neo-soul
Organic contemporary R&B
Neo-soul is a genre of popular music that emerged in the 1990s, blending classic soul with contemporary R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and funk influences.
The style emphasizes organic instrumentation, socially conscious lyrics, and vocal authenticity over polished production: Erykah Badu and D'Angelo defined the neo-soul sound.
The term distinguishes this approach from mainstream R&B's more commercial direction.
Soulful pop genre
- funkDepression or groove music
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- hip-hopRhythmic spoken-word music
- gospelSacred choral tradition
Motown · blues · fusion · seventies · Stevie Wonder · Marvin Gaye · Donny Hathaway · Curtis Mayfield
- MaxwellScottish-origin given name
- Frank OceanElusive R&B singer-songwriter
- H.E.R.R&B solo artist
D'Angelo · Lauryn Hill · Bilal
Without roughness or difficulty
- warmModerately heated, or friendly
- mellowSoft, ripe, relaxed
- jazzyShowy and lively
- funkyRhythmic and soulful
groove · downtempo · organic · lush · textured · layered · analog · vintage
Deeply and sincerely meant
- introspectiveExamining one's own mind
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- authenticVerified as original
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
expressive · melancholy · longing · sensual · romantic · bittersweet · tender · raw
Stressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- backbeatAccent on weak beats
pocket · breakbeat · laid-back · bounce · shuffle · cadence · pulse · offbeat
1990-1999
- PhiladelphiaPennsylvania's largest metropolis
- BrooklynWestern Long Island borough
- consciousMentally present and alert
- alternativeAnother available choice
underground · indie · revival · movement · resurgence · golden age
R&B
Soulful pop genre
- funkDepression or groove music
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- hip-hopRhythmic spoken-word music
gospel · Motown · blues · fusion · seventies · Stevie Wonder · Marvin Gaye · Donny Hathaway · Curtis Mayfield · Al Green
Erykah Badu
- MaxwellScottish-origin given name
- Frank OceanElusive R&B singer-songwriter
- H.E.R.R&B solo artist
D'Angelo · Lauryn Hill · Bilal
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
funky · groove · downtempo · organic · lush · textured · layered · analog · vintage · atmospheric
heartfelt
Deeply and sincerely meant
- introspectiveExamining one's own mind
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- authenticVerified as original
passionate · expressive · melancholy · longing · sensual · romantic · bittersweet · tender · raw · conscious
syncopation
Stressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
backbeat · pocket · breakbeat · laid-back · bounce · shuffle · cadence · pulse · offbeat · feel
nineties
1990-1999
- PhiladelphiaPennsylvania's largest metropolis
- BrooklynWestern Long Island borough
- consciousMentally present and alert
alternative · underground · indie · revival · movement · resurgence · golden age
- Black Musicblues, jazz, gospel choir, hip hop, R&B
- hybrid genresjazz fusion, rock opera, blues rock, folk rock, country rock
- neo- wordsneoclassical, neolithic, neoplasm, neocortex, neodymium
- Soul MusicMotown, R&B, rhythm and blues, call and response, melisma
- Black artship hop, jazz, blues, R&B, rap
- nightlifebars, clubbing, clubs, nightclubs, bar crawl
neo-soulhyperpop
Distorted, maximalist electronic genre
EDM · Eurodance · bubblegum pop · industrial music · chiptune
neo-souldeath metal
Extreme subgenre with growls
gangsta rap · hardcore punk · trap music · crunk · screamo
soul, soulful, soulless, neophyte, neologism, souled, neonate, soullessly, neoprene