R&B (Rhythm and Blues) is a genre of popular music that originated in African American communities in the 1940s. It combines elements of jazz, blues, and gospel and has evolved significantly over the decades, influencing and being influenced by other musical styles such as rock, soul, funk, hip-hop, and pop.

Historically speaking, though, "rhythm and blues" as we understand it today most often describes a style of music that developed after World War II that combines elements of pop, gospel, blues and jazz with a strong back beat.