In this episode of ‘The Need To Know’ podcast, the crew held a discussion which questioned the genre’s current trajectory, with SaVon declaring, “I miss real R&B artists.” While acknowledging the talent of artists like Leon Thomas, Bryson Tiller, and Lucky Daye, the crew argued that today’s R&B lacks the depth and full package that once defined it.
Bryson Tiller was credited with creating a subgenre, but the crew lamented that it lowered the bar, with more artists relying on autotune and vibe over substance. “It’s the era of ugly R&B,” a quote attributed to Chris Brown, was cited to highlight the shift away from traditional star power.
The debate eventually circled back to the roots of R&B, with the crew agreeing that artists today need to study the legends of the genre—names like Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross—if they want to truly understand what it takes to make timeless music.
Despite the nostalgia for the past, there was hope for the future, with some pointing to new acts like Kenya Dixon and the Moore twins as potential saviors of R&B. But others remained skeptical, believing that while history may repeat itself, the current generation of R&B is too focused on image and not enough on substance.
