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R&B, or R'n'B as it is also known, has it's origins in Blues, Jazz, Rock n' Roll and Soul music. The term R&B comes from the words Rhythm and Blues, which is where contemporary R&B music began, back in the 1940's. However, the history of R&B can be traced back even further, to the songs sung by African slaves.

Before 1949, music that would now be known as R&B didn't have an official name. Instead, it was simply termed race' music. It was Billboard magazine that coined the term R&B, realizing that race music' wasn't an acceptable description of this increasingly popular music.

Often considered the father of R&B is Louis Jordan, a saxophonist and vocalist. His band, the Tympany Five had an amazing 57 R&B hits between the years of 1942 1951. This popularity bled to other artists of the time, including Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Vocal ensembles and lone singers both have an equal share in the R&B stakes. The Temptations, Boyz II Men and Destinies Child are simply a few examples of R&B groups who have had enormous success. Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Alicia Keys have also carved out places for themselves in the R&B world.

R&B currently encompasses a variety of styles, from Hip Hop and Rap, to the more classic soulful melodies of Blues, Jazz and Soul. One of the key elements of R&B, and the reason for its continual popularity, is its ability to change with the times.

Having its basis in several styles, its nature allows it to blend and adapt. For this reason, R&B music is able to capture the attention of a diverse group of listeners. Whether you want to relax or dance, lift your mood or find the perfect song to complement you melancholy mood, R&B has it all.

Currently, many people equate R&B immediately with Rap, and it's highly sexual context, without realizing that more classic R&B still exists. While many Rap songs feature women as sexual objects, there are also many strong female performers who choose to use their talent, rather than sex, to sell R&B to the latest generation of fans. Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michele and Angie Stone are strong examples of this. Current popular male R&B singers with a smooth style include Usher, Mario and Chris Brown.

Though classed as R&B, Rap has a definitive style all of its own, with hard hitting, rhyming lyrics, often centered around women, sex, money and drugs. With Rap comes an entire new repertoire of terminology, as artists dream up new terms to describe what they are singing about.

If Rap has you hooked, but you're

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