What is Neo Soul Music? 5 Artists You Need to Know

Neo soul is a genre of music that combines elements of soul, R&B, and hip-hop. Here are 5 artists you need to know if you’re a fan of neo soul music.

What is Neo Soul Music?

Neo Soul is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is a combination of R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop. The term was coined by music producer Kedar Massenburg. Neo Soul is known for its laid back, mellow sound. The lyrics are often about love, relationships, and social issues. The artists below are some of the most popular Neo Soul artists today.

The Origins of Neo Soul

Neo soul is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a mix of elements from soul, R&B, hip hop, and jazz. Neo soul artists are often influenced by the music of the 1960s and 1970s.

The term “neo soul” was coined by music industry insider Kedar Massenburg in the early 1990s, when he was working at Motown Records. He used it to describe a new generation of soul artists who were influenced by both classic soul and contemporary R&B.

These artists combined elements of traditional soul with modern production techniques and subjects that addressed social issues. Artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, Lauryn Hill, and India.Arie were at the forefront of the neo soul movement.

Today, neo soul is enjoying a renewed popularity thanks to a new generation of artists who are carrying on the tradition. These artists are doing neo soul in their own unique way, creating a sound that is fresh and contemporary while still paying tribute to the genre’s roots.

The Key Elements of Neo Soul

The neo soul sound is a combination of elements from ’70s soul, gospel, and R&B. The music is often described as mellow, smooth, and emo-
tional. Lyrics are typically about personal themes like love, heartbreak, and spiritual questing. The genre first gained traction in the early ’90s with the rise of groups like Tony! Toni! Toné! and D’Angelo.

While there are no hard and fast rules about what makes a neo soul song, there are some key elements that are common to most tracks in the genre. These include:

-A focus on organic instrumentation like keyboards, drums, and bass guitar
-Mellow tempos
-Emotive lyrics about love and personal relationships
-Extended song structures with multiple verses and lengthy instrumental passages
-A smooth, sensual vocal delivery

If you’re interested in exploring neo soul music, here are five artists you should get to know:

Erykah Badu: One of the most respected figures in the neo soul world, Badu is known for her distinctive vocal style and thought-provoking lyrics. Her debut album, Baduizm (1997), is considered a modern classic.
D’Angelo: D’Angelo’s rise to fame in the mid-’90s was propelled by his breakout hit “Brown Sugar.” His highly acclaimed second album, Voodoo (2000), cemented his status as a leading voice in neo soul.
Lauryn Hill: Lauryn Hill first came to prominence as a member of the hip hop group The Fugees. She launched her solo career with the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998. The album won five Grammy Awards and established Hill as one of the most successful women in music.
Maxwell: Maxwell made his debut with Urban Hang Suite (1996), an instant classic that helped define the sound of neo soul. He has since released four additional albums, including blacksummers’night (2009), which won three Grammy Awards.
Amy Winehouse: Amy Winehouse’s breakthrough album, Back to Black (2006), brought new attention to the neo soul genre. Although she didn’t live to see its release—Winehouse died at age 27—the album was a commercial and critical success, winning five Grammy Awards

5 Neo Soul Artists You Need to Know

Neo Soul is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is a combination of Soul, R&B, and Hip Hop. The term “Neo Soul” was coined by music industry insider Kedar Massenburg in 1996. Here are 5 Neo Soul artists you need to know.

D’Angelo

D’Angelo is often credited as one of the pioneers of the neo soul movement. His debut album, Brown Sugar, was released in 1995 to critical and commercial acclaim. The album featured a mix of R&B, funk, and soul influences, and its success helped to pave the way for other neo soul artists.

D’Angelo is known for his smooth, sensual vocal style, and his music often explores themes of love and relationships. He has released two more studio albums since Brown Sugar, both of which have been met with positive reviews. D’Angelo is currently working on a new album, which is scheduled for release in 2019.

If you’re a fan of soulful R&B music, then D’Angelo is an artist you need to check out.

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu is one of the most important figures in neo soul. She emerged in the mid-’90s with her debut album, Baduizm, which featured the massive hit single “On & On.” baduizm was a game-changer for R&B, as it blurred the lines between hip-hop, soul, and jazz. Over the course of her career, Badu has continued to push the boundaries of R&B, and she remains one of the genre’s most vital and innovative voices.

Lauryn Hill

One of the most influential neo soul artists of all time, Lauryn Hill got her start with the Fugees before releasing her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998. The record was an instant success, winning five Grammy Awards and selling over eight million copies in the U.S. Lauryn’s unique blend of soul, R&B, hip hop, and reggae influences helped to redefine the genre and set a new standard for what was possible in neo soul music. She has since released a handful of solo singles and appeared as a guest on numerous tracks by other artists, but has not released a full-length album since Miseducation.

Maxwell

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Maxwell was one of the first artists to be associated with the neo soul movement. His 1996 debut album Urban Hang Suite brought him critical and commercial success, and he has since released four more albums, the most recent being blackSUMMERS’night in 2016. Maxwell’s unique brand of soulful R&B is characterized by his smooth falsetto vocals and jazz-influenced arrangements.

If you’re a fan of: D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild

Check out: “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” “Pretty Wings”

Musiq Soulchild

Musiq Soulchild is one of the most popular Neo Soul artists of all time. His unique style blends R&B, soul, funk, and hip-hop, resulting in a sound that is both classic and contemporary. Musiq’s debut album, Aijuswanaseing, was released in 2000 and topped the R&B charts. He has since released five additional albums, all of which have been well-received by critics and fans alike. If you’re looking for some great Neo Soul music, Musiq Soulchild is a great place to start.