Cannabis Soul

Neo soul (also known as nu soul or Underground soul) is a sub-genre of contemporary R&B. The main difference between neo soul and the more popular sub-genres of R&B is that it is the most ethnocentric type of R&B. Neo soul artists tend to be very well-informed on world culture and politics, as well as spiritual discussions. The music itself is usually a hybrid of 1970s-influenced soul music with influences from jazz, funk, hip hop and occasionally house music, although since 2000 there's also elements of broken beat and L.A. electro-soul hybrids(J Davey). The term neo soul was initially coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a Market description. Neo soul's audience tends to be underground, since the music favors lyrical substance, real instrumentation (sometimes),and "soulful integrity" over mainstream "pop" sensibilities. Some musicians who create what is described as neo-soul prefer to disassociate themselves from the tag, due to the term's buzzword-like usage. As a result, some refer to themselves as educators, artists, musicians or simply as "soul" artists.
20th Century
In the USA, some consider the genre to have been influenced by the 70's-era work of Legendary artists like Roberta Flack, Al Green, Sly Stone, Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Jazz musician Roy Ayers, & the Philly Soul sounds of producers Gamble & Huff. Later, during the New Jack Swing era bands such as Tony! Toni! Toné! and the R&B/hip-hop band the Fugees, along with U.K. soul artists Omar Lye-Fook & Neneh Cherry laced the airwaves with a retro-soul sound in the early 1990s, but the genre really began to garner exposure after the releases of singers Erykah Badu, and Joi's debut album Pendulum Vibe, which contained elements of 1970s style arrangements along with Funk Rock elements. It continued with releases by singers Dionne Farris, Eric Benet's 1996 CD True To Myself, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, & D'Angelo's 1995 LP Brown Sugar, the work of the duo Groove Theory, which included the members Amel Larrieux and producer Bryce Wilson. The UK's progenic Sade broke thru in the late 80's with albums such as Diamond Life, Promise (album), Stronger Than Pride and later Love Deluxe which created a jazz-soul sound and style. Other artists that had that Retro soul/R&B vibe during this period were the Young Disciples, Urban Species, Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Soul II Soul and N'Dea Davenport as a solo artist.
The first soul revival artist to make a major impact on the mainstream was Lauryn Hill, whose 1998 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill LP was a critical and commercial success, garnering five Grammy Awards. Her success influenced a number of other Signed & Indie neo-soul artists such as Angie Stone, Musiq Soulchild, Eric Roberson, Jill Scott, Goapele, India.Arie, Davina, Pru, Alice Smith, Jazzyfatnastees, Ursula Rucker, Rhian Benson and Martha Redbone. Other soul artists include Lucy Pearl, Floetry, Glenn Lewis, Res, Anthony Hamilton, Bilal, Hill St. Soul, Rahsaan Patterson and Dwele, all of whom became staples of R&B radio. Recent major neo soul artists include Stephanie McKay, Malina Moye, Emily King, Raheem DeVaughn, Sy Smith, Ledisi, Cleveland, Ohio's Conya Doss, Cincinnati-Bred artists Ja'Meze & the Spoken word soul collective Shades of J, Big Brooklyn Red, Antonia Jenae, The Square Egg, Britain's Julie Dexter, Laurnea, N'Dambi, Gaelle, Rachael Bell, Joy Denalane, Stephanie McKay, Aya, Divine Brown, Asa and Angela Johnson.
In general, neo soul has remained almost exclusive to R&B outlets such as urban radio and Black Entertainment Television (BET), as well as TV One and a plethora of websites & podcasts. Most of its artists are unfamiliar to mainstream ( Pop ) audiences, and have yet to cross over to mainstream American music listeners. Several neo soul artists prefer to remain underground in comparison to most mainstream r&b artists.
[edit]21st Century
Since 2000 artists like Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Musiq Soulchild, Sy Smith, Eric Roberson, Dwele, Omar, Platinum Pied Pipers, Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq, Raheem DeVaughn, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, Leela James and Kem, etc., maintain the Neo Soul music genre.
Many Indie soul artists are hardly known at all except within a certain geographic Region. Some artists have garnered exposure on the music video channels MTV2 and VH1 Soul, while others like Maxwell, Erykah Badu and D'Angelo, are known by mainstream America thru Major Label promotions (Radio/Tv/Print Media), and Live appearance such as D'Angelo's performance on VH1's Men Strike Back 2000 and Badu's role in the movie Blues Brothers 2000. D'Angelo's critically acclaimed 2000 album Voodoo has been recognized by many critics as a masterpiece and the cornerstone of the neo soul genre.[1][2][3]
In the last 10 years or so there has been a plethora of Underground soul podcasts, Online radio stations & 'pirate radio' stations that have sprung up across Europe, Asia & the U.S., particularly in London with www.Solarradio.com, Lightning FM, Sweet FM, Hot 96, Juice FM, Sister V from Galaxy Radio and DJ Destiny from Roots FM who have been championing Neo Soul music for years and remain dedicated to supporting the genre with a focus on underground up and coming artists from around the world, self released Indie talent. The listeners to these pirate radio stations tend to be exceptionally loyal and many regularly attend secret location events playing the best in this form of music.