R&B
Smooth, soulful, and late-night.
60 DJs · 2 upcoming events
The sound
R&B (rhythm and blues) originated in the 1940s as a term for African American popular music, evolving from blues and jazz into a genre characterized by soulful vocals, groove-based rhythms, and later, electronic production. It became a dominant force in pop from the 1990s onward, blending with hip-hop and soul.
Listen for: Listen for the blend of smooth, emotive vocals with a steady, often syncopated groove, and how the production shifts from live instrumentation to electronic beats across eras.
Where r&b actually lives — by the DJs we track
Facts, with receipts
- The term 'rhythm and blues' was coined by Jerry Wexler at Billboard magazine in 1949, replacing 'race records' as a marketing category. · The New York Times (obituary of Jerry Wexler, 2008)
- Early R&B combined elements of jazz, blues, and gospel, with artists like Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five achieving hits in the late 1940s. · Encyclopedia Britannica, 'Rhythm and blues' entry
- In the 1950s, R&B influenced the development of rock and roll, with songs like 'Rocket 88' (1951) often cited as a precursor. · Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (exhibit on 'Rocket 88')
- The 1960s saw the rise of soul music, a subgenre of R&B, with Motown Records in Detroit and Stax Records in Memphis becoming major centers. · Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 'Motown: The Sound of Young America'
- In the 1980s, R&B incorporated electronic instrumentation and synthesizers, leading to the 'contemporary R&B' sound, exemplified by artists like Michael Jackson and Prince. · AllMusic, 'Contemporary R&B' genre overview
- The 1990s saw R&B and hip-hop merge, with artists like Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly blending singing with rap beats, a style often called 'hip-hop soul'. · Vibe magazine, 'Hip-Hop Soul: The 1990s' (archived article)
Where it lives
The rooms R&B plays in
A genre isn't just a sound — it's the kind of room it belongs in, and who's there. You'll most often catch R&B in these scenes:
The classic room: lights, a big system, a proper dancefloor.
Designed for music and dancing — sound, lighting and hospitality tuned for a long night.
Who's there: Broad, social, dressed for it; a door that curates who gets in.
Come to listen — let the record play its whole side.
High-end hi-fi, dim light, comfy chairs; slow nightlife that asks you to focus.
Who's there: Gen-Z and millennials over the club, here for the sound and the conversation.
In the family tree
Full lineage graph →R&B — emerged 1980s, USA.
Roots
DJs
Upcoming R&B nights
Smooth, soulful, and late-night.
Yulia Niko + Carlita + Damián Lazarus + Dixon + Maceo Plex + Mahmut Orhan x Futur Mexico
TBA - Fundidora Monterrey
Nov 13
6:00 PM
La Discothèque with Folamour, Dan Shake, Ron Trent, Jayda D
DRUMSHEDS
London
Nov 13
7:00 PM
