90s R&B: When Music Had Soul, Vocals, and Real Emotion

When I hear 90s R&B, the first thing that comes to mind is comfort, nostalgia, and pure magic. Anybody who knows me knows that I live for nostalgia—it’s my thing. The 90s shaped my entire outlook on music and life. It was a time when I was carefree, vibing, and soaking in some of the best music ever made.

Music is a huge part of my life, and 90s R&B? That’s home for me.

I grew up listening to Whitney Houston, Jodeci, Luther Vandross, Tevin Campbell, Gerald Levert, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, and so many more. These were people who could really sing—no gimmicks, no autotune, no filters. Just raw talent.

And you could feel every bit of their emotion in the music. R&B in the 90s was romantic, vulnerable, and full of storytelling. Even when it was about heartbreak—like Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor”—you could hear and feel the pain. That song HURT. You didn’t even have to be going through a breakup to feel like somebody had just left you standing in the rain. But at the same time, there was still hope. Even the heartbreak songs felt like they were leading you to something better, like one day you’d be okay again.

Where Is the Feeling? The Passion? The VOCALS?!

Back then, we had En Vogue singing “Never Gonna Get It,” Brandy giving us “Have You Ever” and “Almost Doesn’t Count,” Boyz II Men begging on Bended Knee, and Tyrese singing “Sweet Lady” and “Lately.”

The voices were undeniable. The emotion was real. The live performances? Top tier.

And that’s another thing—I think the biggest disappointment I ever had in my life was the first time I saw a new artist sing live and realized… they couldn’t actually sing.

Like, what is this?!

Because in the 90s, their mic was ON. No backing track, no pre-recorded vocals carrying the weight, just pure, live, unfiltered talent.

What Happened to Artist Development?

One of the biggest problems with today’s R&B is that the industry stopped developing artists.

Back in the day, if you got signed, you weren’t just thrown out there with a song and a hope. Labels invested in you. You had:

✅ Vocal coaches to help you master your range

✅ Media training so you knew how to speak, engage, and represent yourself

✅ Stage presence coaching because live performance actually mattered

✅ Rehearsals and development time before you ever dropped an album

Now? If you look good and can halfway hold a note, you’re getting pushed to the front.

They care more about aesthetic and vibe than actual skill, and it shows.

Are There Any New Artists Who Get It?

Now, let me be clear—I’m not saying everybody today is trash. There are some artists keeping R&B alive:

H.E.R. – Soulful, talented, and actually plays instruments!
Coco Jones – If you haven’t heard “ICU,” go fix your life.
Jazmine Sullivan – A vocal powerhouse. Period.
October London – A hidden gem! He’s got old-school soul with a modern twist and actually sounds just as good live.

And of course, we still have the legends carrying the torch, like Fantasia, Tank, Brandy, and Monica.

But the industry isn’t pushing them the way they should. You have to dig for good R&B now. It’s not as accessible as it used to be.

90s R&B Gave Us Classics—Do We Have That Today?

Some of my favorite songs from the 90s are the ones that still hit today like they just dropped yesterday:

Brandy – “Sittin’ Up In My Room”
Mary J. Blige – “Share My World”
Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”
Deborah Cox & RL – “We Can’t Be Friends”
Toni Braxton – “Un-Break My Heart”

These songs still give me chills. They still sound fresh. They still matter.

And another thing? In the 90s, we still had old-school legends making music right alongside the new wave.

Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Michael Jackson were all still dropping music
Their songs coexisted with the newer artists—it wasn’t just “out with the old, in with the new”

Now? It’s like if you hit 40, they try to act like your career is over. Disrespectful.

**Is R&B Dead? No. But It’s Buried Under Bullsh*t.**

People ask all the time: “Is R&B dead?” No, baby. It’s not dead—it’s just being ignored by mainstream media.

Back in the day, we had award shows that really celebrated R&B.

The Soul Train Awards meant something.
The NAACP Awards actually highlighted Black music properly.
The Grammys & American Music Awards used to put respect on R&B.

Now?

R&B barely gets TV time.
They lump it in with hip-hop like it’s the same thing.
Real R&B isn’t promoted—it’s hidden.

And Tank has been talking about this—he’s been fighting to bring R&B its own space again. He even suggested an R&B-only award show, and I think that’s exactly what we need.

Because right now? R&B is being pushed to the background, and we need to bring it back to the front.

Final Thoughts: We Need to Take R&B Back

Here’s my thing: R&B is too important to let it fade away. We need to support the artists actually keeping the genre alive. We need to demand better from the industry.

Because one thing about me? I’m never letting go of my 90s R&B.

And if you want to argue with me? Baby, go listen to Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count,” let them harmonies hit your soul, and then come back and talk to me.

Period.

The Candi Chronicles