As of recent, I’ve been thinking to myself a lot about how much the R&B game has changed. It’s safe to say that the market is flooded with nothing but pretty faces and not enough vocal/writing skills and emotion in their voices. It’s also apparent how much R&B and Hip-Hop have merged thus creating this entity that I honestly do not really care much for nowadays. We have true R&B artists like Joe who seemed to get caught up in the Hip-Hop scene by making it a point to consistently collabo with cats like G-Unit, Pastor Troy, and Papoose in past records.
Now, i’m not saying that cross-genre collaborations shouldn’t take place, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of R&B/Soul. It shouldn’t be at the expense of sacrificing your talent and niche for a couple extra fans. Although I can’t knock the next man’s hustle, it’s truly saddening to me when I peep certain videos and seeing muh’suckas with songs called “She’s a 10″ gettin hella airplay. Call it venting….call it whatever, but what happened to the days of real R&B sans the interjection of a 8 or 16 bar rap verse….none of that “yooo, i got that hot 16 son!” I mean the smooth days when music made you feel good about yourself and made you feel good about falling in love or yearning for it. I can go on for days but I really wanted to bring this topic to the essence of the duet.
Classic duets by the legendary Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel or Billy Preston & Syreeta, or even Rick James and Teena Marie or Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack. Where have these duets gone? Why do we have to settle for Neyo & Rhianna. lol. It seems like so many artists are willing and able to drop their own albums but we’re not getting too many album collaborations that showcase that real music….that pure R&B. I recall like 5 years ago reading an article where Joe was talking about creating a duets album and apparently that never happened.
What’re your thoughts? Would you like to see more duet albums come out by talented and established artists? Do you think there is an audience for such in today’s industry? Which R&B artists would you be interested in seeing doing a duets album?
~Thesis
Reecie
thehonorable
DONT EVEN GET INTO RICK AND TEENA. THAT WAS THAT DEAL. “FIRE AND DESIRE”…WHATS MESSING WITH THAT. “REMEBER WHEN I USED TO…LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THEM AND LEAVE TTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! THATS WHAT I USED TO DOHAOOOOOO!”
ITS GETS NO BETTER.
I feel what you’re saying Thesis but the truth is, in what’s currently on the scene, we only have a handful of artists with who that kind of project/idea could work and even then…
You mentioned Joe’ intention to release a duets album but when thinking about it, finding the right female artist to have the right chemistry with him would still be a challenge don’t u think?
Anyways, I’m not saying it’s a lost cause, but it’s a hard request to complete!
I think a lot of singers are playing it safe and just doing songs with rapper because it’s easier to promote and perform.
A little off subject but one R&B album I enjoyed was Macy Gray bigs. Her first song finally made me happy was kind of a duet.
So you are saying that the Lil’ Bow wow and Omarion cd doesn’t excite you? LMAO.. Here’s the deal, back before there was really big business for urban artists, there were the good ol’s days. When Marvin and Tammi made beautiful music.. Back then, there was an overwhelming “we have to stick together” feeling due to “Da Man” trying to jerk a brother at every turn. What has now happened is that R&B which used to stand for Rhythem and Blues, now stands for Rundown & Boring. There is a formula and the industry bigs are sticking to it. I said this a long time ago, mediocre is the new dope and it is all too true. Don’t get me wrong.. I love hearing Put you to Bed…. when I have a shorty on the bed, and she is telling me how much that song turns her on.. But aside from that, nah. It’s a sad time and with th exception of a few real stars, R&B is in trouble.. Is it time to say R&B is dead and add that to Hip Hop to equal Real Music is dead?
I’d hesitate to say that “real” music is dead. However, you could still say that R&B, as it is, is a degenerate of what it used to be before pop came into the equation. Now, it’s all about who has the strongest record sales, whose song pumps out the speakers the loudest, or who wrote who’s song.
Ashford and Simpson. Thats all I have to say. Ashford and Simpson actually wrote “Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing” and “You’re All I Need to Get By” for Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell when they first got to Motown Records. R&B/Soul will never die. There will always be a place and a home for the genre. I agree people [artists] are cheating the fans and the organic essence of where real music originates from. Jaheim has a great R&B record out right now called “Never” and it is pure, unfiltered, unadulterated, non-processed rhythm and blues. It makes for a great wedding song actually. Point is, people are figuring this whole hiphop/r&b fusion shit out and are becoming tired of the sound.. there is a deep void that needs filling with authentic R&B. Someone has to take a stand and drop the true sound again. Musicianship and session players will make a comeback. I am not saying programmers are out the door. But people are waiting impatiently for the cycle to come back to the greats like Marvin and Tami… I know Tank and Mary J could do a baaamb duets album. I would partner Alicia and Tyrese (which would hopefully force Tyrese to fall back in love with the sound that put him in the game devoid of hiphop). And I challenge Jaheim and LeToya Luckett to put a duets album out. It is about time our generation put out some classic records… lets work.
“It is about time our generation put out some classic records”
Chuuuuuuuuuuuurch
Tank & Mary J
Jaheim and Letoya Luckett
Alicia & Tyrese
wow…..please explain these choices. lol
Overall the choices are doing exactly what I want; stirring things up. Ya see, the choices of who to match up are a means to an end, almost a byproduct of what needs to be accomplished. The fact is, if we do not begin mulling over choices it will never come to fruition. Tank equates R&B prowess. Mary J. has staying power and is sultry with all she does. Why not Tank and Mary J? Trust me, it will be incredibly hott. The idea is to nurture the POSSIBILITY, the IDEA that this can happen and once it happens… our generation would then wise up…. “like yo fam, have you heard the new shit… the ill tank/mary project?!?!” until we give the general public to something exciting to further their synaptic responses they will not take initiative to construct such a fierce combo/duet album such as the ones mentioned above.
Jaheim has an undeniable voice. LeToya because she has a tad bit more to do, in order to completely get out of Destiny’s Child shadow. She needs to be challenged, as does Jaheim. I know their project would be something for the ages to be talked about.
Tyrese. In terms of content and substantial records, I can bang out to anyone of his records, pick an album… but somewhere along the line he forgot to uphold the artform of R&B for his fanbase due to his seemingly apathetic stance he took with the most rescent project “Alter Ego.” I am not mad that he does the film game, but he has to remember his music is pre-eminent to where his career initially blossomed. He is that dude when it comes to r&b joints. SO I CHALLENGE HIM TO PUT A DUET ALBUM OUT WITH ALICIA!!! why? WHY NOT? Why because I know what I am talking about. I can personally resurrect Motown if given the opportunity. I do not deal with faulty product and I know what the industry has been doing wrong. And it is not a problem that in the 1960’s they merged pop charts with r&b charts, in order to have more of a market share. I know music. I especially know revenue generating music. And I know how to get these fickle fans salivating at the mouth. Taste buds and consumer tastes are way too fluid and explosive, fans know what they want when they hear it, but they cannot put it into words. That is perfectly alright. Not only can I put it into words, I can put it into music collaborations and full length LPs.
Please believe I can give the world classics, rather it be a baby making record, an all purpose record, a self-reflection record, feel good records, party records, grown and sexy records or straight ballads… I am giving HIT records.
While he might not be able to collaborate, Neyo can write some decent duets (I’m specifically thinking of ‘Leaving Tonight’ with JHud) I mean sure she sang circles around him but it is still a good song.
yo post up the new Wu-Tang. IT’S FIRE!!!!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/40016303bb929d/
In the words of a dear friend “You right.” My family has the Body and Soul Duets collectino (don’t ask) and the songs are on point. I was going to write and say who is out there now, but I have to take that back. I can’t pair anyone up in my head..but there are some people both famous and a lil under the radar, that id like to see doing some stuff. And while I do like Mary and Johnta Austin, and their song, and think that they would both be great, a song that didn’t have “Hood” in the title would also be nice.
Names I’d throw out there: Anthony Hamilton, Clifton Oliver, Jilly from Philly, Jazmine Sullivan, J Hud, Carol Riddick, Teedra Moses, Musiq, Chrisette Michelle, J. Holiday, Monica, Fantasia, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly before he gets sentenced, and of course Mary.
I know some of these people have done stuff together before, but I think some decent collabos can be made. And as much as we all know that Rihanna can’t sang, I did like the Umbrella/Cinderella remix with Chris Brown.
It’s kind of sad that the only singer doing duet is Rihanna. I’m not going to front I do like that Umberella/Cinderella remix and that new song with Neyo but I doubt those two songs will go down as classic R&B.
Great Post Thesis… I have a better question for you Thesis.. What happened to the R&B singer??? T-Pain, is not an r&b singer, he’s a novelty… The r&b game has been killed by the young generation!
Peace Stallion! (nh)
I really don’t think R&B has artists of the calibre of Marvin Gaye and the wonderful Motown era. It is all about money these days and the attention span of its audience means it is easy come easy go, download it move onto the next thing.
XFacta-
Son, I don’t know what happened to the R&B singer. I mean, real talk, let’s look at someone like Dave Hollister. Ya man, in my opinion, had the vocals, the ballads, the hood songs, the romance, the writing, and at the end of the day, the industry ain’t promote him and cats ain’t buy his records. “Chicago 85..The Movie” is probably one of the most potent R&B albums in the last 5-7 years. He had classics on there “One Woman Man” “Take Care of Home” those jawns are classix b. Still….no love for him…he went on and moved to Zomba Gospel. Not saying that that was a bad move because you can see a sudden change in his lyrics as he got older and more mature. But the industry don’t support that pure R&B man….you gotta go to Hidden Beach and what not to get love. I mean look at Chrisette Michele….does Def Jam know what to do with her? I dunno….Ya girl was a guest artist on an episode of “Lincoln Heights” like 2 weeks ago.
The fact of the matter is that not only is there a terrible machine behind real R&B artists, but yo, consumers don’t support’em. And maybe i’m biased but Joe’s “Better Days” album had some cuts son, “Isn’t This the World”…..c’mon now!!! I mean if we got cats like T-Pain and still yearning for hits from R-Kelly, then somethings really wrong!
And I accept that maybe i’m part of the problem…I mean we got cats like Floetry, Kindred the family Soul, Lina (what ever happened to her?), Jill Scott, et. al and I don’t really buy their records…..I dunno…what do ya’ll think?
BklynQueen’86-
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Shoooot! Whatchu know about Carol Riddick sista? lol
Check out HM’s Artist Interview section and peep the Carol Riddick interview! She’s amazing
Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore
a great example of steady, strong and spontaneous relationship… just plain lovely..
Tamia and Jaheim, Tamia and Joe, or Tamia and Tank…
I just feel Tamia’s voice is soooo pure but she hasnt had the commercial success that mimics how talented she is… I thinking pairing her up with a leading R&B guy will take her to that next level.
Jaheim and/or Joe would be two cats who should definitely get at another female to do some duets type stuff….i feel you Eb!
Teedra Moses and Raphael Saadiq have a total of 3 smoking hot collabs between two of their albums. Teedra also collaborated with her background singer for “Love’s Gonna Be” off her new album which was another hot one.
Faith Evans is hands down the best female collaborator of the new school. She’s made classic songs with 112, Carl Thomas, Boyz II Men, the list goes on.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that R&B artists don’t collaborate anymore, it’s just not usually put out on the radio. There aren’t that many folks out there making music to begin with, so naturally the number of R&B collabs are on the downslide.
I don’t know of who I would like to see collab…probably Mariah Carey and anyone, Jill Scott and anyone, and Beyonce and anyone. MC and Bey have their share of haters, but they have amazing voices that are so versatile. MC and Joe teaming up again would be hot (a la Thank God I Found You Remix).
I’d love to see a Teedra Moses and Eric Roberson duet.
Ooooooooo I LOVE Eric Roberson! AND I love Jagged Edge. Which i why I think I love Eric so much cause he sounds like one of the twins….
Anyways, I want to see Glenn Lewis and Amel Larrieux again. (What’s come over me)
Really, I’d like to see Glenn Lewis and anyone!
What about Avant and Kelly Rowland? Did they ever have a song?
Wait!
Goapele and Jamie Foxx???
Hmmm…..
Goapele and Jamie Foxx…wow…that’s left field. lol
LOL.
Thesis, that’s why it would be so hot.
Hell, Jamie can imitate anybody, so he could make it work with Goapele.
Seriously.
Imma wait on a track from them. =)
And even though I hate videos… the video MIGHT be hot.