neo soul neo soul genre popular music term coined music industry entrepreneur late 1990s market describe style music emerged soul contemporary based soul music neo soul distinguished conventional sound contemporary counterpart incorporated elements ranging jazz funk hip hop pop fusion african music noted music writers traditional influences conscious driven lyrics strong female presence neo soul developed 1980s early 1990s united_states united_kingdom soul revival movement earned mainstream success 1990s commercial critical artists including hill music marketed alternative producer driven digitally approached time initial mainstream popularity impact sound contemporary neo soul expanded musically works african american international artists mainstream presence declined 2000s newer artists emerged independent means marketing music according music journalist neo soul incarnations helped boundaries black pop etymology term neo soul coined late 1990s marketing category following commercial artists hill success debut album regarded writers music critics inspiration term origin artists ignored label received designation controversy contrived music audiences imply soul music ended point time interview billboard said genre classifications unpopular suggestive short lived trend said neo soul essentially soul music felt need market artists genre listeners understanding buying article popmatters music writer said neo soul received controversy given way black music named usually outsiders blues reaction artists ostensibly fit neo soul category represents wonderful example black self determination industry narrow definitions images black folks compares etymology neo soul new wave comments imperfect term neo soul effective tag describe mix time honoured tradition distinguished genre best examples neo soul artists tried look backward forward acting belief exist characteristics despite artists term received widespread use music critics writers wrote artists albums associated musical style african american studies professor described neo soul avant garde organic soul product trying develop outside norm according music writers genre works album oriented distinguished production incorporating organic elements classic soul music use live instrumentation contrast single oriented hip hop based producer driven sampling approach contemporary jazz funk african musical elements book age digital reproduction music author wrote neo soul end 1990s exhibited musical development remarkable increase musicians experimentation manipulation grooves level level played music usually understood terms timing noting genre artists singer songwriters writers viewed lyrical content conscious driven having broader range artists allmusic calls roughly analogous contemporary vibe said emphasize mix elegant jazz tinged subdued hip hop highly deeply personal approach love politics music writers noted neo soul artists predominantly female contrasts presence women mainstream hip hop jason anderson called neo soul sly earnest alternative kind haven listeners turned mainstream hip hop club jams neo soul artists associated alternative lifestyles including organic food caps according music writer term refers musical style influence older styles bohemian musicians seeking soul revival setting apart contemporary sounds mainstream counterparts article neo soul time journalist wrote singers hill share willingness challenge musical commented 1990s neo soul owed 70s soul superstars like adding concert regularly covered lineage crystal clear citing tony tone genre vibe viewed group pioneered digital analog hybrid sound neo soul dramatically late 80s neo soul artists 1990s heavily inspired eclectic sound mellow instrumentation collaborative work 1970s jazz cited jackson early architects sound early work inspirational musical stone neo soul movement history 1980s early 1990s origins neo soul originated 1980s early 1990s work musical acts prince tony trent music conventions contemporary time tony later embarked solo career produced works neo soul artists influential neo soul act achieved success 1980s music featured pop style incorporating elements soul pop smooth jazz quiet storm band new wave oriented artists early 1990s included soul soul allmusic writes british artists emerged period neo soul outlook able blend influences different eras british neo soul movement time included cited father british neo soul influence future artists according prince carrying torch neo soul decades refusing played rules fit comfortable formats mid- 90s suddenly joined host soul artists wanted break boundaries american artists early 1990s included groove theory shell mid late 1990s mainstream breakthrough success tony album viewed precursor soul music revival mid-1990s article los_angeles_times music journalist cited album having largely sparked soul music revival opened door new generation singers build tradition allmusic editor wrote release tony follow album influence beginning apparent younger soul singer songwriters like began reaching charts like tony rich relied traditional soul values songwriting live performances synth heavy productions late 80s early 90s vibe cites early work hip hop group roots live instrumentation precursor neo soul commercial breakthrough mid-1990s music journalists credited successes urban hang suite hill hill shaping raising neo soul movement commercial visibility late 1990s according album gives nod past sound golden keyboards sensual vocals melodies songs polished slick smart brought spirit soul music candles quirky lyrics sold nearly million copies won grammy awards hill debut featured singing rapping deeply personal lyrics neo soul primary successes achieving massive sales critical acclaim grammy awards subsequently female artists broke debut albums including film love jones capitalized neo soul success time soundtrack album impacted billboard charts featured artists hill according greg_kot musical collective consisting artists roots common tip contributed significantly neo soul movement late 1990s early 2000s members organic soul natural rap collective developed production work roots drummer producer following minor decline hype neo soul mainstream popularity increased late 1990s successes hill impacted mainstream oriented radio influencing contemporary acts kelly incorporate lyrical elements song woman fed kelly incorporated soul based sound referenced song lyrics 2000s apex mainstream decline success albums hill second album served alternative late 1990s hip hop neo soul reached apex production creative milestone neo soul new_york_times called album proves force new music largely genuinely great album produced hit singles time second album mama gun dubbed writers queen neo soul said title hated don anymore change puts subsequently artists attained success early 2000s including india broke broader popularity debut album songs minor hip hop artists roots common associated released albums incorporated neo soul decade later featured decline output neo soul artists failing commercial impact previous successes releasing follow album commercial viability decreased releases following debut departed album music hill followed debut considered best selling neo soul album live album work expresses fame new_york_times wrote retrospect era left center black singer songwriters stating struggled creative momentum conflicted early mainstream success producer member elaborated artists mainstream saying think went quasi self stage got taste success think pressure reacting got released records career artists hill went indefinite hiatus music scene popmatters attributed decline rejection term neo soul industry hard time complicated black artists idea enormously talented individuals rejected entire marketing campaigns designed break record buying public albums shelved delayed artists dropped major labels forced making decade 21st century soulful define decade industry decades boston_globe wrote artists term article neo soul standing despite critical success neo soul initial failing media created label term artists meant represent generally rejected interview music publicist said neo soul movement underground trying attention mainstream stated general neo soul remained exclusive outlets urban radio majority neo soul artists crossover mainstream american music listeners partially music sound generally focuses artist expression popular appeal emerging artists signed independent soul labels received exposure independent retailers neo soul oriented web sites college public radio stations city club venues cable networks publishing deals writers producers major label recording artists returned respective released received albums albums album night subsequently toured vh1 soul series began showcased new music artists india tip 2010s late period original popularity neo soul expanded musically works african american international artists popular neo soul artists recent years described neo soul rock star viewing reference eclectic musical style issue critical moments popular music spin cited success turning point neo soul funk high minded rhetoric stands neo soul achievement years hear hill remain missing picked mantle ran line late period neo soul albums releases night new return revenge channel orange
Neo soul