Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B and RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music. The term Rhythm and Blues, R&B, was first used by Billboard magazine in the late1940′s. R&B was an African-American urban sound that evolved from blues and jazz.

In the late 1940′s R&B was described as rocking and jazz based with a heavy and insistent beat. R&B was becoming popular because of it dance ability. By 1949 the term had replaced Billboard’s category Harlem Hit Parade.

The lyrics of R&B were about everyday life. The songs were about work, sex, and drinking. Concerts then would be hot and wild, sometimes shut down.

By the 1950′s R&B was starting to define the sound of Rock n Roll but by the 1960′s rhythm and blues would include soul music. In the seventies disco was added to the R&B category as was funk. By the 1980′s R&B

was defining music that included soul, funk, rock n roll and pop music.

By the 90′s, Classic-Soul and vocal harmonies were being popularized by Mariah Carey, TLC, R. Kelly, and Boyz II Men. Going into the 21st century R&B would include New Jack Swing, Hip-hop, Neo-Soul, pop and

funk., also known as Contemporary R&B.

From research that I’ve done exploring R&B culture, music and

entertainment magazines such as Vibe, XXL, The Source and Billboard, I’ve seen a mass of pictures, listened to many songs and watched music videos from key artists of the genre.

• Usher, alicia keys, R kely, jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Akon, Alexandra Burke, Alexis Jordan, Rihanna, Beyonce, Neyo, Tinie Tempah, Robin Thicke, JT, Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey,