Contemporary Rhythm and Blues: The best I can categorize this music (and forgive me, because I am out of my elephant, here) is that
it is more from the Barry White, Smokey Robinson end of the old R & B spectrum. These days, most of the contemporary artists I'm aware of are women. Some examples: Alicia Keys, Indie Arie (I bought her first album) Erekah Badhu and Macy Gray. All of these artists draw upon older soul music, jazz and hip hop. They also get labeled as Urban music. I still have no clear idea what hip hop is. When I looked it up in Wikepdeia, my only response was. Yeah, like Wikepedia would really know.. they define it solely (not soully) as rap music. I may not know for sure what hip hop is, but it's much more than rap. In Michael Jackson's last attempts to reinvent himself and get some street creds, he used some of the best known hip hop arrangers. Whitney Houston went in the same direction. Equally unsuccessfully. One of the current groups I've enjoyed at the Black Eyed Peas. I think they're probably considered hip hop.
With the exception of Black Eyed Peas, most of the rest of this stuff is very smooth.

Nary a Wilson Pickett to be found.

I'd appreciate anyone correcting these statements. I'm on unfamiliar turf here..

Jerry