Swingbeat

A brief history of Swingbeat

Swingbeat, also known as New Jack Swing, is a musical genre that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is a fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and jazz, featuring a heavy emphasis on beats and grooves.

The origins of Swingbeat can be traced back to the early 1980s, when producers such as Teddy Riley, Andre Harrell, and Bernard Belle began experimenting with mixing jazz and funk elements with the emerging hip hop sound. They were influenced by the work of jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway, as well as funk and soul artists like James Brown, George Clinton, and Rick James.

By the mid-1980s, this fusion of styles had crystallized into a distinct sound, which would come to be called New Jack Swing. The term was coined by journalist and music critic Barry Michael Cooper in a 1987 article for Village Voice, in which he described the hybrid sound as “a fusion of hip-hop and R&B characterized by a strong beat, a catchy hook, and the use of gospel-tinged vocals.”

The first hit to be labelled as New Jack Swing was “Girlfriend” by Bobby Brown, which was produced by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle in 1986. However, it was Riley’s work on the album “Don’t Be Cruel” by Brown that really solidified the sound. The album, released in 1988, featured a mix of R&B, hip hop, and pop, with catchy hooks and hard-hitting beats.

Other prominent artists to embody the Swingbeat sound included Keith Sweat, Guy, and Bell Biv DeVoe. Sweat’s 1987 debut album “Make It Last Forever” featured hits such as “I Want Her” and “Something Just Ain’t Right”. Guy, comprised of brothers Aaron and Damion Hall and Teddy Riley, released their self-titled debut album in 1988, which included classics like “Groove Me” and “Teddy’s Jam”. Bell Biv DeVoe, a spin-off group from New Edition featuring members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe, released their debut album “Poison” in 1990, which remains one of the most iconic Swingbeat albums of all time.

In addition to the music itself, Swingbeat was known for its fashion and dance style. Artists like Keith Sweat and Bobby Brown rocked high-top fades, baggy suits, and flashy jewelry, while fans adopted a dance style that blended hip hop and jazz elements, known as “Swing dancing”.

Swingbeat’s popularity began to wane by the mid-1990s, as hip hop began to dominate the charts and R&B moved towards a more polished, pop-oriented sound. However, the genre has remained influential, inspiring the emergence of neo-soul and future funk movements in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Today, Swingbeat continues to be celebrated by fans and aficionados, who appreciate its mix of old and new sounds and the unique energy it brought to the music scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Its legacy can be heard in the work of modern artists like Bruno Mars, who has cited New Jack Swing as a major influence on his music.

Notable Swingbeat artists

Guy: Guy is a six-piece R&B group known for their contributions to the swingbeat movement. Led by brothers Aaron and Damion Hall, the group rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s thanks to hits like “Groove Me” and “Let’s Chill.”

Teddy Riley: Teddy Riley is considered one of the pioneers of the swingbeat genre. In addition to his own successful group Guy, he also produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson. His innovative use of drum machines, sampling, and synthesizers helped shape the sound of R&B in the late 80s and early 90s.

Keith Sweat: Keith Sweat is a singer-songwriter known for his smooth, romantic ballads. He first rose to fame with his debut album Make It Last Forever, which spawned hits like “I Want Her” and “Something Just Ain’t Right.” Sweat’s music is known for its use of slow, bass-heavy beats and sensual lyrics.

Jodeci: Jodeci is a four-piece R&B group consisting of two pairs of brothers. Their debut album Forever My Lady was a massive success, spawning hits like “Come and Talk to Me” and “Stay.” Jodeci’s music is characterized by its lush harmonies, soulful vocals, and sensual lyrics.

Al B. Sure!: Al B. Sure! is a singer-songwriter known for his silky-smooth voice and romantic ballads. His debut album In Effect Mode was a huge success in the late 80s, thanks to hits like “Nite and Day” and “Off on Your Own (Girl).” Sure!’s music is known for its use of atmospheric synths and slow, pulsing beats.

Bell Biv DeVoe: Bell Biv DeVoe is a trio consisting of former members of New Edition. Their debut album Poison was a massive success, thanks to hits like the title track and “Do Me!” Bell Biv DeVoe’s music is characterized by its use of hip-hop beats, catchy hooks, and playful lyrics.

Mary J. Blige: Mary J. Blige is a singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and deeply personal lyrics. Her debut album What’s the 411? was a huge success in the early 90s, thanks to hits like “Real Love” and “You Remind Me.” Blige’s music is known for its use of soulful samples, hip-hop beats, and emotionally honest lyrics.

Bobby Brown: Bobby Brown is a singer-songwriter best known for his solo career after leaving New Edition. His second album Don’t Be Cruel was a massive success in the late 80s and early 90s, spawning hits like “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.” Brown’s music is characterized by its use of hip-hop beats and his distinctive, raspy voice.

Janet Jackson: Janet Jackson is a singer-songwriter known for her prolific career spanning several decades. Her album Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 was a massive success in the late 80s and early 90s, thanks to hits like “Miss You Much” and “Escapade.” Jackson’s music is characterized by its use of socially conscious lyrics, dance beats, and her breathy vocal style.

TLC: TLC is a three-piece girl group known for their catchy, upbeat tracks and empowering lyrics. Their album CrazySexyCool was a massive success in the 90s, thanks to hits like “Waterfalls” and “Creep.” TLC’s music is characterized by its use of hip-hop beats, rich harmonies, and lyrics advocating for female empowerment.

25 Swingbeat records you should hear

1. “Fairweather Friend” - Johnny Gill
2. “My Prerogative” - Bobby Brown
3. “Something Just Ain’t Right” - Keith Sweat
4. “Round and Round” - Tevin Campbell
5. “Don’t Be Cruel” - Bobby Brown
6. “Just Got Paid” - Johnny Kemp
7. “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” - Janet Jackson
8. “Rub You the Right Way” - Johnny Gill
9. “I Want Her” - Keith Sweat
10. “Poison” - Bell Biv DeVoe
11. “Another Sad Love Song” - Toni Braxton
12. “Nite and Day” - Al B. Sure!
13. “If I’m Not Your Lover” - Al B. Sure!
14. “Do Me!” - Bell Biv DeVoe
15. “Sensitivity” - Ralph Tresvant
16. “Roni” - Bobby Brown
17. “My, My, My” - Johnny Gill
18. “Can You Stand the Rain” - New Edition
19. “Tender Love” - Force M.D.’s
20. “I Like” - Guy
21. “Before I Let You Go” - Blackstreet
22. “All That I Am” - Joe
23. “Right Here/Human Nature” - SWV
24. “End of the Road” - Boyz II Men
25. “Forever My Lady” - Jodeci

Swingbeat and the charts

Several Swingbeat records have enjoyed success in the charts throughout the years. One of the most prominent examples is Bobby Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel,” which topped the Billboard 200 chart in 1988 and was hailed as a landmark album in the development of Swingbeat. The record sold over 10 million copies worldwide and spawned several hit singles, including “My Prerogative,” “Every Little Step,” and “Roni.”

Another significant Swingbeat artist who achieved commercial success during the genre’s peak years was Keith Sweat. His debut album, “Make It Last Forever,” was released in 1987 and quickly became a chart-topping hit. The record sold over 3 million copies in the United States alone and featured several popular singles, such as “I Want Her,” “Something Just Ain’t Right,” and the title track.

Other notable Swingbeat albums that enjoyed chart success include Guy’s self-titled debut album, which topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 1988 and spawned the hit single “Groove Me.” Additionally, the New Jack Swing-inspired Boyz II Men released their debut album “Cooleyhighharmony,” in 1991, which sold over 9 million copies worldwide and featured a string of hits such as “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”

Swingbeat’s popularity declined in the mid-1990s as new genres such as grunge rock, gangster rap, and alternative rock took center stage. However, some Swingbeat artists continued to release successful albums, such as R. Kelly’s “12 Play,” which was released in 1993 and went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide. The album has been hailed as a classic of the genre and established R. Kelly as one of the leading figures in Swingbeat’s second wave.

In the early 2000s, Swingbeat began to make a comeback with the emergence of Neo-Soul and the influence of artists such as D’Angelo and Maxwell. These artists blended R&B, funk, and soul influences of the past with modern production techniques and became known for their smooth and sultry style. Although Neo-Soul drew from many different genres, it owed a significant debt to Swingbeat’s innovative use of electronic instrumentation and syncopated rhythms.

What people have said about Swingbeat

One notable book on the subject of Swingbeat is “The New Jack Swing: Fusing Rock, R&B, and Hip-Hop” by Bryan Boyd. In this book, Boyd explores the history and influence of the New Jack Swing movement, including Swingbeat. He argues that this style of music was part of a larger cultural and social shift, reflecting changes in fashion, dance, and popular culture. Boyd describes Swingbeat as a “dynamic and varied genre” that helped to bridge the gap between urban and mainstream music.

Another influential book on Swingbeat is “Inside the New Jack Swing Era” by Thomas Jerome Baker. Baker delves into the social and cultural context of this music, examining the ways in which its creators and fans related to issues of race, gender, and sexuality. He makes the argument that Swingbeat was a form of hybridization, fusing disparate musical elements together to create something entirely new. Baker writes that Swingbeat “represented a cultural and musical revolution,” drawing on the traditions of soul, funk, and disco, but also incorporating electronic sounds and rhythms.

While some writers view Swingbeat as a positive development in the history of urban music, others are less enthusiastic. In his book “Hip Hop America,” Nelson George is critical of the genre, writing that it was “more about producing hits than creating art.” He argues that Swingbeat was too focused on commercial success, with producers and artists churning out formulaic songs designed to appeal to a mass audience. Similarly, in their book “The New Beats,” S.H. Fernando Jr. and Michael G. Masucci criticize Swingbeat for its lack of innovation, arguing that it represented a “temporary diversion” from more substantive forms of R&B and hip-hop.

Despite these criticisms, Swingbeat continues to have a strong following among fans of urban music. Notable quotes about Swingbeat include journalist Cheo H. Coker’s observation that it was “an explosive mix of retro groove and futuristic thump,” and music critic Tom Terrell’s description of it as “the sound of the future.” Many fans and critics appreciate Swingbeat’s blend of traditional and modern sounds, and its ability to fuse different genres and cultures together. As writer Veronica Chambers puts it, “Swingbeat was about creating something new out of the old, and incorporating all the different elements of black popular culture - music, fashion, dance, and more - into a seamless whole.”

Swingbeat in context

One of the main social factors that helped bring Swingbeat into existence was the growing popularity of R&B and hip-hop. In the 1980s, these genres were becoming more mainstream and were gaining a wider audience. This created an opportunity for a new style of music that blended these genres together. Swingbeat emerged as a response to this demand for a fresh, new sound.

Another social factor that played a role in the development of Swingbeat was the political climate at the time. The 1980s was a period of great social change, especially for black Americans. The civil rights movement had made significant gains in the 1960s and 70s, but there was still a long way to go in terms of racial equality. Swingbeat provided a vehicle for black artists to express themselves in a way that was both politically and socially conscious.

Culturally, Swingbeat was heavily influenced by the fashion and style of the time. Hip-hop culture was becoming mainstream, and this had a significant impact on the fashion and style of young people. Baggy clothes, sneakers, and track suits were popular, and Swingbeat artists often adopted this style. This helped to reinforce the connection between Swingbeat and hip-hop culture.

From a technological perspective, the emergence of new music technology played a significant role in the development of Swingbeat. The rise of digital samplers and drum machines allowed producers to create new sounds and rhythms that were previously impossible. This gave Swingbeat its distinctive sound, which was characterized by catchy drum loops and innovative use of samples.

Notable record labels that helped to popularize Swingbeat include Jive Records, which released albums by Swingbeat pioneers like Bobby Brown and Guy. Other labels, such as MCA Records and Island Records, also played a role in promoting the genre.

Journalists and other figures that helped to shape the public perception of Swingbeat included writers like Nelson George, who wrote extensively about R&B and hip-hop culture in his book “The Death of Rhythm and Blues”, as well as music video directors like Hype Williams, who helped to create the distinctive visual style of many Swingbeat videos.

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Funk: A rhythmic and danceable style of African-American music that builds on the groove-based rhythms of R&B and jazz, typically characterized by syncopated basslines, brass horn sections, and electrified instrumentation.

Hip-hop: A cultural movement that began in African-American and Latino communities in the Bronx in the 1970s, characterized by four key elements of graffiti art, breakdancing, DJing, and MCing (rapping).

Contemporary R&B: A genre of popular African-American music that developed in the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by smooth and sophisticated arrangements that draw from soul, funk, and pop music.

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