PBR & B

PBR & B is a combination of PBR words (an abbreviation of Pabst Blue Ribbon , most associated with the hipster subculture of beer) ^[7] and R & B. However, despite the fact that the names used for naming the genre are the most widely used, these terms have often been criticized for “attaching templates” to artists among the hipster subculture and irony. ^{[8] [9]} Slate suggests the name "R-Neg-B". ^[10] Others believe that it falls into the broad category of “alternative R & B,” or “ indie- R & B.” ^[eleven]

The first use of the term "PBR & B" was on Twitter by Eric Harvey, the author of the blog Sound of the City blog in March 2011. ^{[12] [13] [14]} Three years later, surprised and tormented by how the term — which was meant to be a joke — spread far and wide, Harvey wrote an extensive essay about this for Pitchfork. ^[15]

PBR & B artist Frank Ocean performs at the Coachella Festival in 2012

The list of artists associated with this term includes artists such as The Weeknd , Theophilus London , How to Dress Well , Miguel , Jane Aiko , ^[16] Jeanel Monet , ^[17] Kelela ^[18 and Frank Ocean . ^{[10] [19]} Barry Walters from Spin magazine describes their unconventional style as “a cross between EDM , rock , hip-hop and commercial R & B avant-garde” and refers to Nostalgia, Ultra and Ocean's Orange Orange , Kaleidoscope Dream Miguel, Love Drakes and Looking 4 Myself Asher’s How to Dress Well, both at PBR & B. ^[1] Brandon Nisman from The Grio noted “changing R & B people from homogeneous and indifferent heartthrobing people to these vulnerable, slightly strange personalities” in the midst of prevalence in social media . ^[16] Nisman found the theme of “these artists of the new wave” causing a sensation of intimacy and gives the following characteristic:

Hermione Hoby, from The Guardian newspaper, wrote that “music is calmly radical,” and observed “a continuous and mutually enriching dialogue between indie and electronic musicians and R & B artists.” ^[7] Herrick D. Kennedy from The Los Angeles Times wrote that “ The new movement resembles the most important change in R & B since the beginning of the unsettlement in the 1990s. ” ^[20]

Blog Stereogum called the genre "transient hobby", which reached its maximum point at the beginning of 2014. ^[21]

Frank Ocean said that he didn’t like being called “R & B” musician, as he doesn’t like to be limited to any one genre. ^{[22] [23]} How to Dress Well was not offended by the term “PBR & B”, but found it “lurid”. ^[24] On the contrary, Miguel said that he was “comfortable” with the term “indie R & B” because he “means higher art. Or more deeply or somehow more artistic flow of music in the style of rhythm and blues. It implies great artistry within the genre, which has turned into a set of clichés about himself. ” ^[25]

Jozen Cummings, from The Awl website, noted the racial aspect of the term, saying frankly that “Calling this“ hipster-R & B ”is a subtle way to hint that this is an R & B that white people like.” ^[26]

Eric Harvey, the term writer, wrote a thorough answer on Pitchfork about its distribution. ^[15]

• Abebe, Nitsuh PBR & B (Neopr.) . New York (August 14, 2011).
• Cabral, Jeanette PBR & B - A subgenre is born (Neopr.) . CBC Music (February 27, 2012).
• Fennessey, Sean Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R & B's Future Shock (Unreferenced) (not available link) . The Village Voice Blogs . Village Voice Media (March 23, 2011). Archived May 12, 2011.