One of the things that makes Hip Hop so amazing is its versatility. Musically, it can draw from so many different genres, allowing it to constantly evolve and remake its sound. One style that has heavily influenced Hip Hop is soul music. In turn, Hip Hop has also had a reciprocal influence on the evolution of Hip Hop. And just like the beauty in seeing what aspects a child will take from their mom and dad, the parents of Hip Hop and Soul Music created one dope child in Hip Hop Soul! Let’s explore…

Definition

What is Hip Hop Soul? To better understand, let’s break it down. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines soul as, “music that originated in black American gospel singing, is closely related to rhythm and blues, and is characterized by intensity of feeling and earthiness.” Clearly, Hip Hop Soul has a rich heritage, and has been influenced by several genres.

BET states that, “Hip-hop soul infuses R&B style over hip-hop productions. This style of music got very popular in the ’90s. It is often described as ‘soul singing over hip-hop grooves.’”

History:

In the late 1980’s, R&B and Hip Hop began to converge to create a new style and sound. The initial cross over was known as “new jack swing”, which, according to Wikipedia, “incorporated hip-hop influences into R&B music.” In the early 1990’s, this evolution continued progressing, as other artists with R&B influence began singing soul style music over hip hop beat production.

Through the mid 1990’s, Hip Hop Soul saw many mainstream artists gain notoriety, as popularity of the genre grew. In addition to the convergence of sound, the style and persona of soul artists drew much from the style and culture of hip hop, in terms of fashion, dance, and other artistic elements.

By the end of the 1990’s, the evolution continued, as Neo Soul emerged, which Wikipedia shares, is “an R&B subgenre which blended hip-hop and contemporary R&B with heavier influences from the soul music of the 1960s and 1970s.”

While not as popular as it was at its peak in the early to mid 1990’s, Hip Hop Soul has had a major influence on the evolution of Hip Hop, with many artists still drawing on it today for inspiration.

Example Artists:

Mary J. Blige, R Kelly, Jodeci, TLC, 112, Aaliyah, SWV, Xscape, Usher, Blackstreet, Montell Jordan, Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton

Hip Hop Soul Playlist:

So there it is! You now have a basic introduction to Hip Hop Soul! Now go treat yourself and listen to some of these jams, do some further research, and maybe even write some of your own Hip Hop Soul inspired music!

Have any comments? Let us know your favorite Hip Hop Soul artist or track!

On the topic of soul, if you find interest in the spiritual matters of life, check out this spiritually-infused playlist: Light to the World: 10 Songs about Bahá’u’lláh! CLICK HERE to give it a listen!