View source for Comtemporary R&B

{{Infobox Music genre
|name=Contemporary R&B
|bgcolor=#0000E1
|color=white
|stylistic_origins=[[Funk music|Funk]]<br />[[Soul music|Soul]]<br />[[Rhythm and blues]]<br />[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
|cultural_origins=Early 1980s [[North America]]; [[New York City|New York]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Montreal]], [[Atlanta]], [[Chicago]], [[Toronto]], [[Houston]]
|instruments=[[Synthesizer]]s - [[musical keyboard|Keyboard]] - [[Drum machine]] - [[Synclavier]] 
|popularity=Moderate since 1980s worldwide, especially in recent years in the United States and the United Kingdom.
|derivatives=
|subgenrelist=List of R&B genres
|subgenres=[[Quiet storm]]
|fusiongenres=[[New jack swing]] – [[Hip hop soul]] – [[Neo soul]] – [[2-step garage|2-step]] – [[R&B Punk]] - [[Rhythm & grime|Rhythm & Grime]] – [[Crunk&B]] - [[Snap & B]] 
|regional_scenes=
|other_topics=[[List of R&B musicians|Musicians]]
}}
'''Contemporary R&B''' (also known as simply '''R&B''') is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop and R&B.

Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional [[rhythm and blues]] music, today the term ''R&B'' is most often used to describe a style of [[African American]] music originating after the demise of [[disco]] in the 1980s. Some sources refer to the style as '''[[urban contemporary]]''' (the name of the [[radio format]] that plays hip hop and contemporary R&B). ''R&B'' has also been used to refer to ''rhythm & bass''

Contemporary R&B has a polished [[record production]] style, [[drum machine]]-backed rhythms, an occasional [[saxophone]]-laced [[Beat (music)|beat]] to give a [[jazz]] feel (mostly common in contemporary R&B songs prior to the year 1993), and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. Electronic influences are becoming an increasing trend in contemporary R&B, and the use of hip hop-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness and grit inherent in hip hop may be reduced and smoothed out. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of [[melisma]], popularized by vocalists such as [[Stevie Wonder]]<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = R&B | work = | publisher =  | date = | url = http://www.kustombeats.com/r_b.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref>, [[Whitney Houston]]<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = R&B | work = | publisher =  | date = | url = http://www.kustombeats.com/r_b.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref><ref name=TheNewYorker-Apr2006>{{cite web | last = Frere-Jones | first = Sasha | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = On Top: Mariah Carey's record-breaking career | work = [[The New Yorker]] | publisher = [[CondéNet]] | date = April 3, 2006 | url = http://www.newyorker.com/critics/music/?060403crmu_music | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-08-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Whitney Houston Syndrome | work = | publisher =  | date = | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=GV2Tc_qnBmUC&pg=RA1-PA2001&dq=Whitney+Houston&lr=&as_brr=3&hl=ru&sig=trJHo3EWjdFx1udvDZHcanJF36A#v=onepage&q=Whitney%20Houston&f=false | format = | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> and [[Mariah Carey]].<ref name=TheVillageVoice-Feb2003>{{Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = "Vision of Love" sets off melisma trend | newspaper = [[The Village Voice]] | pages = | year = | date = February 4, 2003 | url = }}</ref><ref name=TheNewYorker-Apr2006>{{cite web | last = Frere-Jones | first = Sasha | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = On Top: Mariah Carey's record-breaking career | work = [[The New Yorker]] | publisher = [[CondéNet]] | date = April 3, 2006 | url = http://www.newyorker.com/critics/music/?060403crmu_music | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-08-30 }}</ref><ref name=RollingStone-Nov2008>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The 100 Greatest Singer of All Time : Rolling Stone | work = [[Rolling Stone]] | publisher =  | date = November 12, 2008 | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/greatestsingers/page/79 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-11-22 }}</ref>