What is Neo Soul Music?

Neo soul is a genre of music that emerged in the 1990s. It blends elements of soul, R&B, and hip hop, and is often seen as a more organic and natural alternative to mainstream R&B. If you’re wondering what neo soul music is, read on to learn more about this exciting genre.

Origins of Neo Soul

Neo soul is a musical genre that emerged in the early 1990s. It is a combination of soul, R&B, and hip hop. The genre was created by artists who were looking to return to the sound of classic soul music while also incorporating elements of contemporary R&B and hip hop.

1970s Funk and Soul

The sound of Neo Soul music first developed in the 1970s, with artists like James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone creating a new genre of funk and soul music. This new style was influenced by traditional soul music, but with a more modern twist that made it more appealing to younger audiences. The popularity of this new sound quickly spread, and by the 1980s, artists like Prince and Michael Jackson were incorporating elements of funk and soul into their own pop music.

In the 1990s, a new generation of Neo Soul artists began to emerge, including Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. These artists brought a fresh perspective to the genre, infusing it with elements of hip hop and R&B. The result was a sound that was both new and familiar, which resonated with audiences around the world.

Today, Neo Soul remains popular with both listeners and musicians alike. The genre continues to evolve, as new artists add their own unique spin on the sound. But at its core, Neo Soul is still about creating honest, soulful music that speaks to the heart.

1980s Hip Hop and Rap

The origins of neo soul can be traced back to hip hop and rap music of the 1980s. Artists like Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy were creating a new sound that incorporated elements of soul, funk, and jazz. This new sound was fresh and exciting, and it quickly gained a following among black audiences.

By the 1990s, neo soul had become its own distinct genre, with artists like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo leading the way. These artists blended the best of what came before them to create a sound that was uniquely their own. Neo soul quickly gained popularity beyond the black community, and today it is enjoyed by fans all over the world.

Characteristics of Neo Soul

Neo soul is a subgenre of soul music that originated in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a mix of traditional soul music with contemporary R&B, hip hop, and sometimes jazz. Neo soul is usually performed by artists who sing and play their own instruments, and it often has a more organic sound than other types of soul music.

Lyrics

One of the most defining characteristic of Neo Soul is the focus on meaningful and introspective lyrics. Artists in this genre often sing about personal and social issues, drawing on their own experiences to deliver a message that is both relevant and relatable. This topical focus sets Neo Soul apart from other genres, which tend to be more focused on escapism or hedonism.

Instrumentation

Neo soul music is primarily an African-American genre that combines elements of soul, R&B, hip hop, and sometimes jazz. The music is generally characterized by its mellow sound and use of organic instruments. Common instruments used in neo soul include keyboards, bass guitar, drums, and horns. Vocalists often sing in a smooth, relaxed style that is similar to the way singers in earlier generations of soul music sang.

Vocals

The vocals are the centerpiece of any neo soul song. The focus is on the quality of the voice and the emotion that the singer is conveying, rather than on technical virtuosity. Many neo soul singers have a distinctly throaty, smoky quality to their voices, which adds to the sensual feel of the music.

The lyrics of neo soul songs are often introspective and personal, dealing with topics such as love, heartbreak, and spirituality. The lyrics are also often more overtly political than those of other popular music genres, addressing issues such as racism, sexism, and poverty.

Instrumentation
Neo soul songs often make use of live instrumentation, rather than relying strictly on synthesizers and drum machines. Common instruments include acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and horns. The use of live instruments gives neo soul a warm, organic sound that is unique among popular music genres.

Production values
Neo soul production values are generally fairly minimalistic. The focus is on the quality of the songwriting and performances rather than on overwhelming the listener with sonic gimmicks. This stripped-down approach allows the listener to focus on the emotional content of the song.

Key Artists

D’Angelo

D’Angelo, full name Michael Eugene Archer, is an American R&B and neo soul singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting abilities, and has won multiple Grammy Awards. D’Angelo’s sound draws from various genres including R&B, soul, funk, hip hop and rock. He has been credited as one of the leading voices and innovators of the neo soul movement.

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu is one of the most important Neo Soul artists. Her music is a mix of R&B, hip hop, jazz and funk, and she is known for her soulful vocals. Her debut album, Baduizm, was released in 1997 and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She has released several other successful albums, including Mama’s Gun (2000), Worldwide Underground (2003) and New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008).

Lauryn Hill

Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Lauryn Noel Hill began her musical career singing reggae and R&B with a high school band called the Fugees. The group’s 1996 album, The Score, sold more than 17 million copies worldwide and took home several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Soon after the Fugees’ success, Hill released her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album was a critical and commercial success, earning five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year.

Neo Soul Today

Neo soul music is a genre that emerged in the early 1990s. It’s a mix of R&B, gospel, jazz, and hip-hop. The term “neo soul” was coined by producer/keyboardist Kedar Massenburg in the mid-1990s to describe a new style of music that was influenced by traditional soul music but was also fresh and new.

The Neo Soul Revival

Neo soul is a type of popular music that emerged in the early 1990s. It’s a mix of traditional soul music and contemporary R&B. The term “neo soul” was coined by music industry entrepreneur Kedar Massenburg in the late 1990s to describe a new type of soul that was influenced by both classic soul and contemporary R&B.

The neo soul movement began in the early 1990s, when artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill emerged on the music scene. These artists blended traditional soul sounds with contemporary R&B to create a new sound that quickly gained popularity.

In the late 1990s, Kedar Massenburg coined the term “neo soul” to describe this new type of music. Since then, neo soul has continued to evolve and thrive, with artists like Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Bruno Mars carrying the torch for this genre.

Despite its relatively short history, neo soul has had a significant impact on popular music. The genre has influenced a new generation of artists and continues to shape the sound of popular music today.

Neo Soul’s Influence on Pop Music

The sound of Neo Soul has heavily influenced the sound of modern pop music. The likes of Beyonce, Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys have all been influenced by the genre, with Neo Soul’s influence often being cited as a key reason for the growing popularity of R&B in recent years.

While it would be unfair to say that Neo Soul is solely responsible for the current popularity of R&B, there is no doubt that the genre has had a huge impact on the sound of contemporary pop music. Beyonce’s self-titled album from 2013 was heavily inspired by Neo Soul, with tracks such as ‘XO’ and ‘Pretty Hurts’ taking influence from the genre.

Bruno Mars’ 2014 album ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ also drew heavily from Neo Soul, with tracks such as ‘When I Was Your Man’ and ‘Treasure’ incorporating many of the key elements that make up the genre.

Alicia Keys is another artist who has been greatly influenced by Neo Soul, with her 2001 debut album ‘Songs in A Minor’ being widely considered a Neo Soul classic. Her most recent album, 2016’s ‘Here’, also contains several tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Neo Soul album, such as ‘She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv’ and ‘illusion of Bliss’.

It is clear that, while it may not be as commercially successful as it once was, Neo Soul continues to exert a large influence on pop music today.