Red Bull Music has released the first episode in a new series of mini web-documentaries entitled ‘H∆SHTAG$.’ Fittingly the first piece focuses on the explosion of the developing internet bred, underground, and experimental styles of R&B and Soul are becoming more and more popular. Over the last 2-3 years the genre has seen a renaissance in a sense with an evolution of the sounds and stylings fans, and the music industry, most associated with R&B or Soul. With many of the contributing artists remaining on an underground or indie level, some of today’s most acclaimed new artists such as Miguel, Frank Ocean or The Weeknd, have all been labeled under the newly popular terms of Alt-R&B or Alternative Soul. Miguel has a few scenes in the piece, as does rising newcomer Rochelle Jordan.
In this first episode of H∆SHTAG$, we take a look at the current renaissance of contemporary R&B in the “always-on” age, featuring former half of The Weeknd, Jeremy ‘Zodiac’ Rose, How To Dress Well, Miguel, Rochelle Jordan, KLSH, BadBadNotGood, and more. How has the Internet inspired and galvanized this new breed of artists? Have online communities and media been too quick to label genres and movements? What does the future hold for the many strains of the R&B genre?
H∆SHTAG$ is a new series of mini-documentaries from the Red Bull Music Academy, chronicling some of the most fascinating themes emerging from the web in recent times, from #cloudrap to #seapunk, #postdubstep to #advancedpop.
It’s an interesting watch…take a look, and let us know what you think?
