It shames me to see the direction that R&B music has taken in the last 4-5 years. I honestly think that the largest contributor to R&B's downfall is the popularity of crappy mainstream rap music. Some rappers can be great (Nas, Common, Royce Da 5'9, The Roots), but the majority should never hold a microphone and unfortunately those are the ones who generally get the most fame/recognition. R&B "artists" started using rap producers, lyrics, and subject matter.
Call me a pessimist but I dont think petitions or letters will work. The best we can do is support good artist by buying their albums. Let the artist know that there are still people out there who want to hear their music. Keep these artists in the business.
Early in her career, Brandy suffered 3rd degree burns from a hot comb and needed to use braids to keep her hair styled. This quickly became her signature style.
