Culture

Culture can be defined many ways; your definition of culture may be different from what I think culture is. Culture to me is a group of people who express the same values, attitudes, beliefs, and common knowledge.

I know you’re probably wondering how in the world culture is related to R&B music, well culture has everything to do with R&B. Once R&B first developed, it told stories about the "black America" struggle. R&B music is another way to keep the African culture intertwined with black America. When I think of R&B culture, I think about a big cookout surrounded by the best music, food, laughter, and love. Even though that’s not exactly what R&B culture is, it does play a part of bringing the African American culture together. The culture of R&B is so much more than music, food, and laughter, it tells stories about love, hard times, empowering women, uplifting individuality, embracing who you are as an African American.

 

There are a couple of artist who speaks on and demonstrates through their music on what the R&B culture is. There are two major artists I feel that displays what R&B culture stands for, the godmother of soul, Mrs. Erykah Badu, and the granddaughter of R&B, Mrs. Lauryn Hill. These two women representents the R&B culture by style and through their music. Badu was not named the godmother of soul for no reason, he strong but soft melodies about her African decent heritage is what made her stand out from so many artists. She didn't just talk about love and sex, but she educated all generations about who they were as African Americans, and to be proud to be black. She stepped out from her music and became a speaker to advocate for the wellbeing of all people. Badu expressed that "following your heart also means eliminating the things that no longer evolve you." Her statements do not only speak to the African American culture but to all other cultures as well. Badu has a since of appealing to the older generation, not only that but she also captures the younger generation by stating the following statement above. Erykah Badu will always have the younger generation respect every time her presence enter a room. Now why is Lauryn Hill named the granddaughter of R&B? Well that's very simple, she is the creator of neo-soul. while Badu appealed to the older generation, Hill is for the much younger generation. I still find myself and majority of people around my ago group who still plays her album today. Hill represented the younger side of the R&B culture, things we were afraid to say to society and to our community hill unapologetically said it; Such as "Hip-Hop isn't just music, it is also a spiritual movement of the blacks! You can't just call Hip-Hop a trend!" Hill had this burning passion to enlighten our culture on what this life was about and how as a whole African American are fed bullshit everyday, and all we do is sit back and consume it. She actually had stopped doing music and started to go around and speak the truth that many didn't want to acknowledge but needed to be heard. Lauryn Hill became so vocal for everyone to be culturally aware that many labeled her as crazy because she did not want to pursue music anymore, but that's another story on a different blog. That is why feel that Lauryn hill did and still does represent the R&B culture, not only through her music, but she also used her voice in a different setting to bring light on the blind. One last quote that I certainly have hung up in my room by Mrs. Hill is " we can't plan life. All we can do is be available for it."

 

Anytime you feel as though you may not know exactly what R&B culture stands for or mean, I would say research those two artists and listen to and embrace what they should say. It takes an intellectual mind to comprehend some of the depth of wisdom that they regurgitate. Both powerful women and many more advocate on the behalf of many of our ancestors to keep the African heritage much alive. I can admit that I wasn't that aware of what culture meant to me, I knew what it symbolizes and how it pertained to my ancestors, but not how I'm surrounded by culture everyday. That the music that I insist on listening to everyday speaks on culture, anything that's speaks about life and how we go through it. Like I stated in the very first paragraph culture is a form of attitudes and common knowledge a group share. R&B culture share a common understanding to not be ashamed of who you are, and to keep the African heritage intact. R&B music has developed a sense of a new Devine culture than it has ever before. More of the younger generation are becoming more culturally aware about who they are and where they come from, and what it means to be African American. Being Culturally aware has became so much more than just than just the music, it has become a movement. Music in general is powerful because it speaks to our mind, body, and soul, but once the music is initiated people are more prone to speak out about their culture and let others to wake up and see the truth about their own society. Those two women who introduce a new sound into R&B music captured all audiences to look at yourself and love yourself and everyone else around you. Once they felt their music touching the souls of not only just their community but the souls of everyone, stepped out and became speakers for every generation. So for me, these women are legends musically, but they are also inspirations to the future generations to come. I will make sure that I am culturally and socially aware of who I am as an African American, and I hope you do as well.  

Revised

R&B has blessed this earth for many years now, without R&B there would not be any hip-hop, reggae, country music, jazz, pop, rock, and gospel music. We all have to appreciate Rhythm and Blues, without it where would any of us be? R&B is a genre of popular African American Music that started to emerge in the 40s. Back then it was more about the instruments then it was about vocals. The 40s were when blues and jazz sound came from trumps and saxophones. AS R&B started to evolve, during the 50’s is when a couple of vocal artist started to combine their talents on top of these instruments giving the real funk to R&B. Artist such as ray Charles and Ruth Brown dominated R&B, giving it more exciting tune, in our case, giving it a more lit sound. Back in the 40’s and 50’s African Americans didn’t have much, but they surly had music, which no one could ever take away their sound. R&B music was a way to escape from  the constant oppression and segregation of black from the whites. It was a way of showing the whites we are talented and strong and deserve to be here on this earth just as much as the next white being.

 

 

Ray Charles was the biggest artist to shape R&B music in the 40's his ability to create different sound with different instruments. Ray and many other artist was a  huge success because he brought vocals on top of his piano playing. Ray Charles alone goes down in R&B history due to the fact the he was blind and had an "I don't give a fuck attitude" That many opposed but so many others loved. He showed the world not only am I black and blind, but I am able to see the racist things that are going on around me. That is what R&B was and still is about, being yourself and being proud of who you are. That the government may can limit the African American ability to move up on the social ladder, But he can not take the god given talent and soul one was born with.
Back in the 50's, in the black community R&B and Gospel was always separate from each other, no one dared to turn gospel music into R&B music. Until Ray Charles came along and did just that. The late Ray Charles even stated "When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it." Ray Charles was heavily criticized by "Christian Black Folk" That it made him go even harder with his own style of music. That's why Ray is a mogul in R&B history, he did the inevitable transferring church music into R&B. It was something he couldn't help because that is his sound, it was something again he didn't care about because he was doing something he loved. As you can see artist like Ray are the reason R&B music and artist now are able to express who they are without feeling ashamed about it. The History of R&B is not to be ignorant musicians, but showing the world that it doesn't matter what people say, they will talk about you till the day you die. So why not be who you are, instead of being what someone wants you to be.

 

Moving on up the timeline during 1970's, As R&B music continued to expand out more, becoming international and not just local. You could see how apposed to the 50's the 70's started to become more than just about instruments and vocals. It started to become a trend, with fashion and dance moves.  Michael Jackson had to be the star idol during the late 70's, R&B wasnt becoming your more traditional church going, jazz playing music. It was becoming more of

everyone's favorite artist, some may not have like Michael as a person. One thing is for sure, they loved his music and his moves. Michael was more than just an entertainer he was an artist. growing up Michael and his brother sung mainly R&B music. As Michael got older and branched off to become a solo artist he wanted to create his own sound from the traditional R&B music he uses to perform. Michael was definitely gifted with playing different instruments as well. unlike Ray Charles, Michael didn't know how to play the sax, besides, music was evolving and during the 70's it was more about the guitar sound and the bass of the drum. During the 70's it was a time where hippies was significant and many people were big on world peace. That is exactly what Michael wanted to convey in his music, is world peace. Michael even states "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." Michael strayed from traditional R&B by speaking about world peace, child hunger, and love. He brought more of a pop sound instead of the typical gospel blues. Many people across the world listen to Michael music, his music was inspirational. He shared the R&B culture internationally with the world, that is why Michael Jackson is a legend. His music didn't just touch the African American community, while touching all races.

 

As you can see Michael Jackson and Ray Charles are two completely different artists but both bring a similar vibe to R&B. Both artist brought a new funk vibe that no one has ever heard of. Ray brings the gospel and soul, while Michael brings the funk and pop to R&B. These creative individuals both shine a new light, showing that Country music and gospel can transition into. One they both artist talked about in their music was love. Both spoke about the love for a woman, but Michael also spoke about the love for the world. Ray didn't speak about anything other sex, love, dancing. I feel as though Ray only sung about songs that he knew people would listen to and buy and Michael did songs that he felt strongly about that he knew the world could listen to. Both of them had different audiences and different visions. Michael was more international while Ray would of been more local, but both in their different ways brought together races as one with their music. Which that to me is what Rhythm and Blues is all about, bringing everyone together through the love of music.

  

 

CONFESSIONS

 

 

 

Now that we have seen and heard some of the songs our grandparents rocked to, let’s talk about more modern music that we all might have enjoyed. This album was more dedicated to our parents age group, but they played this album so much that we had no choice but to sing along and feel as though we actually understood what he was talking about. Confessions came and hit everyone by storm, this album in itself felt like a soap opera and we couldn't wait for the next album to drop. Usher have showed the world a different element in this album by airing his dirty laundry. The album of the year of R&B music was confessions.

 

 

Why was this album the album that stayed on repeat for our parents? Confessions told the real tale of usher infidelity, this was the album where he set the record straight for the entire world. This was truly his confession to his wife and the public. I’m pretty sure he told her exactly what happened before he dropped this album in 2004. The album had our moms in their feelings the most because of they took this album as “these men aint shit”. They also sympathized with him because usher acknowledge his mistake which showed his maturity level. This album was also our father’s favorite album, specially my father.  This album gave the men the courage in a way to just own up to their mistakes. For our parents, this album was therapeutic in a sense for them. Those married couples who were in the same situation as usher, felt this album as healing.

 

 

 Confessions was the album in which the world saw usher develop from a boy into a man. instead of him singing his same love songs, he turned the game around singing this album to the world about his infidelity. This album was the ultimate “I fucked up, but I am sorry” for men. Even though this album was usher confessions, he still made a sex song on his album called “Can you handle it”. It would not be a great album if he didn’t talk about sex just one time. This is what many can appreciate usher for, his ability to switch up his music and give you the right amount of sexiness. Besides everyone knows sex sells. In interviews that usher has went on, he specifically talks about this album being the album where he was able to express who he was and a way to tell the truth on what actually happened. He told many reporters that this album was his way of healing and mending things with his self. I mean who can blame the man for making an album to express how he cheated on his wife and made an outside baby. I think this album was the best album to me even still till this day. When this album released back in 2004, I was only 8 years old. I didn’t know anything about “grown up things” I just knew his music made me feel good and that it made my momma say “ O, that’s my song!”, so obviously it was my song  to. Now being 20 years old I still find myself playing many of his songs on this album. What makes it so great is that he starts to sing about the whole situation and how it unfolded. He told the story in a way where you could see his emotions and also the emotions of his wife, when he tried to plead his case. Even the video of confessions you would have thought you seen him actually talking to his wife the way they acted out the whole scene. This does make me wonder though, if there would even be a confession if a baby didn’t appear. That is the only reason why usher told his wife about his infidelity because his side piece got pregnant and she was keeping it. Confessions was so juicy in details because he states in one his song “she says she’s 3 months pregnant and she’s keeping it, the first thing that came to mind was you, the second thing, how do I know if it’s even mine, and is it true”. how do you not claim a child that you know for a fact you been sleeping with this woman for months? Usher definitely amazed the world with this album because he didn’t hold back a thing. Confessions was a diary for usher and his fans were the first ones to hear the details. Usher gave us so much emotions in every song, he honestly taught a lesson to men and woman, that if you mess up, own up to it. This era was definitely usher growth as an artist and as a man.



Marvin Gaye  

What's going on - is a smooth song that exhibits the passion of love and how everyone should give love. This song was made during the time segregation was still in place. as you can hear when he exaggerates in his voice when he sings "love" and "what's going on".

What's happening brother - mirrors the song what's going on with the same instruments but this song has more base in it. so it sets it more in a serious tone, this song displays his passion for people coming together and helping one another, he speaks about hard times for black men with out work and lack of opportunity. This song is to inspire people to come together and help one another

Right on - the baseline sets this song off, it gives a more blues feel to me then the other songs. in the previous song he is still singing about people uniting, this song more so elaborates about the people struggles. You can tell he has an emotional connection with this song just by listening to the pain in his voice.

Flyin High - This song to me was a "in your feeling" song for our grandparents, this song is a lot slower then the previous songs, the drum instrument can be a little softer, he even says in the song "not to loud" so maybe we was talking about the drum. This song to me is very dull and the only thing I take from it is "so stupid minded".

Save The Children - by the title you can already infer that this song is about helping children, this song is a nice song, it's slow as well. I feel as though him talking and then singing after is a nice touch to the song, so that people can understand him clearly. The instruments in this song gives off a soft mellow tone about a serious situation. This song is to encourage people to "save the babies" as he says in the song.

God is Love - I love the soft piano playing in this song, this track you can hear him just singing and pouring his heart out to this song. This song he speaks on his religion, and what he believes in. This is the shortest song on his album.

Inner City Blues - This song is my favorite song on the album. I love the blues feeling it gives off. it definitely makes you move back in fourth. I love how he harmonize with his voice in different keys. listening to this song I feel as though our grandparents would have been cruising to this song on repeat.

Mercy Mercy Me -  This song resembles the first two songs in instruments, it is an upbeat song as well. I feel as though he could of changed up the instruments because in my head I'm singing what's going on, and its a total different song.

Wholy Holy - when it first started off I thought it was a Christmas song, like the rest of the album he speaks about uniting. This song is different because of the saxophone which gives this song a nice touch. He hits a lot of high notes in this as if he's crying. this album to me Marvin Gaye wanted to bring awareness to everyone that the world can be a better place if everyone comes together and love one another. to me this album was made to uplift and encourage everyone.

hello to my fellow audience, my name is Tia Hunter. I am from South Carolina born and raised, so everything that has to do with the dirty south, such as; good fried food, good laughs, BIG family, and good ole soul music is me. I have been surrounded by soul music my whole life. That type of music you feel down in your heart with each word and each melody. Soul music can speak to you in ways many people would not be able to understand. It can make you want love, it can uplift you, it can make you dance, and by my website title you are probably here because of a certain soul song that your father knew he could play to get your mother in the mood. Don't kill the messenger though! As you continue reading in depth on my blog you will find yourself listening and discovering songs that catch your interest and that might also be added to your play list, fellas I'm talking to you. ladies please don't think I left you out, because you will also find a song that you can relate to as well. Besides that, is what soul music is about touching each gender soul with every emotion. I really came to slay your life, and introduce you to the music that can make you cry, smile, and dance. ladies and gentleman I hope you enjoy and appreciate the songs that you may also conceive your children on.