Listen: Urban contemporary examples
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About Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1970s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music and music of the African diaspora.
Among the best-known names in the style are Anggun, Whitney Houston, Rita Ora, Toni Braxton, Manuel Turizo and Mohombi.
Urban contemporary has given rise to 3 subgenres on this site, such as Hip-hop, Urban contemporary gospel and Urbano music.
From Wikipedia
Urban contemporary music, also known as urban music, urban pop, or just simply urban, is a music radio format. The term was coined by New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker in the early to mid-1970s as a synonym for Black music. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of Black genres such as R&B, pop rap, quiet storm, urban adult contemporary and hip-hop; Latin music such as Latin pop, Chicano R&B and Chicano rap; and Caribbean music such as reggae and soca. Urban contemporary was developed through the characteristics of genres such as R&B and soul.
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Urban contemporary.
Key artists
- Anggun
- Whitney Houston
- Rita Ora
- Toni Braxton
- Manuel Turizo
- Mohombi
- Iyaz
Related genres
Frequently asked questions
What is Urban contemporary?
Urban contemporary is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1970s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music and music of the African diaspora.
Where and when did Urban contemporary originate?
Urban contemporary originated in United States in the 1970s.
Who are famous Urban contemporary artists?
Anggun, Whitney Houston, Rita Ora, Toni Braxton, Manuel Turizo and Mohombi.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q2529400 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Urban contemporary music – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Work Makes the Difference 07-Feels So Good - Urban Contemporary by Riverside County Department of Public Social Services – Public domain