Neo Soul

Neo Soul

Soul music makes a return.

Cultural Origin

The late 1980s

Prominent Artists

D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell

Influenced By

Jazz, funk, soul, psychedelic soul, 1970s R&B

Later Influenced

Progressive soul, R&B, pop/pop-soul

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite album cover.
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite album cover.

About The Genre

The term neo soul was coined by record producer and label executive Kedar Massenburg. Its lineage can be traced back to 1970s soul music, but it is also heavily influenced by jazz, funk, hip hop, R&B and African music. Although the term wasn't used until the late 1990s, neo soul can trace its roots to the 1980s with acts such as Tony! Toni! Toné! andTerence Trent D'Arby.

Neo soul differed from contemporary R&B with its use of live instrumentation, eschewing the sampling approach R&B had adopted from hip hop. Although hip hop had some influence on neo soul, the genre looked back more to older R&B and soul music for its inspiration.

Women artists played an important role in the development and popularity of neo soul. Singer-songwriters such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott were integral to the genre's development.

Trivia/Famous Lyrics

DId you know...

Let me tell you 'bout this girl, maybe I shouldn't
I met her in Philly and her name was Brown Sugar
See, we be making love constantly
That's why my eyes are a shade blood burgundy
The way that we kiss is unlike any other way
That I be kissing when I'm kissing what I'm missing
Won't you listen?

"Lady" by D'Angelo

Artists from this genre

D'Angelo

D'Angelo

The founder of 1990s neo soul.

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu

The Queen of Neo Soul.

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

Rap + soul + reggae + genius = Lauryn Hill.

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Techno

Electronic dance music born in Detroit.