African American music

African American music (also called black music, formerly known as race music) is an umbrella term given to a range of musical genres emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, who have long constituted a large ethnic minority of the population of the United States. They were originally brought to North America to work as slaves in cotton plantations, bringing with them typically polyphonic songs from hundreds of ethnic groups across West and Sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States, multiple cultural traditions merged with influences from polka, waltzes and other European music. Later periods saw considerable innovation and change, and in the 21st century, African American genres have become some of the most dominant in mainstream popular music.

The 1990s and 2000s

The end of the 20th century and the dawn of the new millenum brought us some of the best and maybe most controversial African American music. Hip Hop and R&B are the most popular genre of music by African Americans in this time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Contemporary R&B, as the post-disco version of soul music came to be known as, remained popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Male vocal groups in the style of soul groups such as The Temptations and The O'Jays were particularly popular, including New Edition, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Blackstreet, and, later, Dru Hill and Jagged Edge. Girl groups, including TLC, Destiny's Child, and En Vogue, were also highly successful. Destiny's Child would go on to be the highest selling female vocal group of all time.

Related Topics:
R&B - 1980s - 1990s - The Temptations - The O'Jays - New Edition - Boyz II Men - Jodeci - Blackstreet - Dru Hill - Jagged Edge - TLC - Destiny's Child - En Vogue

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Singer-songwriters such as R. Kelly, Montell Jordan, D'Angelo, and Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Toné! were also significantly popular during the 1990s, and artists such as Mary J. Blige and blackstreet popularized a fusion blend known as hip-hop soul. D'Angelo's Marvin Gaye/Stevie Wonder-inspired sound would lead to the development of neo soul, popularized in the late 1990s/early 2000s by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, India.Arie, and Musiq.

Related Topics:
R. Kelly - Montell Jordan - D'Angelo - Raphael Saadiq - Tony! Toni! Toné! - 1990s - Mary J. Blige - Blackstreet - Hip-hop soul - Marvin Gaye - Stevie Wonder - Neo soul - 2000s - Lauryn Hill - Erykah Badu - India.Arie - Musiq

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By the 2000s, R&B had shifted towards an emphasis on solo artists, including Usher and Alicia Keys, although groups such as B2K and Destiny's Child continued to have success. The line between hip-hop and R&B became significantly blurred by producers such as Timbaland and Lil Jon, and artists such as Lauryn Hill, Nelly, and Andre 3000, who, with partner Big Boi, helped popularize Southern hip hop music as OutKast.

Related Topics:
2000s - Usher - Alicia Keys - B2K - Destiny's Child - Timbaland - Lil Jon - Nelly - Andre 3000 - Big Boi - Southern hip hop - OutKast

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Urban music" and "urban radio" are race-neutral terms which are synonymous with hip hop and R&B and the associated hip hop culture which originated in New York City. The term also reflects the fact that they are popular in urban areas, both within black population centers and among the general population (especially younger audiences).

Related Topics:
Hip hop culture - New York City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In February 2004, plans were annouced for a Smithsonian affiliated Museum of African-American music to be built in Newark, New Jersey. Groundbreaking is planned for 2006.

Related Topics:
2004 - Smithsonian - Newark, New Jersey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~