Njs4ever: The Forum

My name is Nicole Little. I live in Philadelphia, PA, USA. I'm 27 years old. My zodiac sign is Cancer. I love RnB and rap music from the old school, especially new jack swing and hip hop soul. I love to sing. I used to sing in the school and church choir. Somebody finally have a website that celebrate the music from my generation which is new jack swing and hip hop soul. This website is very important to me because I was 10 years old when new jack swing was born which is 1987. I love new jack swing and hip hop soul. It brings me back in the days when I used to go to concerts. To me, new jack swing(1987-1993) and hip hop soul(1994-1999) was the renaissance of black music in the 60s and 70s. A lot of people are going to disagree with me on this. That's just my opinion. I'm goin to tell you why I say that. New jack swing is the rebirth of funk, and hip hop soul reminds me of soul music in the late 60s and 70s. Compare to this crap that they're playing on urban stations, the late 80s and 90s is more soulful. I like the way this website breaks it down when it comes to what type of artists that came out of first and second wave of the new jack era and the first and second wave of the hip hop soul movement. I hope this website stays around for a long time because we need stuff like this in today's RnB genre. We need to bring back the essence of good music back. Too much of this homogenized RnB music is the reason why RnB is not selling as much now. It seems like hip hop is giving real RnB a run for its money. In my opinion, RnB made a lot of money during the new jack and hip hop soul/neo-soul movement. I miss the black music during the new jack, hip hop soul, and neo-soul era.

Hey Nicole,

Great to hear others with the same passions, frustrations, and angers that I experience when I hear substandard material these days.

It is interesting question though - is R&B today just not up to the same standards. Well, I'm not sure it's that simple. I think mainstream radio (being in Philly, u would know better than me), tends to play the disposable, quick fire hit stuff that seems to lack the substance that many of us are looking for.

Meaning, there is good stuff out there, you just have to dig a bit more to find it.

I think New Jack was great as it managed to combine great melodies, great playing (those keyboard solos), great harmonies and vox (Aaron Hall, Jodeci), kicking rhythms, a hyped vibe and still have a commercial/pop sensibility.

The question is, did the generation of R&B fans BEFORE US feel the same way about New Jack Swing as we feel about some of the Mainstream R&B of today ???? Well maybe not, I guess its arguable, but in MY opinion, I reckon whilst some of them didn't dig it (especially the hip-hop influence), lots more did like it !!

Ahhh, u could argue about it forever, all you can so is keep trying to find the next batch of great artists. I mean u shouldn't have to look to hard in Philly of all places....there is plenty of talent out there...I LOVE Jill Scott !!!

Oh, one more thing Nicole, I have a good friend from Philly. Her name is Stephanie Renee. Do u know her or have you heard of her ???