Listening to the hard hitting beats of the streets with Hip Hop ambassadors such as Big Daddy Kane, Ice T, Biggie and Tupac gave you a glimpse into the inner city in the 80’s and 90’s. The Crack Era and the conditions and the aftereffects of the Reagan Era had fostered a feeling, style, and music that was hard and tough. Hip Hop had no problem keeping it “street.” However, R&B with deep roots in the church, had maintained a softer side.
In the late 80’s into the mid 1990s all this would change. Producer Teddy Riley and big boss man Andre Harrell fused and cleverly marketed and sexy street sound dubbed “New Jack Swing.” New Jack Swing was the baby of R&B and Hip Hop. Hence the black shades and boots of Jodeci, the R&B thug lyrics of R. Kelly, the aggressiveness of Aaron Hall and the wild style of Bobby Brown. This fusion of hard beats and beautiful melodies has continued through the sounds of artists such as Trey Songz, Chris Brown, T- Pain, and Mario.
Original New Jack Swingers
Teddy Riley â Mr. Riley helped to create the New Jack Swing sound. He would go on to lead the groups Guy and Blackstreet. “I define the term [new jack swing] as a new kid on the block who’s swinging it,” states Riley.
Jodeci â The attitude, sound and fashion of Jodeci transformed how we looked at the R&B artists. This group helped to blur the lines between R&B and Hip Hop and gave R&B that thug “appeal.” With classics like “Come and Talk to Me” and “Feenin,” they truly redefined the male R&B group.
Aaron Hall â This member of Guy(Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall & Damion Hall) and frequent bicycle short wearing crooner(1990s) lent his voice to hits such as “I Like” and “Piece of My Heart” (Mr. Hall allegedly accused R. Kelly of taking his style.)
Bobby Brown – In the 1980’s Bobby Brown formally of the boy group New Edition became the “Prince of R&B”. Mr. Brown followed a break up with New Edition with “Don’t Be Cruel”, “Roni”, “Every Little Step”, and “My Prerogative.” Don’t Be Cruel ranked #8 in the US Top 100 and #1 in the US R&B charts.
R. Kelly â Member of Public Announcement, Mr. Kelly helped to bring us songs like “She’s Got That Vibe” and “Honey Dip.” He went on to become an R&B living legend dropping countless bedroom classics.
—— By: Deyior Dunbar
The sound of New Jack Swing is like nothing else. It’s a mix of soul, R&B, and hip-hop: the perfect combination to bring an urban street vibe to your music collection. With its infectious beats, funky grooves, and smooth vocals – it’s no wonder that New Jack Swing continues to take over dancefloors all around the globe. So what sets this genre apart from other forms of rhythm & blues? Let’s explore how New Jack Swing is bringing R&B back to the streets!
New Jack Swing first burst onto the scene in 1985 with Teddy Riley as its primary architect. Combining elements of funk, rap, and synthesized pop production techniques created a fresh new sound for urban audiences. As one of the earliest modern examples of crossover genres, this style soon evolved into something far greater than just another iteration of old school R&B. Its unique blend has made it stand out amongst contemporary artists such as Bruno Mars and Beyonce who incorporate elements of New Jack Swing within their songs today.
Since its emergence in the mid 80s, New Jack Swing has become increasingly popular on radio stations and nightclubs across America – influencing generations beyond those that grew up listening to it initially. Whether you’re looking for some nostalgia or simply wanting to discover something new; there’s no denying that New Jack Swing still proves itself time and time again as being one of the most powerful musical forces in history.
History Of New Jack Swing
New Jack Swing is a genre of music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was created by blending R&B, Hip-Hop and Rap elements together with traditional funk, jazz, and soul music. This fusion of genres has become one of the most widely influential sounds to emerge from American popular culture.
The roots of New Jack Swing can be traced back to artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Luther Vandross, Teddy Riley, and others who began combining elements of rap into their work during the mid-1980s. By 1988 these same pioneers had begun producing songs that featured a “swing” beat -a syncopated style which lent itself well to dance-oriented rhythms. The first notable success story was Bobby Brown’s hit single “My Prerogative” released in 1989.
Since then this new sound has been embraced by countless fans worldwide as it continues to evolve through modern production techniques while still holding onto its core identity. This unique blend of classic styles and contemporary innovation makes New Jack Swing an enduringly popular form of R&B that will remain relevant for years to come.
Influence On Music And Culture
New Jack Swing, with its combination of R&B, Rap, and Funk elements, has had an immense influence on music and culture. It’s signature sound resonates through countless genres, from Pop to Hip-Hop to House. The style is known for its upbeat tempo and catchy hooks that make it perfect for dancing – something that was especially embraced by the African American community in the early 1990s. This period saw a surge of popularity for New Jack Swing as artists like Heavy D & the Boyz, KRS-One, Bell Biv Devoe, and many others helped bring this unique genre into mainstream consciousness.
This influence extended beyond just music; New Jack Swing became a cultural movement in itself. Its flashy aesthetic mirrored the exuberance of youth at the time while also providing listeners with slick beats and smooth vocals that made it irresistible. As such, it quickly became associated with fashion trends like oversized clothes, Doo-Rag hats, bright colors and gold jewelry -many of which remain popular today.
The impact of New Jack Swing continues to be felt across the musical landscape even decades later. Artists are still incorporating aspects of this genre into their work, proving how timelessly relevant this influential style remains.
Conclusion
I. Overview of New Jack Swing
New jack swing is a genre of music that combined the elements of hip hop, R&B and funk to create an entirely new style. It was popularized in the late 1980s and early 1990s by producers Teddy Riley, Andre Harrell and others who helped define the sound. Through its influence on both music and culture, it has become one of the most important genres in modern history.
II. Impact on Music & Culture
The impact of new jack swing can be seen across many aspects of music and culture today. Its fusion of rap, rhythmic soulful beats, sampled breaks and smooth vocals created a unique sound that still resonates with listeners today. It helped pave the way for other types of hybrid styles such as neo-soul or contemporary R&B, which are still very much alive in current pop music. Furthermore, it provided inspiration for numerous artists including Mary J Blige, Usher, Lauryn Hill and more – all pioneers in their own right who have gone on to achieve mainstream success.
III. Final Thoughts
In conclusion, new jack swing changed the face of music forever when it emerged onto the scene in the late 80s/early 90s. Not only did it revolutionize how we thought about combining different genres but also inspired generations to come with its infectious energy and creative approach to songwriting. As a result, I believe we owe a lot to this incredible movement and should pay homage to those whose contributions made this sound possible!
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