"There's Chris Brown and Rihanna. You gotta keep them separate."

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

The new DJ Quik & Kurupt video for 'Hey Playa! (Moroccan Blues)' features CAMELS.

One of the very best summer jams of the year, too.

Comments

[meserach.livejournal.com]

Key points would include Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" (gimmick hook) in 1998 running up to, say, Nelly feat. Kerry Rowland with "Dilemma" (really strong RnB inflection, female vox as big part of track, monster hit in 2002)

I feel like the RnB/soul-inflected mainstream rap/hip-hop has largely replaced the "purer" mainstream hip-hop/rap that was more prevalent in the nineties. I suspect it might even have something to do with the increasingly female market for singles.