Minnesota
Music critics would like to call Minnesota the "center state" for R&B music because it all started in the 1980's when Prince made his musical debut in 1978. Prince, Morris Day & The Time, Wendy & Lisa, Vanity 6, Alexander O' Neal, and Mint Condition added a funk, rock, and disco-influenced style in their music, which opened the doors for other Midwest artists to stand out in the business. Also, legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis started their own production company after being fired from Prince's band. As you can see, their production led them to much greater heights because they started working with many artists, including Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, New Edition, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, and Sounds of Blackness.