Episode
Why Erykah Badu & D'Angelo Reject Neo Soul Entirely
- Podcast
- Rhythm and Rhymes
- Published
- Mar 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1271
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Subscribe to Rhythm FM: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dr43zvte AJ and Antonio Hughes discuss how Motown executive Kedar Massenburg coined “neo-soul” as a marketing term to distinguish artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and Lauryn Hill from 1990s R&B, and why artists such as D’Angelo and Raphael Saadiq rejected the label; they also talk about genre boxing and how categorization affects awards and bookings. They recap developments in the Live Nation trial, noting multiple states pushing back against a DOJ settlement and debating likely outcomes. They cover the case of Michael Smith, accused of using AI-generated songs and bots to fraudulently generate royalties, and mention Chance the Rapper winning a suit with minimal payment. They review Mike WiLL Made-It’s album "Reset," highlight DJ Spinall’s instrumental EP, recommend Alex Isley’s "When the City Sleeps," and share song picks.00:00 Podcast Intro and Catch Up00:34 Neo Soul Origins Explained02:25 Genre Labels and Boxing Artists05:47 Live Nation Trial Update08:29 AI Music Streaming Scam13:05 Chance Manager Lawsuit Win13:56 Mike Will Made It Reset Review16:21 DJ Spinall Instrumental Vibes16:55 Alex Isley Album Spotlight17:51 Weekly Song Picks and Wrap Up