History of American Pop Music
Chapter 39: R&B and Pop Music in the 90s

Chapter 39: Overview

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Chapter 39 follows the evolution of R&B during the 1990s as artists combined soul, hip-hop, gospel, and pop into new forms that influenced mainstream music. Performers such as Lauryn Hill, Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, D’Angelo, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC broadened the audience for contemporary R&B and teen pop through innovative production, expressive vocals, and crossover success, making these styles among the decade’s most commercially successful forms of popular music.

Important Terms

Neo-Soul – A late-1990s R&B style that revived 1970s soul while adding hip-hop rhythms and contemporary production.

Hip-Hop Soul – R&B built with hip-hop beats, samples, and production methods.

Boy Band – A male vocal group built around tight harmonies, choreography, and teen-pop appeal.

Whistle Register – The highest part of the human singing voice, used by Mariah Carey.

Melisma – Singing many notes on a single syllable.

Interpolation – Re-recording or replaying part of an older song rather than sampling the original recording.

Crossover Appeal – Music that reaches multiple audience groups or genre markets.

Sample Clearance – Legal permission needed to use an existing recording or composition.

Dilla Feel – A loose, off-grid drum feel associated with J Dilla’s production

Artists Discussed

J Dilla – Producer known for the “Dilla feel.”

The Roots – Live-instrument hip-hop group from Philadelphia.

Erykah Badu – Neo-soul singer.

Lauryn Hill – Singer, rapper, and songwriter central to neo-soul and hip-hop soul.

Fugees – Group featuring Lauryn Hill, Pras, and Wyclef Jean.

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel – Member of the Fugees.

D’Angelo – Neo-soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

Janet Jackson – Pop and R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress whose blend of pop, R&B, new jack swing, and socially conscious themes made her an important artist in the 1990s.

New Edition – R&B group whose success provided a model for later boy bands.

New Kids on the Block – Major 1980s boy band.

Maurice Starr – Producer who formed New Kids on the Block.

Lou Pearlman – Manager and promoter behind Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

Backstreet Boys – Major 1990s boy band.

NSYNC – Major 1990s boy band.

Justin Timberlake – Member of *NSYNC and later solo star.

Max Martin – Swedish producer and songwriter behind many teen-pop hits.

Britney Spears – Teen-pop star and major late-1990s pop figure.

Songs Referenced

  • "Killing Me Softly" – Fugees

  • "Doo Wop (That Thing)" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Let's Find Love" – The 5th Dimension

  • "I'm a Loser" – Brighter Side of Darkness

  • "Lost Ones" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Bam Bam" – Sister Nancy

  • "To Zion" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Ex-Factor" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Superstar" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Final Hour" – Lauryn Hill

  • "When It Hurts So Bad" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Forgive Them Father" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Every Ghetto, Every City" – Lauryn Hill

  • "Living for the City" – Stevie Wonder

  • "Nothing Even Matters" – Lauryn Hill featuring D'Angelo

  • "No, No, No" – Destiny's Child

  • "Bills, Bills, Bills" – Destiny's Child

  • "Say My Name" – Destiny's Child

  • "Bug a Boo" – Destiny's Child

  • "Jumpin', Jumpin'" – Destiny's Child

  • "One Sweet Day" – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

  • "Dreamlover" – Mariah Carey

  • "Hero" – Mariah Carey

  • "Honey" – Mariah Carey

  • "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey

  • "Love Song for Kids" – Janet Jackson and Randy Jackson

  • "Nasty" – Janet Jackson

  • "What Have You Done for Me Lately" – Janet Jackson

  • "Control" – Janet Jackson

  • "When I Think of You" – Janet Jackson

  • "Let's Wait Awhile" – Janet Jackson

  • "Rhythm Nation" – Janet Jackson

  • "Feedback" – Janet Jackson

  • "Nothing" – Janet Jackson

  • "Lady" – D'Angelo

  • "Brown Sugar" – D'Angelo

  • "Me and Those Dreaming Eyes of Mine" – D'Angelo

  • "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" – D'Angelo

  • "Please Don't Go Girl" – New Kids on the Block

  • "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" – New Kids on the Block

  • "I Want It That Way" – Backstreet Boys

  • "It's Gonna Be Me" – *NSYNC

  • "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears

  • "(You Drive Me) Crazy" – Britney Spears

  • "Cry Me a River" – Justin Timberlake

  • "Rock Your Body" – Justin Timberlake

  • "Shape of My Heart" – Backstreet Boys

Albums

  • The Score – Fugees

  • The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill

  • All Hail the Queen – Queen Latifah

  • The Writing's on the Wall – Destiny's Child

  • Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey

  • Emotions – Mariah Carey

  • Music Box – Mariah Carey

  • Daydream – Mariah Carey

  • Butterfly – Mariah Carey

  • Glitter – Mariah Carey

  • The Emancipation of Mimi – Mariah Carey

  • Janet Jackson – Janet Jackson

  • Control – Janet Jackson

  • Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson

  • The Velvet Rope – Janet Jackson

  • All for You – Janet Jackson

  • Brown Sugar – D'Angelo

  • Voodoo – D'Angelo

  • Things Fall Apart – The Roots

  • Hangin' Tough – New Kids on the Block

  • Backstreet's Back – Backstreet Boys

  • Millennium – Backstreet Boys

  • Black & Blue – Backstreet Boys

  • Justified – Justin Timberlake

  • FutureSex/LoveSounds – Justin Timberlake

  • The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake

  • ...Baby One More Time – Britney Spears

  • Oops!... I Did It Again – Britney Spears

  • Britney – Britney Spears

  • In the Zone – Britney Spears

  • Blackout – Britney Spears