R&B

R&B — rhythm and blues — is the smooth heartbeat of modern music, where soul meets groove and emotion wears a silk jacket. From Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin laying the groundwork with classics like I Got a Woman and Respect, to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and ’s Songs in the Key of Life defining the sound of the ’70s, R&B has always been about feeling — deep, irresistible, and real. The ’90s brought lush slow jams and vocal fireworks from Whitney Houston, TLC, and D’Angelo, while Mary J. Blige added hip-hop grit to soul’s sweetness. Today, artists like Frank Ocean, SZA, and H.E.R. keep the flame burning — dreamy, modern, and endlessly expressive. Whether it’s heartbreak or heat, R&B is the soundtrack of late nights, long looks, and the rhythm that connects soul to sound.