Discussions about the new state of R&B started in 2011 when The Weeknd`s free debut mixtape gained critical acclaim. Soon this indie, alternative, whatever you want to call it R&B trend bloomed in 2012. Since the "revival" of R&B music in 2012 thanks to artists such as Frank Ocean, Miguel, Brandy, Usher and all the new blood that released that year, you should expect R&B music to be heavily scrutinized like no other genre. Let's face it, the question of "Is R&B dead?" will always be a topic of discussion every single year. It's tiring.

Well, we're here to kick off this two part series by rating four mainstream R&B artists that kept R&B acclaimed and alive in their own respective ways. We'll also pretend like Beyoncé never happened (it's been rated already bby). I welcome you to... The State of R&B (Part 1).

4 artists, 5 albums, 68 songs, and only 1 winner.

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2013 was Justin Timberlake's highly anticipated musical comeback following a six-year hiatus, during which he pursued an acting career and developed his skills as a record producer and songwriter for other artists. The 20/20 Experience went off to being critically acclaimed and having the biggest sales week of the year. He also followed up the era blessing his fans with more music by releasing Part 2 in the Fall of 2013. Overall the Complete Experience varied from Contemporary R&B, Pop, elctropop, Neo-Soul, and was partly inspired by the expansive song structures of 1960s and 1970s rock. Timberlake’s surprise re-emergence certainly provided the chance to revisit some dicey questions: What is the current state of R&B? Is his comeback bringing R&B back to the forefront or is he Adele'ing R&B into obsolescence? Is he even a legitimate R&B artist?

Success
• Topped the Billboard R&B Songs chart for 15 weeks and hit the Top 5 on Billboard Hot 100 with "Suit & Tie."
• Topped the UK singles chart, Billboard Pop Songs, Radio Songs, Billboard Adult Top 40 and hit • Top 5 on Billboard Hot 100 with "Mirrors."
• The 20/20 Experience topped the Billboard 200 for 3 weeks, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for 10 weeks, R&B Albums chart for 14 weeks, and Digital Albums chart for 1 week.

• Topped Billboard Pop Songs, Billboard Adult Pop Songs and hit top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 with “Not A Bad Thing.”
• The 20/20 Experience - 2 Of 2 topped the Billboard 200, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, R&B Albums, and Digital Albums.
• Topped 12 charts on Billboard 2013 Year-End.

• Honored with the MTV Vanguard Award and won 3 VMAs.
• Won 3 American Music Awards.
• Won 3 Grammy Awards.

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Woo, Self-titled was on it’s way to being such an anti-era wasn’t it? Ciara's fifth studio album Ciara was originally titled One Woman Army. After lack of label support from Jive, Ci took the initiative to take control of her own destiny. She did this by reuniting with L.A. Reid and Epic Records, changing the direction of her album, working with the hottest producers in Hip-Hop/R&B, and scrapped a number of singles in favor of "Body Party", which put her back on the map. Ciara was her own comeback era, her most confident and most acclaimed album to date. Ciara was in her own lane again and reclaimed her status as one of the top girls on urban radio. She followed the same route of Basic Instinct by going back to her roots and staying true to herself. The sound and energy fans fell in love with but also containing current, bass-heavy R&B, and some of her best dance-pop moments to date. Just when things were looking up, the era was cut shortly after its release of "Overdose", due to her pregnancy of her first born.

Success
• Scored her 13th top 10 hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and hit top 30 on Billboard Hot 100 with "Body Party."
• Ciara hit top 5 on Billboard 200, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and topped US R&B Albums.

• Nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography with “Body Party.”
• Nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

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Kelly Rowland had a lot to prove coming off of the commercial success of Here I Am. Although Talk a Good Game failed to match that same success, Rowland still managed to perform well in her respective genre and among her fellow R&B divas. She proved that she can command the dancefloors with her previous record but in 2013 Kelly decided to go back to her R&B roots! The album was influenced by the likes of Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder among many of her idols. Talk a Good Game was commended for its vulnerable lyrics, strong vocals, cohesive sound, and became one of her most personal records to date. But like many R&B artists, Kelly Rowland had issues with her label. They eventually parted ways which resulted in the Talk a Good Game era being cut before getting a third single.

Success
• Hit top 30 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts with “Kisses Down Low.”
• Talk A Good Game hit top 5 on Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

• Nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Video With A Social Message with "Dirty Laundry.”

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This Blue-eyed soul singer manage to have the most surprising comebacks ever. All it took was that ONE song we all love to hate. Robin Thicke became the head of what would be the newest trend in pop music. Before your “Uptown Funk”, “Happy” and “Get Lucky” there was “Blurred Lines," one of the most controversial, best-selling singles and biggest radio hits of all time. Robin's emergence on the charts raised some questions as well. Was it easy for him to gain this success because of privilege? Was he a sell-out to the R&B community? Blurred Lines was nothing like his previous work and was hard to define among critics. Was it R&B? Was it dance-pop? Was it disco, funk and soul? I mean it had elements of all. Robin wanted to have fun, dabble into a more mainstream pop-oriented sound and gain superstardom. Unfortunately that came to a complete halt once his own smash hit destroyed his mainstream career. Lawsuits, drugs, a messy VMA performance with Miley, infidelity and following up the smash era with one of the creepiest albums ever, Paula. It was a downward spiral.

Success
• Topped the Billboard R&B Songs, Billboard Digital Songs, Billboard Radio Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Pop Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Adult Pop Songs and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 weeks with "Blurred Lines."
• RIAA Certification: 6x Platinum with “Blurred Lines.”
• Blurred Lines topped the Billboard 200 for 1 week, Digital Albums chart for 1 week, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for 2 weeks, and R&B Albums for 4 weeks.
• Topped 6 charts on the Billboard 2013 Year-End.

• Nominated for 4 MTV Video Music Awards.
• Nominated for 4 American Music Awards.
• Nominated for 3 Grammy Awards.

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Assign each song a rate from 1-10.
No zeros or missing ratings allowed.
Decimals are allowed, but you can only extend to the hundreds place.
You're allowed to give ONE song an 11 for that extra boost.

You may send in parts, just make sure you have your rates sent in before the deadline.
Write-ups for any songs will be appreciated.
No trolling!
Every participants scores will be revealed during results.


MP2K
Bloomers
Dark Miracles
tylerlscwv
Diuzza
Superpower
FantasyRide
Superiore
Vilppu
Eeveelution
Reverie
starstruckaj
Quicksand
Mark Rih
Marvin
conatus
Hakunt

Dress On Body Count Blindness Electric Lady

Feel The Fire Love Me Til I Die

Backseat Love Boy Outta Here One Night with You

Originally posted by conatus I might do this for Ciara and Kelly. I might not be very happy about it, but I might do it. Are you not including the Talk A Good Game Target bonus tracks? Red Wine or DUI to win.

Originally posted by Vilppu No 0s though, there is at least one song on Blurred Lines which truly deserves it.

Originally posted by Vilppu I will definitely give lots of good scores to 20/20 Part 1. Part 2, not so much.

Originally posted by Bloomers Part 2 is the better of the two though! Amnesia, Drink You Away, and Only When I Walk Away are great. Only When I Walk Away In particular >>>>

Originally posted by conatus Can we all agree that Robin Thicke is the Teddy Sinclair of the rate? Excellent.

Originally posted by Bloomers Part 2 is the better of the two though! Amnesia, Drink You Away, and Only When I Walk Away are great. Only When I Walk Away In particular >>>>