New jack swing

New jack swing is a hybrid style of rhythm and blues (R&B) combined with hip hop, popular from the late

New jack swing is a hybrid style of rhythm and blues (R&B) combined with hip hop, popular from the late 1980s to early/mid-1990s. Its sound is a blend of the sporadic hip hop "swing" beats (so called because of the extreme use of rhythmic improvisation), which were popular during the golden age of hip hop, with contemporary r&b style singing.

Also called "new jack R&B" or "swingbeat", the term was coined either by journalist and New Jack City co-writer Barry Michael Cooper or music artist and producer Teddy Riley who invented this style in the experiment of integrating various rhythms, samples and production techniques with the urban contemporary sound of R&B. The style developed in a way similar to many previous styles, as a new combination of older styles. Some songs were comprised of rhythmic beats with music, while others had singing alternating with rap sections over this same type of music. In short, New jack swing is mellifluously soulful solo or harmonizing vocals sung over rhythms and "street" beats derived from urban musical influences. This style of music melded into the form of hip-hop that is widely popular in today's music. New jack swing is also known for its aggression, swaggering and addressing romantic themes and lyrics. The music also had an impact on other musical genres and resulted in a new jack swing era, which lasted from late 1988 to approximately 1994. That era was celebrated by all things "urban" in popular culture across the mass media.