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Grok 101: What is Nu Soul/Neo Soul? Nu Soul What in the world is “Nu Soul”? Is it the same as “Neo Soul”? How is it different from regular old “Soul”?

Great questions, and Grok is here to help clear up the confusion.

Yes, Nu Soul and Neo Soul are pretty much the same thing (and we’ll use them interchangeably in this article). Neo Soul was a marketing term coined by music exec Kedar Massenburg to differentiate the new soul music that emerged in the early 1990s from the classic soul of the 60s and 70s. The conventional marketing wisdom of the time was that new is better than old. Hip Hop was “new school”. Soul music was “old school”. To compete in the marketplace then new artists had to be playing new music, hence “Neo Soul”. Nu Soul is the term developed by the artists and aficionados who reject the “neo” concept. Soul music, after all, is soul music, right?

Well, yes and no.

Nu Soul is the living legacy of the music immortalized by icons like {$Ray Charles}, {$Aretha Franklin} and {$Stevie Wonder} on labels like Motown, Stax and Philadelphia International. But many new artists are also influenced by the hip hop, house and funk of later generations. Therefore Nu Soul music production can range from more electronically inclined artists like {$Dwele} to the purist retro stylings of {$Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings}.Dwele – {@T+14477408} Video



Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – {@T+12233107}

Origins of Neo Soul

As with most musical genres, there is no date in history when soul ended and neo soul began. British singers {$Sade} and {$Omar} along with American bands like Tony! Toni! Tone! and {$Mint Condition} were among the first to mix organic old soul sensibilities with the contemporary production and electronic sounds that were almost required for urban contemporary radio play in the late 80s and early 90s.Sade – {@T++3454523}



Omar – {@T++4381546}



Tony! Toni! Tone! – {@T++1840997}



Mint Condition – {@T++8841929}

In 1995 a New York lawyer named Kedar Massenburg signed two unknown artists to his fledgling Kedar Entertainment label. Those artists, {$D'Angelo} and {$Erykah Badu}, dropped two classic debut albums which went on to sell millions of copies and are arguably the two most influential soul music albums of the 90s. The elements that these two records shared - a street-wise hip hop attitude with jazzy vibes, strong musicianship, soulful vocals and intelligent, thoughtful lyrics – were powerful forces in a market that was dominated by copycat R&B singers and rappers. They were so powerful, in fact, they sparked a worldwide movement.

Check out their video's after the jump.D’Angelo – {@T+14428955}



Erykah Badu – {@T++2308497}

The success of these two acts and the 1998 release of {^R+++373833} by {$The Fugees}' singer/rapper {$Lauryn Hill} set off an explosion of soul. Artists like {$Alicia Keys}, {$Jill Scott}, {$Maxwell}, {$Angie Stone}, {$Anthony Hamilton}, {$India.Arie}, Musiq Soulchild, {$Les Nubians}, {$Dwele}, {$John Legend} and {$Kindred The Family Soul} topped the R&B and pop charts through the late 90s and early in the 21st century.Lauryn Hill – {@T++2238736}



Maxwell – {@T++1570020} (Live)

Though Neo Soul began with major inertia, radio’s fickle playlists and changes in the music industry keep many of the best Nu Soul artists underground. Accomplished musicians and singers like {$N'Dambi}, {$Goapele}, {$Anthony David}, {$Sy Smith}, {$Ledisi}, {$Amp Fiddler}, and {$Rahsaan Patterson} have built huge international followings, while remaining mostly unknown to mainstream music audiences. Still a few new artists like {$Robin Thicke}, {$Corinne Bailey Rae}, {$Amy Winehouse} and {$Chrisette Michele} have scored big on the mainstream charts over the last few years.N’Dambi – Insecurity







Amp Fiddler & Corinne Bailey Rae – {@T+12263584}







A growing and enthusiastic soul music movement driven largely through the Internet, and through live performances on what some have called the Nu Soul Chittlin’ Circuit prove that this genre is picking up steam. If you’re a fan of classic soul, jazz or old school hip hop, you will definitely want to explore the wealth of amazing Nu Soul music.