." Luckily the story has a happy ending -- Scott's lovely vocals shined through and earned her heaps of respect and decent sales on her soulful debut Who Is Jill Scott? -- featuring earthy funk backing from fellow Philly friends, the aforementioned Roots. Her voice has a feel very similar to Badu's, rising with jazzy flourishes and guaranteed sensuality on each track, covering everything from relationships to sunny afternoons of her youth. Hopefully we'll hear a lot more of Scott as her individuality emerges. - JTERRY

T-Pain

Mon, 6 May 2013 11:46:55 +0000

Coming out of Tallahassee, Fla., T-Pain started recording four-track keyboard beats and rhyming over them beginning at the age of 10. As a teenager, he rolled with a crew called Nappy Headz, finding local success with rowdy street records like "Robbery" and "F.L.A." After the group's shine began to dim, T-Pain switched his focus to singing. In 2004, he reworked Akon's hit single "Locked Up" into his own tune entitled "F*ck*d Up," and the song took off regionally. Akon himself was so impressed by the cut that he signed the young singer to his Konvict Records imprint. In the fall of 2005, T-Pain dropped his first major label single, the Zapp-flavored "I'm Sprung," in anticipation of his debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga. In 2007, T-Pain staked his claim on hip-hop and R&B with Epiphany, spawning the ubiquitous club joints "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" and "Bartender." With vocoder in tow, T-Pain himself became ubiquitous, collaborating with Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Huey, DJ Khaled and every Florida rapper in existence. In 2008, he released his third album, the circus-themed Thr33 Ringz, which featured the hit single "Can't Believe It." - BWINNING

Monica

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:22:34 +0000

A skilled songstress from Atlanta, Monica debuted in 1995 with her first album, Miss Thang. Though only 15 years old, her talent was undeniable, and she saw her first single, "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," soar up both the pop and R&B charts. Her follow-up, 1998's The Boy Is Mine, was also a hit, fueled by the title track, a duet with Brandy. After that, however, Monica's rising star plateaued a bit, thanks to a long delay between albums. Her third album was initially released only in Japan after a lukewarm lead single and then revamped (including an in-studio overhaul) as 2003's After the Storm. Next album, 2006's The Makings of Me, also earned considerably less attention than her earlier efforts and featured her least successful singles to date. But the resilient singer came back again with a 2009 reality show called Still Standing and a 2010 album of the same name. - RDEVITT

Musiq (Soulchild)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:28:36 +0000

A soulful vocalist hailing from Philadelphia, Musiq first made waves with his single "Just Friends" off the soundtrack to Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. In fall of 2000 he released his debut album Aijuswanaseing, a laid-back mix of full-bodied bass grooves, sensitive lyrics, and jazzy beats. - BWINNING

Maxwell

Thu, 9 May 2013 01:17:07 +0000

A solo vocalist from Brooklyn, N.Y., Maxwell found massive critical and commercial success with his 1996 debut album Urban Hang Suite. Preferring to focus on romance and true love rather than conquests and player bravado, his blend of heartfelt lyricism and hip-hop-infused production proved a surefire hit. The record went Platinum, and Maxwell received a Grammy nomination as well as awards from Soul Train and Rolling Stone. He returned with Embrya in '98, and is slated to release his third LP in early 2001. - BWINNING

Jason DeRulo

Thu, 2 May 2013 04:48:00 +0000

Jason DeRulo earned his reputation as an in-demand songwriter, penning hits for the likes of Cassie, Lil Wayne and Betty Wright before pursuing his own performance career. Then again, this multitalented young artist has always been happy to wear a lot of hats. The Florida native attended a performing-arts high school in Fort Lauderdale and went on to find work as a dancer, choreographer, producer and actor -- and as a singer and songwriter. In 2009, he had his first hit as a singer with "Whatcha Say," a cheater's mea culpa that samples the dramatic Imogen Heap tune "Hide and Seek." His debut followed that same year. - RDEVITT

The-Dream

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:22:14 +0000

Atlanta singer-songwriter The-Dream (born Terius Nash) became a household name in late 2007 with his smash hit "Shawty Is a 10." With a drooping melody, light synth embellishments and a piano line that dances around the downbeat, the song -- off his December 2007 debut, Lovehate -- is the equivalent of R&B cotton candy. But Nash's story begins before then. Among many other credits, he wrote Rihanna's smash hit "Umbrella," as well as J. Holiday's "Bed." In addition to "Shawty Is a 10," The-Dream also scored big with Lovehate's "Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl." In 2009, he released sophomore effort Love Vs Money. The album channels the lite electro-funk of Prince, while also echoing R. Kelly's arrogant sexuality. Add The-Dream's uncanny ear for melody and ability to sculpt instantly memorable hooks, and you have one of the biggest new stars in R&B. - SCHENNAULT

Erykah Badu

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:11:02 +0000

Erykah Badu's sound echoes with strains of lush 1970s soul, cucumber-cool jazz and modern-day hip-hop -- a blend that made her music a noteworthy standout in a sea of Xeroxed sound-alikes when Baduizm, her debut album, dropped in 1997. Although her unflappable, purring vocals garnered well-deserved comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday, Badu, who was born Erica Wright, got her start with some of today's hottest acts, beginning with D'Angelo, whom she opened for in her hometown of Dallas in 1994. That show led to a record contract, collaborations with artists such as the Roots, and Baduizm, written almost entirely by Badu. She followed her triple-platinum, Grammy-winning debut with a successful 1998 live album (which included the hit song "Tyrone") and Mama's Gun, which Badu released in 2000 after taking some time off to raise the son she had with Outkast's Andre 3000. Badu worked through the writer's block that followed by organizing the Frustrated Artist Tour and releasing EP Worldwide Underground in 2003. Five years passed (during which she reportedly completed three albums' worth of material) before Badu put out her next studio album, 2008's New Amerykah. - RDEVITT

Toni Braxton

Mon, 6 May 2013 06:08:15 +0000

Few artists start off on such a good foot as Toni Braxton, whose eponymous first album stealthily climbed the charts after it was released in 1993, KO'ing more established acts along the way and reaching the uppermost rungs. Unlike those she left lying on the mat, Braxton's success couldn't be attributed to a catchy hook or groovy beat. Instead, her songs rely on her husky vocals, which take jazz's heated inflections and map them over sauntering RnB rhythms. With a voice that so convincingly conveys sadness, remorse and occasionally joy, Braxton became the soundtrack for couples rediscovering love and lonely listeners nursing broken hearts alike. Her vocal abilities led to top 10 hits (such as "Another Sad Love Song" and "Unbreak My Heart"), Grammies, a starring role in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and a headlining gig in Vegas. At times, Braxton's career seems to have been fraught with almost as much struggle as success (she's battled with labels twice and has filed for bankruptcy). But this veteran performer (she got her start in 1989 with the Braxtons, a group she formed with her four sisters) has continuously prevailed over setbacks, thanks at least in part to her unique, evocative voice. - RDEVITT

Kem

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:02:53 +0000

An undeniably smooth soul singer, Kem has a sound more akin to Al Jarreau or Grover Washington than Usher or R. Kelly. His music is also more subdued, with mellow, minimalist instrumentation that brings to mind Sade's backing band Sweetback. In addition to singing, Kem writes and produces all of his own music. His debut album Kemistry was released on Motown in 2003, Kem II followed in the Summer of 2005. - BWINNING

Jaheim

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:40:45 +0000

Jaheim busts the same romantic ballad fare as a lot of other singers, but he's got an unusually resonant voice for such a young singer. His medicated hip-hop beats should appeal to the younger generation, and the genuine emotion in his voice will pull in the older crowd. A real talent.

Fergie

Wed, 8 May 2013 16:48:32 +0000

Born Stacy Ferguson in 1975, the woman now simply known as Fergie rose to fame as essentially a set-piece for one of the most popular pop-rap bands of the new millennium. But things weren't always so rosy for the California native. Her first go around in the music industry, with group the Wild Orchid, left her confused and depressed. After Orchid was dropped from their recording contract in the late-'90s, Fergie struggled with addiction and mental instability. But then she landed a role as a temporary background singer for up-and-coming hip-hop act the Black Eyed Peas. In 2003, she was offered a permanent position. And when their songs "Where Is the Love" and "Let's Get It Started" rocketed up the charts, she quickly became a star, appearing in music-related journals such as Blender and FMH. The runaway success of 2005's "My Humps" -- Fergie's meditation on female anatomy -- led to a solo career. Her 2006 album, The Duchess of York, was her debut. - SCHENNAULT

Joe

Wed, 8 May 2013 08:12:24 +0000

Joe takes a smooth beat and a lush carpet of keyboards and sings over them as if he's certain that his voice could convince even arch enemies to fall madly in love with each other. Unlike other artists with the same goal, Joe keeps the explicit lyrics to a minimum, focusing more on sentimental emotional displays and starry-eyed romance. - KHOLLOWAY

Brandy

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 04:54:55 +0000

A former teen sensation who had several Top 40 hits and a popular TV show (UPN's Moesha, featuring Brandy in the title role) before most kids graduate high school, Brandy matured into a full-fledged R&B diva. Born Brandy Norwood and raised in California, the singer released two successful albums on Atlantic and enjoyed chart-toppers like "Sittin' Up in My Room" (from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack), then hit a bit of a rough patch. She married and then divorced producer Robert "Big Bert" Smith, who later claimed their marriage was faked to preserve Brandy's reputation when she got pregnant with daughter Sy'rai (whose birth was chronicled on a 2002 MTV reality miniseries). Her third album, Full Moon, was a critical failure, while 2004's Afrodisiac, didn't fare well commercially, prompting the singer to break with Atlantic. Finally, in 2006, she failed to brake when traffic slowed on the freeway, causing an accident that resulted in the death of the driver in the car in front of her. By 2008, Brandy was still awaiting the outcome of several lawsuits filed in response to the accident, but things were looking up, beginning with the release her fifth album, Human, on Epic. - RDEVITT

The Jackson 5

Tue, 7 May 2013 07:25:45 +0000

The Jackson 5's bubblegum-flavored soul helped Motown usher in the 1970s with a string of chart toppers that included hits such as "ABC," "I Want You Back" and "The Love You Save." Raised in Gary, Indiana by devout Jehovah's Witnesses, the brothers endured the kind of strict upbringing that groomed them perfectly for the "Motown machine." And what a well-oiled machine it was! The Jackson 5's likenesses could be found on everything from lunchboxes to dolls to Saturday Morning cartoons. But by 1974, the machine showed signs of wear and tear: songs weren't charting as highly as they had previously, and demand for Jackson 5 merchandise was drying up. The machine broke down completely when, frustrated by Motown's refusal to allow the brothers to write or choose their own material, the Jackson 5 parted ways with the label and signed with Epic. Motown won a breach of contract suit, thus retaining the rights to the name Jackson 5. The brothers changed their named to the Jacksons. The Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 1997. - LRYAN

Keith Sweat

Wed, 8 May 2013 15:22:25 +0000

Keith Sweat's rise to fame as a soulful balladeer and patron saint of club anthems is curious if not altogether unexpected. Unlike those who preceded him, such as Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross, Sweat's vocals aren't woven from silky smooth notes and satiny flourishes, instead possessing a distinct whine and an adenoidal tone that pulls you in as much as it makes you notice its uniqueness. A standout for his vocal savvy and way with a ballad, Sweat knows how to take listeners from the dancefloor to the bedroom and back, all within the space of a single album. - KHOLLOWAY

Jamie Foxx

Mon, 6 May 2013 05:15:20 +0000

Born in small town Texas and raised by his grandparents, Jamie Foxx found early success on the comedy club circuit, before joining the cast of the Wayans brothers' sketch TV show In Living Color. He then starred in his own self-titled sitcom for several years before making the switch to feature films. Despite being known primarily as an actor/comedian, his first love was always music, and he actually released a little-heard debut album entitled Peep This back in 1994. In 2004, he sang the hook on Twista's smash hit "Slow Jamz," and people everywhere took note of his smooth vocal abilities. That same year he dazzled audiences with his turn as Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, where he flexed his pipes again, singing all of the songs in the film and taking home a Best Actor Oscar for his performance. One of his tunes from the film was sampled by Kanye West as the basis for "Gold Digger," another No. 1 hit. In late 2005, he released Unpredictable, a collection of glossy R&B tracks featuring collabos with Kanye West and Ludacris among others. The album debuted at No. 2 on the charts, and soon rose to the top spot. - BWINNING