r/rnb

I love R&B song lore and this one is RICH with history. Tyrese was on The Kenny Burns Show and he spoke about how What Am I Gonna Do from his 2001 sophomore album, 2000 Watts, was inspired by a teenage would-be romance with legendary R&B songstress, Brandy. "We've been flirting since we were 12/13 years old. We used to sing at the same park... I've always been attracted to that girl and I did a couple episodes of Moesha... I loved her and I love her."

First of all, Brandy had all these young men in a chokehold! Kobe Bryant, Ma$e, Shyne, Usher and Tyrese. She was a true IT GIRL! Second, she wrote about knowing Tyrese since they were kids in her memoir, Phases, where she mentioned doing the L.A. talent show circuit with him, praised his vocal abilities and called him a good longtime friend.

This explains why Tyrese doesn't acknowledge the Aquarius Zodiac sign on Signs of Love Making 😭 Brandy is one of R&B's most notable Aquariuses. His puppy love for Brandy didn't go where he wanted and it hurt him real bad, lmao! Their duet on his Black Rose Album, The Rest of Our Lives, has a whole new meaning now. Anyway, this was cute on his part and I like that he kept things respectful (I am looking at you, Shyne).

This is a great list (by @alank_music).

I'm gonna add some of my faves:

‐> Al Green - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (by the Bee Gees)

-> Boyz II Men - Yesterday (by the Beatles)

-> Destiny's Child ‐ Emotions (by the Bee Gees)

-> Georgy Porgy - Eric Benet feat Faith Evans (by Toto)

-> Az Yet - It's Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry (by Chicago)

We talked about Essence's recent 50 Greatest R&B Songs of All Time list and pointed out the obvious flaw: it heavily prioritized the 2000s through the 2020s while completely ignoring the 1960s pioneers who built the genre.

Leaving out Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Motown powerhouses like The Temptations makes the "all-time" label inaccurate. It should have simply been marketed as the best R&B of the modern era. While putting Stevie Wonder’s "As" at number one was the correct call, omitting the foundation of Black music just to manufacture viral outrage is lazy curation.

What classic track's absence bothered you the most when looking through the list?

Spent the last week soaking up his music and I'm blown away with each listen. His lyricism, production, raw vocal talent with a voice that reaches high falsetto's and bellowing depths have all just got me hooked.

I haven't heard anything like this since... maybe Sonder? But while Brent came through with a gentle love album, GJ just has this range of music that goes from reflecting on love/relationships, family, hustling, to high energy party tracks. The orchestral jazz influence, touches of Prince and D'Angelo too, there's so much depth here to sink into.

Here's a couple stand outs:

• hello - some of that booming orchestral jazz
• brother and sister - reflections on family
• forever - reflections on insecurity in love
• bootleg - high energy track that I swear sounds like a 2000's Pharrell/Just Timberlake track

I highly recommend checking him out, you won't be disappointed

In honor of the 25th anniversary of 8701, Usher flawlessly recreated his iconic look from the first-ever BET Awards in 2001 during the New Jersey stop of the R&B Tour. Usher's 8701 fashion was defined by knitted kufis, durags, leather bomber jackets (this one was by Dolce & Gabanna) and lots of clothes in various shades of red, orange, yellow (to match the album cover). Ironically, it was at this show he was accused of using a clone during his first set. Listen, if Usher can look like this at alost 50, then maybe I can give some credence to such allegations because it seems like he turned back the hands of time on this tour.

For all you chart watchers out there, Ella Langley's Choosin Texas beat Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey's records for the longest running non-holiday singles by female artists for their songs I Will Always Love You and We Belong Together, both of which topped the charts for 14 weeks.

This week, she beat Beyonce's 2003 record for the most weeks spent at #1 in a single year in the 21st century as her song clocks 18 weeks at #1. Beyoncé spent 17 weeks atop the charts in 2003 with Crazy In Love and Baby Boy. With this, she has also now tied Monica for the most weeks at #1 overall for a female artist (The Boy Is Mine, Angel Of Mine and The First Night).

Records are being broken that have never been broken before and all for an annoying ass Country song. And for it to happen to four of some of the greatest R&B songstresses as well. Hate to see it.

And why isn’t there a version online without the glitching @ the beginning?