El R&B o Rhythm and Blues es un género musical afroamericano que se originó en la década de 1940, fusionando elementos del blues, el jazz y el gospel. En sus inicios, el R&B era conocido como "race music" (música de raza) y estaba dirigido principalmente a la audiencia afroamericana.
El R&B se caracteriza por la presencia de una sección rítmica que incluye batería, bajo y guitarra, junto con voces expresivas y emotivas. Las letras a menudo abordan temas de amor, relaciones, dolor y cuestiones sociales.
En la década de 1950, el R&B se popularizó a nivel mundial con artistas como Ray Charles, Sam Cooke y Etta James. En los años 60, evolucionó hacia el soul con figuras como Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding y James Brown. Finalmente, en las décadas de 1980 y 1990, el R&B se fusionó con el hip hop y se convirtió en un género altamente influyente en la música comercial, con nombres como Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston y Mariah Carey.
Hoy en día, el R&B sigue siendo un género musical popular y ha dado lugar a subgéneros como el neo soul y el trap soul.
Chrisette Michele Payne (nacida en 1985 en New York), conocida profesionalmente como Chrisette Michele, es una cantante R&B Americana . Ella ha colaborado en álbums de populares hiphoperos, como Kingdom Come de Jay-Z y Hip Hop is Dead de Nas. El año 2007 lanzó su disco debut, titulado I Am. El disco generó críticas excelentes por parte de la prensa especializada, adicionalmente recibió nominaciones a los Grammy's 2008.
I wake up in the morning
Ready to get it on
I'm going about my business
Watch me while I go
It's all about me
(No it's not about you)
I got to believe
(I got to get through)
I gotta do me
(I'm good on my own)
The feeling's so free
(It's making me strong, oh oh)
I can't run out of time here
I won't get left behind
I was booked to rise here
So I'm staying on my grind
(I love what I do and I'm doing just fine)
My destiny is calling
And it won't pass me by
I'ma do me for me
Watch me while I do succeed, oooh
I'm gotta be my one and only
One and only
I'll be my own number one
I'll be my number one
I'll put me first, like you don't do
No second place,
No number two
There's only room for one
I'll be my number one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When nine to five is over
I'm working on my frame
I got to stay in shape now
No half stepping in my lane
I'm so fly
(I'm a beautiful queen)
I'm going for the sky
(It's within my reach)
Love me or leave me
(Pain me or choose me)
I'ma survive
(Even if you lose me)
Yeah (oh)
You had so many chances
To be on my side
Through root of circumstances
You threw in at fly
(I've been through fire
And wind and rain)
I know that I'ma lose it
But I won't go insane
Pressing on with all my might
I can see the end in sight
I'm gotta be my one and only
One and only
I'll be my own number one
I'll be my number one
I'll put me first, like you don't do
No second place,
No number two
There's only room for one
I'll be my number one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm running and I'm running
(Ohohoh, ohohoh, oh, oh)
I won't be beat, I won this
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Ohohoh, oh oh)
I am a champion
There's only room for one
Victory is all I'll see
So no dream, it's a reality
I'm gotta be my one and only
One and only
I'll be my own number one
I'll be my number one
I'll put me first, like you don't do
No second place,
No number two
There's only room for one
I'll be my number one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm gotta be my one and only
One and only
I'll be my own number one
I'll be my number one
I'll put me first, like you don't do
No second place,
No number two
There's only room for one
I'll be my number one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm gotta be my one and only
One and only
I'll be my own number one
I'll be my number one
I'll put me first, like you don't do
No second place,
No number two
There's only room for one
I'll be my number one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh