R&B Jeopardy Jeopardy Template

History and Context

Main Instruments Used

Style of Music

Famous R&B Preformers

100

When and where did R&B start?

A) America

B) Virgina

C) Harlem

D) Cuban Habanera

A) America

D) Cuban Habanera

100

Why is R&B instruments different from Hip Hop?

A) 7th Overall pick in the lottery

B) R&B uses vocals and Hip Hop style beats

C) R&B usually focuses a lot on vocals, groove, and feeling rather than being super loud or aggressive.

D) Cowboys Suck Jessie

C) R&B usually focuses a lot on vocals, groove, and feeling rather than being super loud or aggressive.

100

Is R&B Softer or Louder music?

A) Soft

B) Loud

C) IDK ngl

A) Soft

100

What are two popular R&B artists?

A) Micheal Jackson and Stevie Wonder

B) Micheal Jackson and Tupac

C) Micheal Jackson and Billy Joel

D) Randall Park and Devin Booker

A) Micheal Jackson and Stevie Wonder

200

What influenced R&B?

A) African American Spirtuals

B) Homer Simpson

C) Elvis Presley

D) Great Depression

A) African American Spirtuals

200

What was the first instruments used in R&B?

A) piano, saxophones, double bass, drums, and electric guitar

B) Electric Keyboards and Track Players

C) Guitars and Pianos

D) Bandlab

A) piano, saxophones, double bass, drums, and electric guitar

200

Why is R&B music made at a slower pace?

A) Much of R&B features relaxed beats

B) Because its a mix of Lofi and Hip Hop

C) Harlem facts

D) R&B is more clam for younger people

A) Much of R&B features relaxed beats

200

What is the highest selling R&B album of all time?

A) Iceman

B) Songs in the Key of Life

C) Thriller

D) Off the Wall

C) Thriller

300

How have African Americans been involved in the genre?

A) Captures hard times of African American experiences

B) Serves as identity for Black American Life

C) Stephen Curry's Rapping Career

D) Micheal Jackson having the highest selling album

A) Captures hard times of African American experiences

AND

B) Serves as identity for Black American Life

300

Who was mainly known for Vocals and Groove in R&B?

A) Micheal Jackson and Janet Jackson

B) Stevie Wonder

C) Ray Charles and James Brown

D) Billy Joel

C) Ray Charles and James Brown

While early rhythm and blues relied heavily on swinging big band roots, artists like Ray Charles and James Brown were the first to heavily pioneer the marriage of secular music, deeply emotive vocal phrasing, and rhythmic "grooves". [1, 2]

Early Vocal & Groove Pioneers

Ray Charles: Often called the architect of soul, he was among the first to bring driving gospel-style vocals into secular R&B, specifically blending the groove and the vocal call-and-response in defining 1950s tracks like "I've Got a Woman".
James Brown: Known as the Godfather of Soul, he pioneered the funk-R&B groove in the mid-1960s with heavy downbeats.

300

How was Micheal Jackson discriminated for his race?

A) Rejected from MTV for Being Black

B) Accused for hating his race because of his skin disorder, Vitaligo.

C) Targeted by the Media for being Black

D) All of the Above

Key ways he experienced racial discrimination and its resulting backlash include:

MTV Industry Barriers: Early in his solo career, networks like MTV initially refused to play his music videos, maintaining a segregated format that excluded Black artists from mainstream rotation. It took aggressive intervention by CBS Records to get "Billie Jean" on the air, which famously broke the color barrier.
Vitiligo & Public Scrutiny: As his skin lightened, the public and media falsely accused Jackson of purposely bleaching his skin to distance himself from his Black heritage. In reality, he was suffering from the medical skin condition vitiligo (which causes a loss of pigment), a fact later confirmed by his autopsy.
Tabloid Humiliation: He was relentlessly targeted by the media, which frequently painted him as a "freak" or weirdo, leveraging racial stereotypes to mock his changing appearance, lifestyle, and personal relationships.
Criminal Accusations: Cultural critics, scholars, and Jackson himself noted that the intense, racially-charged fears surrounding Black male sexuality in America heavily influenced the severe public backlash and scrutiny he faced during legal trials. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

400

How has R&B had an impact on American Culture today?

A) Spurs in 5

B) Micheal Jackson created R&B

C) Has Influenced Artists and Changed music trends

D) Creation of Iceman

C) Has Influenced Artists and Changed music trends

400

How did Electric Keyboards/Pianos differ R&B from other music?

A) I didn't

B) Electric pianos and synths give R&B its soft, dreamy sound.

C) Electric pianos and synths give R&B melody and uniqueness

D) Homer drops his donut...doh

B) Electric pianos and synths give R&B its soft, dreamy sound.

400

What did Stevie Wonder specialize in R&B music?

A) Electric Keyboard, guitar, Wii controller user, and producer

B) American singer, songwriter, pianist, and producer

C) Northwest singer, songwriter, actor, and producer

D) Popular singer, songwriter, pianist, and Music Director

B) American singer, songwriter, pianist, and producer

500

Which artists helped R&B evolved?

A) SZA

B) Drake

C) Mary J Blige

D) Marvin Gaye

500

How does older R&B (Ex. Micheal Jackson, Stevie Wonder, etc.) different from modern R&B (Ex. SZA, Kehlani, etc.)?

A) Older R&B is more classic

B) Audience changes as older R&B targets different audiences and both have different styles of R&B

C) "Billie Jean is not my lover"

D) Older R&B used more, while modern R&B mixes live instruments with electronic songs and digital productions.

500

What does R&B stand for?

DOUBLE POINTS

Rythm and Blues

500

How did Stevie Wonder's Blindness and race affect his music career and how he was discriminated by people?

A) Often trying to fit in with people who stereotyped him

B) Often battling industry executives who stereotyped him

C) Motown rejected signing him after realizing he was African American and Blind

D) NONE OF THE ABOVE

B) Often battling industry executives who stereotyped him