Despite the new waves in R&B and the out with the old, in with the new attitude that seems to reign supreme in music, several artists from the past continue to remain relevant and have released new works throughout the 2000s. While some of these artists have been previously mentioned (Usher, Mariah Carey), their reasons for being left out of this section have already been explained. These artists have remained true to their roots and continue to lace modern R&B with some of the classic 90s feel.
Babyface - Sorry for the Stupid Things
While the music industry cut Babyface off and wouldn't release his Love Story, he came back with Grown & Sexy. The album featured a blend of classic Babyface with a few added up-tempo jams that brought in some of the more modern vibes. Still, the album was largely classic Babyface, as the album's first (not counting "The Loneliness") single shows.
Boyz II Men - Tracks of My Tears
Boyz II Men seems to have been dependent on covers to keep them active in R&B, with two of their past three albums being covers of old songs. Still, the guys sound just as great as they used to and continue to tour on a regular basis. Their last album, A Journey Through Hitsville, comes highly recommended as the guys really do a great job on every song. Here's the album's single, "Tracks of My Tears."
Brian McKnight - The Rest Of My Life
Brian McKnight keeps it real and seems to let nothing stop him. Nothing shows this man's dedication to R&B than his album Ten, a testament to the fact that he's released ten albums since he's debuted. "The Rest of My Life" is a beautiful track off that post-2000 release.
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Dru Hill - I Should Be
I've never been a fan of Erykah Badu's music, but I offer this one in case you might be. One of her biggest hits, this reflects some of the best of what Erykah's got to offer. A strong soulful sound, Erykah's been leading the way for a long time.
Jon B - What I Like About You
Jon B put out this great track that features Babyface and is a throwback to their earlier collaborations. While Jon B's Stronger Everyday went largely overlooked, this soft track was a classic number.
Mint Condition - Nothing Left To Say
Mint Condition's been around since forever and in 2008, they showed they're still keepin it real with their album E-Life. The track "Nothing Left To Say" was just one of many smooth cuts on the album.
Tony Rich Project - Moving On
Tony Rich is a hard one to evaluate since he changes his styles and experiments so liberally on every album that it's hard to really place him in a single concept. However, I've loved everything he's put out, and he continues to work the industry today, so he's on the list. His last album Pictures featured some mainstream tracks but also a few classic Tony Rich tracks.
