Muni Long Believes R&B Could Benefit From Increased Emotion And Playfulness

Muni Long thinks the R&B genre could be better off with more artists “investigating different sounds” and “being open emotionally.” On February 18, the “Time Machine” singer participated in a conversation with notable vocalists including Kehlani, H.E.R., and Victoria Monét, among other artists, about the music genre’s current renaissance period.

Talking to The New York Times Style Magazine, Long discussed how R&B continually looks back as it searches for its future direction. Let’s create some wedding songs. She mentioned that some party songs would be enjoyable, specifically the kind that are typically played in a nightclub.

A standout example that effectively reinforced the message was her Grammy Award-winning single “Hrs & Hrs.” She remembered hearing the record being played in rotation alongside Hip Hop acts such as Sexyy Red and XXL Freshman Class selection BossMan Dlow in a nightclub. Everyone, including men, was dressed in a thug-like manner, sporting various types of chains and gold teeth. She clarified that everyone was singing along to her song.

R&B is often a genre that people tend to categorize tightly, largely due to its strong connection to Black culture. When artists experiment excessively, their work may end up classified as “alternative” or “pop,” but conversely, it’s also possible for the art form to defy expectations and undergo significant evolution instead. She stressed that R&B is essentially the same as pop music. “They borrowed the style and the confidence, and popularized it among the masses.”

Long’s most recent full-length project, Revenge, secured a position on Rap-Up’s Best R&B Albums Of 2024 list. The LP, comprising 14 tracks, featured the artist pushing her vocal abilities on “Leave My Baby Tonight,” where she compared her skills to GloRilla’s, and also showcased self-confidence on “The Baddest” and displayed rap skills on the energetic “Bessie.”

According to last year’s breakout stars, R&B in 2025 is likely to have a substantial amount of exciting new music in store. Jordan Adetunji saw a sudden surge in popularity with “KEHLANI,” and the mask-wearing 4batz as well as many other newcomers caught the attention of the public.