Music Choice will kick off Black History Month by celebrating iconic artists, timeless music and lasting legacies. They kick things off with Bell Biv DeVoe who talk about their thoughts on the state of R&B today today’s state of R&B.
About the state of R&B, Mike explains, “The state of R&B music seems like it’s more at the concert, because R. Kelly doesn’t put out too many albums, but R. Kelly sells out every tour. He just goes out, and he just goes, it’s packed like he got three platinum albums. Charlie Wilson, he just goes on tour, and you just go.”
Ronnie added, “I think the state of R&B as well is almost like the state of hip hop you know for some reason, the influence that hip hop has on people like us and people that have come after us, but now with R&B music it’s the same thing as hip hop you know they cocking they hat to the side, a la, what I’m doing right now of course. I got the tie on, but I got the jeans that might sag a little bit…the lines are kinda blurred to a certain extent.”
Ricky added, “The support for R&B music today is not what it used to be…you know so when you ask about the state of it it’s like it’s it’s questionable because I’m not sure where the lack is, is it in getting the music to the people or is it just the the the actual support for that people, the audience is just not, you know, supporting R&B music like they used to.”
About which R&B artists today they respect, Bruno Mars is at the top of their list. Ronnie explained, “One of the artists that we look to when we talk about all the time is Bruno Mars. Just his swagger and his energy you know as a solo artist he’s incredible but with his horns section and the dancin’ that they do like it reminds you of New Edition and groups like The Temptations, and he seems like he pays attention to detail and he understands his audience and he doesn’t wanna fall short of the mark.”
Mike commented on Chris Brown, comparing him to Bobby Brown. “I probably looked at it like from a different aspect like you figure you know Chris Brown…it just seems like he has something that a publicist couldn’t buy and today’s artists are really valued more on their hits than their hit and so to me, I think he um he has something else going on that is you know it’s where Bobby was but in 2017 on steroids.”
Music Choice Trending Now will feature popular music videos and curated throwback playlists from artists including Andra Day, Common, T.I., Whitney Houston, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Original programming highlights will include an exclusive “Kings of R&B” playlist hosted by Bel Biv DeVoe and Behind the Lines: John Legend on the making of his “Love Me Now” music video.
