alternative rnb
what it is
Alternative R&B is a music genre that emerged in the late 2000s. Its music is inspired from various styles, including dream pop, hip-hop, rock, ambience, and electronic music.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make alternative rnb a playlist
turn these 38 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is alternative rnb?
Alternative R&B is a music genre that emerged in the late 2000s. Its music is inspired from various styles, including dream pop, hip-hop, rock, ambience, and electronic music.
What are good alternative rnb albums to start with?
Try Take Me Apart by Kelela, Nightride by Tinashe, Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd, and Lifetime by Erika de Casier.
Who are some women making alternative rnb?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/alternative-rnb/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making alternative rnb, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20