NPR said there hasn’t been a male R&B superstar since Usher. Is this true?

[2 Up 2 Down]

That song with thug feels like it's a bigger crossover song than both of them

No even close. No Air was a global hit and has longevity

 

[CarltonJunior]

No even close. No Air was a global hit and has longevity

Just looked

Go crazy
Peaked at 3 on billboard
3x platinum

No air
Peaked at 4 on billboard
1x platinum

Even if you want to argue longevity, the young thug track is objectively bigger, "not even close" is not correct

 

[Taadow]

Yes true but keywords in the title R&B SUPERSTAR. I feel like the problem here is that R&B has became so watered down over the last 20 years that we have changed the definition of R&B. The true definition of R&B to me is the strong voices and passion that those artists in the 70s 80s and early to mid 90s had. CB dont have the vocal skills and discography to sit in that tier with the greats of the past. My personal opinion R Kelly is the last true R&B superstar.

Basically.

Everything Black is categorized as "Urban" now.

And since music is (as The D.O.C. pointed out) "The Song Game", if an "R&B" type song gets big enough, that make the person who made it a Pop Artist.
In this era, nobody who makes "R&B music" as we know it becomes a superstar strictly by sticking that.
Once they cross over, they are curated to stay there.

Usher hasn't been an R&B singer since 8701 came out. He's been a Pop Artist since then.
...and this is cheating anyway, because Usher came out in 1992. So they gotta tell me what they mean by "since Usher"

I will begrudgingly say that the last person we had that could be categorized as close to an R&B Star (I won't go as far as "super") is Tank.
And even then it seems he doesn't like the way his career trajectory has gone.

The last bonafide legacy "Male R&B Star" I will acknowledge that most might agree with is Joe.

 

[Splakavellie504]

Basically.

Everything Black is categorized as "Urban" now.

And since music is (as The D.O.C. pointed out) "The Song Game", if an "R&B" type song gets big enough, that make the person who made it a Pop Artist.
In this era, nobody who makes "R&B music" as we know it becomes a superstar strictly by sticking that.
Once they cross over, they are curated to stay there.

Usher hasn't been an R&B singer since 8701 came out. He's been a Pop Artist since then.
...and this is cheating anyway, because Usher came out in 1992. So they gotta tell me what they mean by "since Usher"

I will begrudgingly say that the last person we had that could be categorized as close to an R&B Star (I won't go as far as "super") is Tank.
And even then it seems he doesn't like the way his career trajectory has gone.

The last bonafide legacy "Male R&B Star" I will acknowledge that most might agree with is Joe.

All facts bro. I dont disagree with nothing you said at all, especially Joe. He definitely has a strong argument.

 

[Ozymandeas]

Can someone explain what makes Weeknd pop but not Chris Brown?

Cause it ain’t adding up.

I think they're standing on Chris Brown early albums which lean R&B and some of his singles have an urban/R&B/Hip Hop Soul vibe (e.g. No Guidance, Loyal, Deuces) even if his albums don't.

You are right though. Chris Brown did go pop. He's no longer traditional R&B.

Weeknd is Gentrified R&B. He's even worse. He might experiment sometimes but, he chose his side

 

[2 Up 2 Down]

Just looked

Go crazy
Peaked at 3 on billboard
3x platinum

No air
Peaked at 4 on billboard
1x platinum

Even if you want to argue longevity, the young thug track is objectively bigger, "not even close" is not correct

No Air charted in more countries thats why I mentioned global

 

[Kinguno]

He got married 4 days ago

His first marriage was bad because his fans wanted him with someone more “beautiful”

 

[Sad Bunny]

Just looked

Go crazy
Peaked at 3 on billboard
3x platinum

No air
Peaked at 4 on billboard
1x platinum

Even if you want to argue longevity, the young thug track is objectively bigger, "not even close" is not correct

Two different eras.

 

[KnowledgeOfSelf17]

Last time Chris went viral was being mad about losing a Grammy last year or some dumb gang shyt, he be doing.

Hello! As predicted. He only gets attention when he’s getting black balled or some dumb gangsta shyt.. never fails