Dj's United > R 'n' B suggestions please

High Fidelity

Jul 30 2006, 10:30 AM

I started a topic on this a couple of years back where I was asking how a modern tune is designated as R 'n' B.

If I remember rightly I said that R 'n' B to me was blues with rythm. ie: "My girl has left me so now I'm gonna jump off this bridge".

Now to be honest, I couldn't care less "how" a tune is designated as R 'n' B.

Last night I had one girl asked for some R 'n' B (Damn, I'm getting fed up of typing R 'n' B, never mind playing it).

But I didn't have a clue what to play, and trying to get her to name a track was impossible.

So what would be really useful to me would be a list of R 'n' B tracks that I can use as a memory jogger. Doesn't have to be all modern tracks, 60's onwards up to the latest releases.

So, help an old guy out, I know I can rely on all you experts out there to give me nice long list.

jamminroadshow

Jul 30 2006, 10:33 AM

Is it just me or do most Dj's hate R & B. I am one that can not stand it but have to play it. When i speak to other Dj's they say the same its horrible but we have to play it

spinner

Jul 30 2006, 10:53 AM

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 10:30 AM)

I started a topic on this a couple of years back where I was asking how a modern tune is designated as R 'n' B.

If I remember rightly I said that R 'n' B to me was blues with rythm. ie: "My girl has left me so now I'm gonna jump off this bridge".

Now to be honest, I couldn't care less "how" a tune is designated as R 'n' B.

Last night I had one girl asked for some R 'n' B (Damn, I'm getting fed up of typing R 'n' B, never mind playing it).

But I didn't have a clue what to play, and trying to get her to name a track was impossible.

So what would be really useful to me would be a list of R 'n' B tracks that I can use as a memory jogger. Doesn't have to be all modern tracks, 60's onwards up to the latest releases.

So, help an old guy out, I know I can rely on all you experts out there to give me nice long list.

The meaning of R & B today has shifted from its 1960's connotations so if you want tracks to play in response to the sort of request you mention then you probably need
chart stuff from acts like Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris, Nellie, Outkast, Pussy Cat Dolls, Jamelia etc etc.

As I'm sure you know, Rock 'n' roll came out of Rhythm and Blues ( e.g. Joe Turner ) and in the early part of the 60's R & B ( loosely ) covered anything from Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed etc. ( where the Rolling Stones got most of their early repertoire ). Soul gradually took over as the dominant description and many of its exponents had originally been described as R & B - Ike & Tina Turner, Don Covay and Otis Redding are examples. In fact some of Redding's earlier material is more reminiscent of Little Richard in style.

It can be quite confusing ( as well as debatable) and there are various sub-divisions.

I was conscious of of the current meaning of the term from the 90's onwards. If it's any consolation I often get the same reaction you did when I ask for specific R & B tracks!

Leonna

Jul 30 2006, 11:04 AM

I don't call this stuff R 'n' B I call it B&G (Bump and Grind) as that seems to be what people want to do to it. I don't mind it in small doses but if you are in a club and go the B&G room it as if being female and going there means "Hi there stanger come up and 'grind' me".

Don't they look for the "Hi Gorgeous" signals! (which I am not sending)

. Being in Brighton we usually do the we bat for the other team act and they leave us alone.

But it puts you off going into the room in the first place.

spinner

Jul 30 2006, 11:09 AM

QUOTE (Leonna @ Jul 30 2006, 11:04 AM)

I don't call this stuff R 'n' B I call it B&G (Bump and Grind) as that seems to be what people want to do to it. I don't mind it in small doses but if you are in a club and go the B&G room it as if being female and going there means "Hi there stanger come up and 'grind' me".

Don't they look for the "Hi Gorgeous" signals! (which I am not sending)

. Being in Brighton we usually do the we bat for the other team act and they leave us alone.

But it puts you off going into the room in the first place.

Good comment. I was asked for a lot of this stuff at the wedding reception I did last night. I thought at the time that quite a few of the girls were practicing to be pole dancers.

Subtle it ain't.

Welsh Audio Man 21

Jul 30 2006, 11:53 AM

I think most of us DJs hate R'n'B, because unlike the general public, we have been introduced to much better music, and much more enjoyable...

oh, and most of the Destiny's Child tracks go down well, as do Black Eyed Peas, pussycat Dolls, Nelly, Usher... and the list goes on....

Why not check out one of the bling bling albums, they are crammed with the crap!!

Eskie

Jul 30 2006, 03:23 PM

I actually quite like R&B...well, not the chart rubbish like J-Lo, Christine A, Nelly etc but good stuff such as Rahsaan Patterson, Donald McCollum, Angela Johnson etc. as for punters asking for it, usually they're referring to the chart cack (especially if they're under 20) popular tracks (mostly) from the last 6 or 7 years include:
Black eyed peas-my humps, pump it, mas que nada
Pussycat dolls-don'tcha, buttons, beep
Usher-yeah
Nelly-hot in herre
Notorious big-nasty girl, Mo money mo problems
Beyonce-crazy in love
Destinys child-independent woman
Christina A-Dirrty
Justin Timberlake-Like I love you, rock your body
Sisqo-Thong song
Lemar-dance with u
Eve & Gwen Stefani-Let me blow ya mind
Next-Too close
Mary Mary-Shackles
50 cent-In da club
Blu cantrell & Sean paul-breathe
Snoop & Pharell-Beautiful
Mary j Blige-Family affair
R Kelly-Ignition (remix), Step in the name of love, Happy people
Kanye West-Gold digger

But you have to be careful, cos if it's a crowd who are really into R&B they'll probably want current/new R&B for at least 1/2 n hour, before moving into some of the "older!" classics, if it's mostly chav white kids then it's not too much of an issue

The line between R&B and Hip-hop is very blurred now also. Some of the tracks included above are really Hip-hop but as far as most requests from punters are concerned it's all R&B

spinner

Jul 30 2006, 04:16 PM

QUOTE (Eskie @ Jul 30 2006, 03:23 PM)

I actually quite like R&B...well, not the chart rubbish like J-Lo, Christine A, Nelly etc but good stuff such as Rahsaan Patterson, Donald McCollum, Angela Johnson etc. as for punters asking for it, usually they're referring to the chart cack (especially if they're under 20) popular tracks (mostly) from the last 6 or 7 years include:
Black eyed peas-my humps, pump it, mas que nada
Pussycat dolls-don'tcha, buttons, beep
Usher-yeah
Nelly-hot in herre
Notorious big-nasty girl, Mo money mo problems
Beyonce-crazy in love
Destinys child-independent woman
Christina A-Dirrty
Justin Timberlake-Like I love you, rock your body
Sisqo-Thong song
Lemar-dance with u
Eve & Gwen Stefani-Let me blow ya mind
Next-Too close
Mary Mary-Shackles
50 cent-In da club
Blu cantrell & Sean paul-breathe
Snoop & Pharell-Beautiful
Mary j Blige-Family affair
R Kelly-Ignition (remix), Step in the name of love, Happy people
Kanye West-Gold digger

But you have to be careful, cos if it's a crowd who are really into R&B they'll probably want current/new R&B for at least 1/2 n hour, before moving into some of the "older!" classics, if it's mostly chav white kids then it's not too much of an issue

The line between R&B and Hip-hop is very blurred now also. Some of the tracks included above are really Hip-hop but as far as most requests from punters are concerned it's all R&B

I had most of those requested last night.

As you say, though, mention Rahsaan Patterson or maybe Raphael Saadiq and you'll probably get blank looks!

However I just don't think of them as being in the same category as the chart junk.

High Fidelity

Jul 30 2006, 06:23 PM

Nice one Tony, that's the kind of thing I was after.

It's funny, I play Beyonce - Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha quite often, especially if there are a lot of females, but never realised they were R 'n' B.

spinner

Jul 30 2006, 06:25 PM

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 06:23 PM)

It's funny, I play Beyonce - Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha quite often, especially if there are a lot of females, but never realised they were R 'n' B.

Just out of interest, what did you think they are?

Welsh Audio Man 21

Jul 30 2006, 06:52 PM

QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 30 2006, 07:25 PM)

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 06:23 PM)

It's funny, I play Beyonce - Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha quite often, especially if there are a lot of females, but never realised they were R 'n' B.

Just out of interest, what did you think they are?

Pop?

High Fidelity

Jul 30 2006, 06:57 PM

QUOTE (welshyDJ18 @ Jul 30 2006, 06:52 PM)

QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 30 2006, 07:25 PM)

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 06:23 PM)

It's funny, I play Beyonce - Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha quite often, especially if there are a lot of females, but never realised they were R 'n' B.

Just out of interest, what did you think they are?

Pop?

Not the word I'd have used, but near enough.

Corabar Steve

Jul 30 2006, 07:05 PM

R & B?????

M2K

Jul 30 2006, 07:38 PM

Good list there Eskie but surely 50 Cent is hip hop...

spinner

Jul 30 2006, 07:55 PM

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 06:57 PM)

QUOTE (welshyDJ18 @ Jul 30 2006, 06:52 PM)

QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 30 2006, 07:25 PM)

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 06:23 PM)

It's funny, I play Beyonce - Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha quite often, especially if there are a lot of females, but never realised they were R 'n' B.

Just out of interest, what did you think they are?

Pop?

Not the word I'd have used, but near enough.

Pop R & B perhaps?

But what do you think of as R & B if not that?

High Fidelity

Jul 30 2006, 08:24 PM

QUOTE

But what do you think of as R & B if not that?

Nearly always sad lyrics & depressing, much wailing and gnashing of teeth, slow tempo, much guitar string bending or steeling.

McCardle

Jul 30 2006, 09:28 PM

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 09:24 PM)

QUOTE

But what do you think of as R & B if not that?

Nearly always sad lyrics & depressing, much wailing and gnashing of teeth, slow tempo, much guitar string bending or steeling.

Eskie

Jul 30 2006, 10:50 PM

QUOTE (M2K @ Jul 30 2006, 08:39 PM)

Good list there Eskie but surely 50 Cent is hip hop...

...well if you'd continued reading to the bottom of that list you would have seen that I said

QUOTE (Eskie @ Jul 30 2006, 04:23 PM)

The line between R&B and Hip-hop is very blurred now also. Some of the tracks included above are really Hip-hop but as far as most requests from punters are concerned it's all R&B

mikeee

Jul 31 2006, 12:29 AM

And don't forget if you see it it - Shoot it (lol)

spinner

Jul 31 2006, 09:04 AM

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Jul 30 2006, 08:24 PM)

QUOTE

But what do you think of as R & B if not that?

Nearly always sad lyrics & depressing, much wailing and gnashing of teeth, slow tempo, much guitar string bending or steeling.

Sounds more like Blues to me!

Electrofreek

Jul 31 2006, 09:19 AM

QUOTE

chart stuff from acts like Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris, Nellie, Outkast, Pussy Cat Dolls, Jamelia etc etc.

i would say most in that small list are r n b except for ludacris.....that is in my opinion far from r n b!.....another one that people have left off i think is craig david

jules

RobbieD

Jul 31 2006, 10:36 AM

Personally I love R&B, but as Eskie says the best stuff doesn't get in to the charts - but isn't that the case with most types of music?

But as said, if someone requests "some R&B" and can't name anything specific, they probably want the chart/pop R&B that they hear on KISS, Galaxy or Vibe all day.

spinner

Jul 31 2006, 11:08 AM

QUOTE (Electrofreek @ Jul 31 2006, 09:19 AM)

i would say most in that small list are r n b except for ludacris.....that is in my opinion far from r n b!.....

jules

Yet that was asked for on Saturday when I asked the requester to be specific when he said "Got any R & B?" !!

High Fidelity

Jul 31 2006, 11:48 AM

QUOTE (RobbieD @ Jul 31 2006, 10:36 AM)

But as said, if someone requests "some R&B" and can't name anything specific, they probably want the chart/pop R&B that they hear on KISS, Galaxy or Vibe all day.

Now there's an idea.

I could force myself to listen to those stations for a few days.

How's that for dedication.

BigBen

Jul 31 2006, 09:24 PM

In answer to your question Paul just go and buy one of the many RnB albums that get released every time the season changes - RnB Summer anthems, spring anthems, etc.! I got Mastermix RnB Ultimate, works fine for me.

As for the distinction between old RnB, new RnB and hip-hop. Old RnB is the proper stuff, the new stuff I class as urban music, and I don't play urban unless specifically requested. Even then I will have asked the client for their thoughts prior to the gig.

I never play Eminem - I like some of his stuff but it just doesn't work at typical family parties. 50 Cent, Nelly, Outkast, Destiny's Child, Black Eyed Peas and Mis-teeq all work well, almost bordering on pop actually.

analyst

Aug 1 2006, 04:24 PM

I know a lovely little farmhouse in North Wales I can really recommend. It's got a superb outlook and is very nicely . . .

did I read the topic heading wrong again?
Could have sworn it asked for B 'n' B suggestions

mick

Aug 2 2006, 03:31 PM

RnB, B2B, Gr2B, BnG, B&B I'm too old for all this

lateandlive

Aug 4 2006, 11:45 AM

Sad as it may seem, working in the "sports" store that's more commonly known as "chav heaven", i'm force fed RnB all day long! I'm much more content playing the cliché stuff...80's and other classics, but with maybe a few chart RnB tunes thrown in?!

Have to say, what's seeming popular at the moment is the classic 90's dance tunes -

CeCe Peniston - Finally
Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart

and so on, with more current stuff, such as MyMyMy! Then again, i'm more of an Indie guy meself, guitar bands and the like! Went to an Indie DJ night the other week - good time had by all!

alicat

Aug 5 2006, 03:48 PM

R & B stands for "repetitive and boring". But then again I played pet shop boys "Minimal" last night (for a laugh) and with the help of the crowd, got them singing the courus (sp) !!!!

If you have heard it (Prodisc 73 track 12), you'll know what I mean

Andy Westcott

Aug 6 2006, 04:08 PM

<GRUMPY OLD MAN>
I hate the stuff which these days goes under the guise of R & B. To me it is generally badly produced, badly 'sung', and makes use of really bad quality loops, looping, it seems, for ever....

Let's call a spade a spade, and make a miserable old git a little less so, and call this rubbish (for that's what it is) pop.
</GRUMPY OLD MAN>

High Fidelity

Aug 11 2006, 11:16 AM

This is the list I now have so far with your help.

Bearing in mind that I haven't got a clue on R 'n' B, and the list is just a memory jogger for when someone asks, can you play some R 'n' B, and can't name a particular track.

Is there anything in this list that shouldn't be there?

Is there anything that should be in there, that isn't?

2 Play Ft. Raghav & Jucxi - So Confused
50 Cent - In Da Club
Aaliyah - More Than A Woman
Ashanti - Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
Beyonce Feat Jay-Z - Crazy In Love
Big Brovaz - Baby Boy
Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love
Blue - One Love
Cam'Ron ft Santana, Freekey Zeekey & Toya - Hey Ma
Christina Aguilera - Dirty
Christina Milian - When You Look At Me
Craig David - 7 Days
Destiny's Child - Bootylicious
Destiny's Child - Survivor
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Gwen Stefani feat Eve Rich - Girl
Ja Rule feat Ashanti - Always On Time
Jamelia - See It In A Boys Eyes
Jamelia - Superstar
Jennifer Lopez - Baby I Love U !
Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You
Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body
Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On
Lemar - Dance (With U)
Lumidee - Never Leave You
Mary J Blige - Dance For Me
Mary J Blige - Family Affair
Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)
Mis-Teeq - Scandalous
Nelly - My Place
Nelly - N Dey Say
Nelly (featuring Dani Stevenson) - Hot In Here
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
Nelly ft City Spud - Ride Wit Me
Outkast - Hey Ya!
Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha
R Kelly - Ignition (Remix)
R Kelly - Happy People
Sisqo - Thong Song
Sisqo - Unleash The Dragon
The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
The Black Eyed Peas - Shut Up
The Pussycat Dolls - Beep featuring Will I Am
The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons
The Pussycat Dolls - Wait A Minute featuring Timbaland
Usher (Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris) - Yeah
Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go

Thanks for the help so far folks.

djbzentertainment

Aug 11 2006, 11:25 AM

I hate r n b too but for young uns i think you need to add some Sean Paul stuff. Now i do not know if this falls strictly into the rnb category, but when someone asks for rnb and they cannot offer a suggestion (why the hell is that?) when i mention sean paul they say yes!! I reckon a "popliar" one would be Sean paul and Blu cantrell - Breathe. But i reckon your list just about covers it. Good call.

Bob