Rhythm & Blues 2009

For a while, I was giving up on R&B.  I can't stomach R. Kelly anymore and the rest of the upstarts on the scene just weren't putting it down in a real way.  Lyrics were lacking and creativity had become a thing of the past.  Recently, however, a few artists have breathed new life into the genre and I think the future of R&B is looking brighter.

• Jazmine Sullivan - seeming to almost come out of nowhere, Jazmine Sullivan hit us with the Missy-assisted "Need U Bad" and followed up with the vindictive "Bust Your Windows".  She reminds me of Mary J. Blige with a little neo-soul mixed in.  Great vocals and original songwriting.  Favorite Tracks: "Music" (featuring Floetry...20 minutes of music for the sheets) & "Lions, Tigers & Bears"
• The Dream - He's been out for a while, but everything that came out this year had a tinge of what the Dream brought to the game: somethin' new.  "Shawty Is A Ten" was a true banger and his self-proclaimed title of "radio-killer" held true as he released "Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl".  The Dream came out with a sound that could be appreciated by brothas that aren't normally into R&B by adding a little bit of street and a sound that's unmistakably futuristic.  Favorite Tracks: "All I Need" (a Sterling Simms track featuring Jadakiss...listen for his trademark "Ay, ay")
• T-Pain - Say what you want about my man's vocals and the ever-present auto-tunes, but Pain created his own lane in the music game, blending old-school Roger Troutman vocals with new-school R&B and something that's (don't know if I should use this twice) futuristic.  And now look at all of the imitators...Favorite little-knowns: "Superbad" (a Sophia Fresh track featuring Cee-lo...a club banger) & "Studio Love" (featuring Li'l Wayne croaking out a verse on this smoothed-out baby-maker)
• Keri Hilson - I don't know how anyone could front on "The Way I Are", Timbaland's genre-blending hit with Keri Hilson on vocals.  Her single "Energy" was next up and then came "Turnin' Me On" a jam featuring the eponymous Li'l Wayne.
• Marsha Ambrosius - Aside from her work with Floetry, Marsha has been putting in solo work for a minute.  A recent mixtape called "Neo Soul Is Dead" hints at a possible solo project.  Her voice is incredibly ranged and she's not afraid to get a little gangsta, as evidenced by tracks with Nas and the Game ("Why You Hate The Game" and "Hustlers") and Freeway ("This Can't Be Real").  Favorite Little-Knowns: "Murda" (solo featuring The Game) & "Freakin' Me" (a Jamie Foxx track featuring Ms. Ambrosius)
• Jamie Foxx - The new album "Intuition" is crazy!!!  'Nuff said!  Favorite tracks: "Digital Girl"(featuring Kanye) & "Blame It"(featuring T-Pain)
• Sterling Simms - A new artist who you may remember from a feature on Jay-Z's Kingdom Come album.  He's got some good lyrics and some serious production that may keep him around for a while and judging by the homie's Facebook status, he's working on a second album.  Check out "Jumpoff" featuring Sean Paul of the Youngbloodz, that good take-you-home banger for the late night club crawl.
• Ryan Leslie - Major buzz has been generated about this cat recently.  He's been putting out some quality work!  Check out the hypnotic "Addiction" featuring Fabolous and Cassie and "Kiss Me" featuring Cassie.
• More to come, but let me know who you think is doin' it right now...