The Defining Artists of 90s R&B [Funk Radio E104]

Today we turn back the clocks to an era of music we’re not as familiar with (but still appreciate) – the R&B and New Jack Swing movement that more or less defined popular music throughout the 1990s.

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In the age of Wonder Balls, A Goofy Movie and Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, much of the popular music developed into what we’re calling contemporary R&B, although for you scholars out there, “New Jack Swing” might be a more accurate terminology for this fusion of soul, hip-hop and dance-pop. While the elements of this style of music all existed prior to this (often times much longer), the 1990s is really when they started coming together in the forms of bands like Destiny’s Child, Blackstreet and TLC. Full disclosure: this isn’t our most knowledgeable period of music but as two 90s babies we would be at a loss to ignore the developments that happened during this time. If you bear with us on a regular basis then this will be like a ball of chocolate with candy treats inside!

Support the artists we mentioned in this episode!

“Jumpin’, Jumpin'” by Destiny’s Child

“Hit Me Off” by New Edition

“I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men

“No Diggity” by Blackstreet

“Call On Me” by Janet Jackson

“Thong Song” by Sisqo

“Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe

“Waterfalls” by TLC

“Real Love” by Mary J. Blige