Love is in the air as people around the world prepare for Valentine’s Day. Of course, the most romantic day of the year calls for that perfect soundtrack, and R&B is the ideal genre thanks to its timeless, melodious vocals that really tug at the heartstrings and mesmerise the listener.
R&B’s influence stretches from its early pioneers to today’s superstars, still commanding about 17% of US music revenue, according to worldmetrics.org. To celebrate the smoothest day of the year, The River asked Kingston students to name the true Kings and Queens of R&B – artists whose silky vocals and passionate lyrics belong on your playlist.
With the highest number of votes, SZA took the spot of top female artist, with people commenting on her velvety vocals and calming tone, and unique melodies. The emotional richness of her hits, including All the Stars and Ctrl, is just one reason why KU students voted her their R&B queen.
Coming in second was the Queen Bey herself, the living legend, Beyoncé. Students cited her top-tier vocals and melodic intensity of her timeless hits, Love on Top and Dangerously in Love, as what made her a true R&B legend.
Meanwhile, for the guys, number one is none other than Usher Raymond III. Is it any wonder he makes you want to leave the one you’re with? Kingston students described him as “pure brilliance”, a “smooth icon”, and the only representative of “true R&B.” Usher is really making KU students scream Yeah as we head into Valentine’s Day.
Runner-up for the gents, we have the man who is inseparable from his hat, Ne-Yo. Classified as smooth and vocally phenomenal, his songs, So Sick, Dilemma, Miss Independent and Hate That I Love You are singled out as standouts within both his repertoire and the R&B genre.
With the most votes out of all the categories, ranked number one by a large margin, we have Chris Brown as the top overrated R&B artist. With people commenting that “he just ain’t all that”, “his dancing is better than his singing,” there is a clear stigma surrounding this artist, seems like no-one is quick to forget his history with Rihanna, with others describing his music as “freaky.” It seems “the R&B hall of fame doesn’t have a seat with his name on it.”
Meanwhile, a “hidden gem” KU students were keen to shout about, a man whose Nickelodeon days are still engraved in the hearts of many, Leon Thomas III. With one respondent praising the Nickelodeon star as a “lyrical genius”, praised for his beautiful tone, his songs, Mutt and Until The End of Time were singled out as standouts.
If you’re interested in listening to some more of KU’s favourites or want to broaden your R&B horizons, press the link below to see a playlist of favourites and hidden R&B gems ready to stream.