DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
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Articles and Commentary on the Current state and history of R&B music. This is a music blog site by DJ Rob that covers various aspects of popular music from the early 20th century to now. Enjoy the articles and commentary, special countdowns, playlists (via Spotify), along with other soon-to-be-added features.
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
1w ago
(April 15, 2024). There’s something magical — even mystical — about years ending in “4” when it comes to music. Something special, in fact… especially in even-numbered decades like this one. Without exception, those years have generated some of the most impactful, most influential, culturally shifting, and most historical musical moments (and songs/albums) since the rock-and-roll ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
1w ago
(April 14, 2024). How poetic is it that in the midst of a presidential election year where immigration is a key issue and when at least a half-dozen foreign countries are at war (and the U.S. has inserted itself in all of them) that American musicians are on track to do something at home that hasn’t ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
3w ago
(April 3, 2024). A lot of music industry fans and prognosticators are weighing in on whether Beyoncé’s new Cowboy Carter will finally garner the Texas superstar that elusive Album of the Year Grammy win at next year’s ceremony. It’s likely to turn a few heads in the Academy’s country music categories as well (or else NARAS will have quite ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
3w ago
(April 1, 2024). Frankly speaking, calling Cowboy Carter Beyoncé’s magnum opus wouldn’t be a stretch. It is truly an album of sublime quality — both thematically and musically — from an artist who is now 21 years and eight studio LPs into a solo career that stands among the most influential and most important in pop culture. But ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
1M ago
(March 26, 2024). Diana Ross turns 80 today (March 26). I commemorated by playing my favorite tune by her, 1980’s sublime “Upside Down,” written and produced by Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards, who were then members of my favorite group, Chic (Rodgers still fronts the band, btw). (The song is arguably also my favorite ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
1M ago
(March 11, 2024). We’re nine months into its release, and the huge hit single by this year’s Best New Artist Grammy winner keeps on winning. And now “grown folks” are apparently down for the ride as well, according to the magazine that tells us what Americans consume and what we don’t, musically speaking. That magazine would ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
1M ago
(March 8, 2024). The legendary R&B/pop band Earth, Wind & Fire, which still consists of three members of its classic 1970s/‘80s lineup — Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson and Verdine White (brother of late founder Maurice) — recently won a lawsuit against a cover band. The legal battle centered on the group’s trademark and the tribute band’s ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
2M ago
(February 24, 2024). Two weeks shy of 45 years ago, the late Bobby Caldwell’s quiet storm classic “What You Won’t Do For Love” climbed to No. 9, where it peaked, on the Billboard Hot 100. (Kids, Google “quiet storm.”) That was after climbing as high as No. 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart (then called Hot Soul ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
2M ago
(February 14, 2024). Few groups moved the needle as well as the Spinners did during their heyday. From 1970-80, they racked up 17 top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (then known as Hot Soul Singles). Seven of those also crossed over to the top ten on the pop chart — the Hot 100 ..read more
DJ Rob Blog » R&b Music Commentary
2M ago
(February 12, 2024). The verdict is in: Usher killed the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday night (Feb. 11), with many saying it ranked among the greatest of all time, right up there with those by Prince, Michael Jackson, U2, and Beyoncé. And while curmudgeons, fuddy-duddies, and people who simply don’t like his style of music ..read more