Jump to content

Alternative R&B

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Teflon Peter Christ (talk | contribs) at 14:43, 5 February 2015 (Undid revision 645564140 by Cshay; unexplained revision). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

PBR&B
Stylistic originsR&B, hip hop, EDM, rock
Cultural originsLate 2000s
Typical instrumentsSynthesizers, drum machines, bass, drums, guitar, vocals (singing, rapping)
Other topics
African-American music - Alternative hip hop - Hip hop soul - Neo soul

PBR&B, also referred to as R-Neg-B, hipster R&B and alternative R&B,[1][2] is a term used by music journalists to describe an emerging, stylistic alternative to contemporary R&B.[3][4][5][6]

Etymology

PBR&B is a portmanteau of PBR (the abbreviation for Pabst Blue Ribbon, a beer most recently associated with the hipster subculture)[7] and R&B. However, despite being the most widely used names for the genre, these terms are often criticized for "pigeonholing" artists into hipster subculture and are derisive.[8][9] Slate suggests the name "R-Neg-B".[10] Others suggest that it falls into a broad category of "alternative R&B" or "indie R&B".[11]

The first use of the term "PBR&B" was on Twitter by Sound of the City writer Eric Harvey in March 2011.[12][13][14] Three years later, amazed and distressed at how far the term--meant as a joke--had traveled, Harvey wrote an extensive essay about it for Pitchfork. [15]

Characteristics

PBR&B artist Frank Ocean performing at the Coachella Festival in 2012

Recording artists associated with the term include The Weeknd, Theophilus London, How to Dress Well, Miguel, Jhené Aiko,[16] Janelle Monáe,[17] Kelela[18] and Frank Ocean.[10][19] Barry Walters of Spin characterizes their unconventional style as an "exchange between EDM, rock, hip-hop, and R&B's commercial avant-garde", and cites Ocean's Nostalgia, Ultra and Channel Orange, Miguel's Kaleidoscope Dream, How to Dress Well's Love Remains, Drake's Take Care, and Usher's Looking 4 Myself as works associated with PBR&B.[1] Brandon Neasman of The Grio observes a "changing of the guard in R&B, from the smooth, cool heartthrobs to these vulnerable, off-kilter personalities" amid the prevalence of social media in society.[16] Neasman finds the subject matter of "these new-wave artists" to be more "relatable" and writes of its characteristics:

[A] lot of the production is echo-laden and lofty, often using a lot of synthesizers and filtered drums—sonically giving a nod to Prince's vintage '80s sound. Additionally, for the most part, it doesn't feel as if these artists are selling sex as their main entrée. Granted, they still sing about the topic, and in explicit detail, but it's in equal proportion to drugs, spirituality and personal philosophies. You don’t get that same diversity in subject matter from the majority of modern R&B singers.[16]

Hermione Hoby of The Guardian writes that "the music is quietly radical" and observes "an ongoing, mutually enriching dialogue between indie and electronic musicians and R&B artists."[7] Gerrick D. Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times feels that "the new movement feels like the most significant stylistic change in R&B since neo-soul rolled around in the 1990s."[20]

Stereogum described the genre as a "fad" that reached its saturation point in early 2014.[21]

Response

Frank Ocean states that he does not like being called an "R&B" musician and he does not like being confined to one genre.[22][23] How to Dress Well was not offended by the term "PBR&B", but found it "tacky".[24] By contrast, Miguel says that he is "comfortable" with the term "indie R&B" because it "insinuates a higher art. Or a deeper or somehow more artistic delivery of rhythm and blues music. It suggests there's more artistry within a genre that has become more of a cliche of itself."[25]

Jozen Cummings of The Awl notes a racialized aspect of the term, plainly stating that "Calling it 'hipster R&B' is a nice way of saying it's R&B that white people like."[26]

Eric Harvey, the writer who coined the term, wrote a thorough response to its proliferation, at Pitchfork.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Walters, Barry (August 22, 2012). "Frank Ocean, Miguel, and Holy Other Usher in PBR&B 2.0". Spin. New York. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. ^ Phull, Hardeep (November 25, 2012). "What's that Racket?". New York Post. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Abebe, Nitsuh (August 14, 2011). "R&B Records With an Indie Affect - New York Magazine". Nymag.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Murray, Nick (December 21, 2011). "Underwhelmed And Overstimulated, Part IV: The Joys Of Nicola Roberts And The Problem With Odd Future - New York - Music - Sound of the City". Blogs.villagevoice.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Beasley, Corey. "The Best Producers of 2011". PopMatters. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  6. ^ Asaph, Katherine St (December 23, 2011). "Underwhelmed And Overstimulated, Part Seven: The Sorrows (And Fantastic Sound System) Of Young Drake - New York - Music - Sound of the City". Blogs.villagevoice.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Hoby, Hermione (November 8, 2012). "The Weeknd: Sounds and sensibility". The Guardian. London. section G2, p. 12. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  8. ^ Jozen Cummings (March 30, 2011). "You Say Hipster R&B, I Say Nappy-Headed Pop. Either Way, It's Offensive". The Awl. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  9. ^ Macpherson, Alex (March 29, 2011). "Ready for the Weeknd? Most R&B fans have better things to listen to | Music | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Voorhees, Josh. "Best music 2011: Bon Iver is unlistenable. - Slate Magazine". Slate.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  11. ^ "Discussion: Hipster R&B Or Alternative R&B – Should The Genre Exist?". Thisisrnb.com. April 6, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  12. ^ Fennessey, Sean (March 23, 2011). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock - New York - Music - Sound of the City". Blogs.villagevoice.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  13. ^ "Twitter / marathonpacks: Okay, so out of the nascent". Twitter.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  14. ^ Barshad, Amos. "Hilarious New Subgenre Alert!". Vulture. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  15. ^ "I Started a Joke: "PBR&B" and What Genres Mean Now". pitchfork.com. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c Neasman, Brandon (October 4, 2012). "Changing of the guard: How Frank Ocean, Miguel and more helped R&B find its soul again". The Grio. NBC News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (December 12, 2013). "The best albums of 2013: No 7 – Cut 4 Me by Kelela". Music Blog. The Guardian. Retrieved June 28, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 23, 2012). "Mixtape Of The Week: Miguel Art Dealer Chic Vol. 1-3". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (November 11, 2012). "Miguel helps lead the charge for an edgier kind of R&B artist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  21. ^ http://www.stereogum.com/1678647/indie-rocks-rb-movement-reaches-its-saturation-point/franchises/essay/
  22. ^ "'The Quietus – Features – Imagery, And A Little Bit Of Satire': An Interview With Frank Ocean". thequietus.com. November 22, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  23. ^ "Genre Boundaries — Who Is Frank Ocean?". Complex. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  24. ^ Diep, Eric (September 18, 2012). "His Thoughts on the Term "PBR&B" — Who is How To Dress Well?". Complex. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  25. ^ Jonze, Tim (February 8, 2013). "Miguel: the slow-burn success of a new R&B superstar". The Guardian. London. The Guide section, p. 10. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "You Say Hipster R&B, I Say Nappy-Headed Pop. Either Way, It's Offensive". theawl.com. March 30, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  27. ^ "I Started a Joke: "PBR&B" and What Genres Mean Now". pitchfork.com. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2014.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alternative_R%26B&oldid=645755195"