The R and the B

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Rhythm is sound in motion. It is related to the pulse, the heartbeat, the way we breathe. It rises and falls. It takes us into ourselves; it takes us out of ourselves.

- Edward Hirsch -



Long ago I (occasionally) listened to rap music. I wasn't a huge fan, and most I found to be intolerable, however I remember the rise of rappers like Grand Master Flash and Melle Mel who released White Lines (1983) when I was thirteen and my older brother was into it so I was exposed also - my tastes leaned in other areas of music mostly though.

I began to explore my musical tastes from a very young age, influenced by my parents, and discovered more and more music I liked better as I got older. I still listened to groups like NWA who produced such tracs as, Fuck the Police and A Hundred Miles and Runnin', however I drifted away from rap preferring R&B as a genre instead, along with the other musical preferences,

At the time a lot of R&B music had taken elements of rap and hip hop and combined them with other genres like blues and jazz and it delivered a fairly unique sound such as that found in the Blackstreet track below which, interestingly, features Dr Dre of NWA. It appealed to me, was smooth, and as I was growing up emotionally was more inline with who I was becoming but, even then, R&B only formed about twenty percent of what I listened to.

Below are three tracks I enjoyed when released.

I'll roll out NWA and a few other straight-up rap artists now and then but it's rare and never includes any of the newer stuff which I find to be heinous, along with most R&B as well. I listen to so many different types of music and tracks it would discombobulate anyone taking a peek into my Spotify playlists and I dig it, life is too short not to push boundaries and colour between the lines right?


No Diggety - That Thing - Love in this Club

✳️ Here's a link to YouTube where you'll find all three in a single YouTube playlist.


Lookin' in your eyes while you on the other side
I cant take it no more baby I'm comin' for you
You keep doin' it on purpose windin' and workin' it
If we close our eyes it could be just me and you

- Usher -


How has your musical likes and dislikes changed? Have you drifted away from or towards different music as your life has unfolded? Have you rediscovered something you loved years ago? Do you ever look back and think, I can't believe I liked that? What about R&B...some people totally hate it, how about you? If you have comments or thoughts leave them below, I always reply.


Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp

[All original and AI free]
The image in this post is mine - it's not for your use.



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49 comments
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I heard today that Usher is going to be the halftime show at the Superbowl this year. Should be interesting. My inlaws just got tickets to go see Lauryn Hill in concert. I would love to go to that show. Her cover of can't take my eyes off you is one of my favorites. I have NWA greatest hits on vinyl. My wife is a bigger rap fan than me. She knows all that 90s stuff.

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I didn't expect that, you and NWA, but it's totally fine...as I said in another comment in this post just now, music doesn't know a person, meaning it can appeal to anyone for any reason.

I think that Lauryn Hill concert would be great, I'd like to go myself. As for Usher at the SB...No disrespect to any artist that have every played there, but I always find it a little cheap and tacky, the production of it. I don't watching the half time show anymore, for that reason...the same reason I don't watch the opening or closing of the Olympics. That makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a spoon and plug my ears with concrete. Lol. But some people love it, and that's great...for them.

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I like a little bit of everything. There isn't much I don't care for when it comes to music actually. I can appreciate most all forms. They were saying in that same interview I saw about Usher that it has been 14 years since a rock band has played the halftime show. Crazy!

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Yep, I agree with you completely. I tend to do it on a song by song basis rather than a genre or artist; sometimes I only like one single song from an artist and don't like the rest.

That's hard to believe about the SB halftime show! Obviously true, but seems weird, don't you think?

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Yeah, it does, but they pointed out that JayZs production company handles the show for the past several years, so that kind of makes sense.

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Oh yeah, perfect sense...all his mates getting the gig. Lol.

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Some people hate RnB? I can't imagine that.

I gotta confess here. I did not listen to any music, or very little anyway, until I was nearly forty, when I started trying to learn how to play the violin after a twenty year hiatus from playing any instrument at all. The first music I fell for, really fell for? Klezmer, and I'm not Jewish.

Here's a collection of one of their albums. My teacher was in this group (although not on this album) and I played, lovingly, most of these tunes. I'm pretty sure if I picked up my violin today, I could recall them by ear. I miss those days, and feeling like an accomplished musician.

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People are funny I think, they tend to have such strong feelings about the strangest things...I wonder if they feel what they like reflects upon them as a person in other people's estimation? I'm not like that, I like what I like and don't really mind if people disagree.

Anyway, I've not heard of that band, but just took a listen. I think it's cool that music doesn't know what religion a person is, what colour, or what age...it just is, and no matter who a person may be, music is open to them to investigate, like or move on from. It's cool you knew someone in this band and get to listen to the music they created.

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Parents always influence our musical tastes, until one makes his own musical path.

I know that in some way I have influenced the musical tastes of my daughters, so I am happy because despite their age and the great alienation that exists in my country, intolerable music such as reggaeton, they do not like it.

Just yesterday I made my post of my musical Sunday, and I remembered my grandfather, who instilled in me the taste for music in French language, my mother said it was the language of love, and my wife supports that motion, while I was listening, my daughters did too. It is rare to see that in pre-teens, but they told me that they liked it.

I was also in the rap music wave back in the 90's, but in the Spanish versions, here that was a great boom, with its Latin touch and flavor.

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I don't think I've ever heard a reggaeton track...It sounds too much like reggae, which I don't care for. You calling it intolerable, doesn't make me want to go and listen.

You mention French music...I listen to it too, I have a playlist for it and when in the mood just sort of sit back and relax to it. I speak a little French, not very well, just a little, but I like the fact I don't always understand the words, it means I can focus on the music, the beats, melodies and the tone and mood of the music instead.

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Good for you, that you don't listen to that terrible music, unfortunately they force me to listen to it, that happens when I go in a bus to the university, it is unfortunate for my brain and my ears.

Neither my wife nor I speak French, but it's like you say, it's a very nice music to listen to that music and without knowing or understanding the lyrics, many of their songs you feel you understand it, and that's very nice.

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I think it's as much the tone and mood of a song that means something as the actual words, sometimes even more than the words I guess.

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I love having a broad taste in musical genres. I live proud of that. But with Reggaeton I can't, in fact, I don't consider it music. And nothing to do with Reggae !. It's another horrible thing.

Since I have loved dancing so much since I was a child, I have always preferred music with a lot of rhythm. Especially Cuban music. I love troubadours with their poetic songs and Jazz is essential in my life. The R&B that I enjoy is from the 70s and 80s, much more fun for me. I also had my Heavy years, a crazy time of beautiful boys with long hair.
I love roots music, world music and folklore.

I can tell you that I never liked cheesy music, it makes me sick. Anyway...Long live the music!!!!

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You're the second person to have mentioned that reggaeton music in a negative way, it must be heinous!

Music is so great because we can relate to so much of it across our lives, leave it behind and come back to something we used to like and it feels comfortable, like an old friend. Having a broad musical interest means we're able to find the most appropriate thing for the occasion and mood we're in. It's pretty cool.

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And something that I really like about digital technology is that we can have access to all the music of all time. It's great !!! That's why I can't understand people who only consume trendy music and don't explore new sounds for their minds, bodies and ears.

Yes, 😁Reggaeton is horrible...I dream of a world free of that. It's not just about listening to it one day in passing, it's that it has been the torture that we hear every minute in all places for 20 years. With lyrics full of machismo, absurd consumerism, gangs, crimes, and very poorly written. The Spanish language is diverse and incredibly rich, it is beautiful in metaphors. We have too many beautiful, well-written and poetic songs, there is no need to listen to Reggaeton.

💙💙💙

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Yeah, I'd be lost without my Spotify playlists.

I'm going to have to listen to a reggaeton track (a few seconds of it anyway, to hear how terrible it is. Based on what I know already, I'll hate it. Lol.

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I have a very limited knowledge about music and I don't even understand well about different types but yes I understand rap music something like you are just talking but so fast and with tune right.

I like some rap music with those good lyrics.

1983? I wasn't born yet on that year. You're 13 that time so maybe you're 53 now?

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Rap music took on a life of its own and became quite huge as a genre. I find it all a bit the same and don't really like any of the newer releases, the early stuff was ok and often came with a powerful message through the lyrics and imagery used on the videos which were some of the first music videos ever produced.

1983? I wasn't born yet on that year. You're 13 that time so maybe you're 53 now?

I know, it's like I'm a dinosaur or something.

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the early stuff was ok and often came with a powerful message through the lyrics

I agree on this. Old songs brought great message compared nowadays. There are songs today that the lyrics are pointless.

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Yep, that's a great way to describe it, pointless lyrics. That's what sells though it seems.

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These are awesome songs, thank you for sharing them. As I grew older, I noticed that my musical likes and dislikes don't change much. I just want to listen to the music of my times, and I'm not too keen on finding new music. While I do dislike mumble rap, or the songs that are nothing but cursing, I am open to listening to new music. But at the end of the day, I'll still go back to my comfort songs, and wallow in nostalgia.

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I tried to select tracks most people might now and relate to, these were fairly popular in their day.

I am a little like you in that I'm not all that interested in the newer music being released now although I spend time seeking out some good tracks and adding them to my playlists. I virtually always have music playing so I like to keep it varied. There's a lot of rubbish out there though.

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To be honest I never knew that this music (I searched about it) is called R&B music. I don't like it much but also don't dislikes it. Disliking a music isn't a good attitude.

I changed over time but my music interest remained same.

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Well, you're about twelve years old, so I'm not surprised you haven't heard of R&B, I'm sure there's many other things you don't know as well. Time will reveal more to you as your paradigm expands.

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Hey mate.🤣
Who told you I am twelve years old. I am nineteen years old and will be turning twenty on 7th of December this year.

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Oh ok, I thought you were twelve.

Either way, you've not heard of R&B which I find to be odd considering how massive the genre is around the world. I guess you listen to other things.

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Actually I have listened this music but never knew that it is called R&B.

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Hmmm, I like R&B much more than rap too but I'd never thought deliberately way that is. I guess as you've pointed out it's probably because it blends multiple genres of music into a single song.

Oh, I know why else... because R&B songs often make me want to dance. It's rare I can do anything to rap except jump around like an angry person. !LOL

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Yeah, there's two good reasons R&B appeals more than rap and hip hop music; the latter seems always to come across in an aggressive way, angst-loaded.

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It's probably good to listen to when I find some old, buried anger I want to finally let out. :P

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That's one way...you don't punch hubby though? I've heard that's a legitimate anger-shedding method? 😂

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Bhahaha. I might play punch occasionally if he's being a rat bag but if I'm proper angry I usually pout, tell him off or stomp off in a rage and go deal with the anger in a less harmful way. Haha.

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I absolutely love No Diggity. Blackstreet is criminally underrated.

The 80s and 90s hip-hop and "Swag" were on a different level, it is what they call the OG. Even though when it comes to rap and hip-hop, I grew up listening to Eminem, D12, and 50 Cent; yet, I have a lot of love for the OGs.

Here's one, for example, Rakim -

Usher is Usher, my generation grew up listening to Usher. DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love, There Goes My Baby, Yeah! with Lil John and Luda. The list goes on. Iconic!

Yet, this one right here is my favorite -

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Blackstreet man, they're legit, I'm glad someone commented on that one, it's a great track.

It seems you're a bit of a fan of R&B and there's a lot to like right? So many great artists. I think it losts it's way to some degree, but I'm happy to listen to selected artists, Usher included.

Thanks for commenting and dropping a couple tracks.

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I'm glad someone commented on that one, it's a great track

I'm an OG too, you know hehe. 😏

It seems you're a bit of a fan of R&B and there's a lot to like right

Any genre, any language, I got you. I'm a man of music, even though these days I'm leaning more towards The Blues genre, I just can't get enough.

This track for example.

Thanks for commenting and dropping a couple tracks.

Hey man, anytime! I always love to drop by your comment section.

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I think you're a younger OG than I am though. Lucky bugger! 😊

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Yes, definitely a younger OG, but my friends say that I'm a 40-year-old in the body of a 28-year-old. Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult lol.

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Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult

If you make it what you want it to be, (say a compliment), then it doesn't matter what it actually is.

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A compliment it is then.

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Well, he knows best, and with approval like that what more is needed?

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I liked the three music tracks. The second one I do know and I like it a lot. The other two I don't, but they are also great.

My musical tastes have changed, but the music of the 80's and part of the 90's remains in my heart forever, always, I will never be able to tear it out...

Today I say how can it be that I liked cumbia!!!! It was only for a few months, I think it could have been the moment I was going through, I never liked it anymore.

I loved rock music when I was a teenager, now I listen to other types of music but some rock music is still there.

I like R&B quite a lot, in fact I have times when I listen to jazz, blues etc... I think it depends on the moment and the mood.

Look at this song I have it on my phone for when I go for a walk, among many others:

There was even a time when I liked this a lot!

What a nice morning of music, thanks Galen.

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I'm not much of a Barry White fan, but Alicia Keys is cool, great track!

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It was an epoch, they are changing, today I hardly listen to him but he has a good voice. And Alicia sings great!

Thanks for sharing such great music!

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Time changes most things I guess. You're welcome for the music.

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