newworldafro
DeeperThanRapBiggerThanHH
Ask this simple question.
Name another authentic African music generated album that has ever been #1 R&B album??
I'm sure there have been some contenders.
- The Afro-French group Les Nubians (Chadian) had a little bit of spin and probably charted decently, but most of the music was in French and there was no wider movement prior to it being released.
- Sade's (Nigerian) Afro-British style and band played some African-lite music, but it was predominantly ambient smooth R&B music.
- Seal (Nigerian) may have been on R&B charts, but was probably moreso on pop charts, where he had some juice for a minute.
However, Les Nubians, Sade, and Seal were not part of some massive African music genre flood.
Afrobeat though is a wave ...shiit it's a tsunami right now, with even Black American artists doing singles and features, but this Rotimi Walk With Me album I believe is the start of other top selling complete Afrobeat albums that will fall into the R&B category and become normalized, until a separate Afrobeat category is recognized (at least in U.S. oriented charts).
I was in East Africa awhile back and the Afrobeat was potent. Charlamagne said it on Breakfast Club interview with Rotimi that he was feeling the Afrobeat more than he has ever felt reggae in general. He said it was the polyrythmic drums that had him in the audio vice grip.
Breh has a bright future in music and film. Watch for this cat to help bridge the gap in African diaspora film too I think.
Of course there is already a potent and fully engaged African Music thread for your enjoyment ... Official African Music Thread
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If Drake is in the genre, it's safe to say, it has mass appeal and it is gonna sell.
Valid point. I think there is an Adult Contemporary R&B category, where some of the more traditional and older R&B artist are likely placed.