So Buddy's NJS swing post (and recent Tamia interview) got me thinking...

There was a point (90s) where stuff like Jodeci, SWV etc was on par with hip hop in high schools...

Now when you mention R&B it immediately evokes Urban A/C (old niggas with sleeveless linen shirts on and a Bluetooth)

Did neo soul "grow R&B up too much"?

Did the "gospel voice/style" of singing become dated?

Or did R&B suffer from the fact that it cost too much to produce? and when Napster happened it suffered the most.

EDIT: In theory Bey, Rih, Trey, Chris and even The Weeknd are R&B and youthful but most would call the former Pop artists and The Weeknd alternative-slash-something-slash-something