I see a lot of critics are saying that the R&B Charts are now "ruined" because Rihanna is currently on top. But their main argument is that Diamonds is not an R&B song and Rihanna is not an R&B singer.

First of all, we know Rihanna's music is HEAVILY influenced by R&B and Reggae and it is apparent in all of her albums.

Secondly, if people call Diamonds R&B (which they are) what makes their claims illegitimate? What is the concrete criteria of "R&B" that makes Diamonds such a disastrous categorization in the eyes of some folks?

Finally, if we're going to debate over what type of music is going to be allowed to chart on R&B we should've started this debate a long time ago when they decided to merge the R&B and Hip-Hop charts, or when we allowed Usher's OMG to reign supreme for multiple weeks in 2010. NOT with Diamonds which is right on the boarder of R&B.



[Sidenote: Diamonds debuted on the R&B Charts last week at #66 which was solely based off of airplay, and was a bigger debut than some of the the "real" R&B songs.

R&B right now is undistinguished from other genres to be honest, this song is R&B

**** this, Diamonds is not an R&B song and you should all know this. The production speaks for itself.

is Don't Wake Me Up charting on the R&B charts? no, because it's a dance song.

Diamonds is only considered R&B because of her race. If it were someone white singing it, it would not have even charted.

It's nowhere near R&B.

Im dead at Diamonds being #1.

Right. This record would probably be more R&B/Soul if Sia sang it tbqh.

I suppose I would class it as R&B.

I agree with everything you said, especially about OMG. She has R&B influences in some of her songs but she's known as a pop artist because her pop songs are so well known. She doesn't deserve the hate though.

Race definitely plays a role of R&B as a genre. Before R&B the official term used was "Race Records:

We can't ignore the etymology of the terms we are using because that is in part why the R&B/ Hip-Hop Charts look the way that they do.

enough said.

Good point.

It has R&B influences. Plus, Rihanna is a crossover artist.

DWMU is not charting on the R&B chart because it is clearly not an R&B song.

Rihanna's vocals on Diamonds are R&B enough.

tell'em girl

Diamonds is gonna be the biggest R&B song for the rest of the year.

agreed, i mean, Sia's writing definitely added that R&B feeling, and the way rihanna sings it too.



yes, that was sarcasm