This document discusses the codes and conventions of fashion and iconography in R&B music. For male artists, it is common to be topless, wear low-hanging jeans showing boxers, have tattoos, and wear subtle jewelry. Female artists typically wear minimal clothing showing cleavage and stomach, have elaborate hair and makeup, and wear high heels or sneakers. Music videos commonly depict male artists as muscular and topless and females as sexual objects. Slow songs usually have narratives and intimate scenes while fast songs portray artists having fun through colorful settings and choreographed dancing.

1. Codes and Conventions of RnB

2. Fashion
• Men :
• RnB male singers are generally always topless this is mainly
because they want to attract to their female target audience of
young girls and women. Trey songz is a prime example of a
male RnB singer who is majority of the time topless.
• Male artists in the RnB industry are typically known to wear
jeans with them slightly hanging low so that you can see there
boxers giving them that ‘cool’ look. They all tend to wear a
designer belt as well to enhance their look and some male
artists wear their designer belts as a form of advertisement.
• Tattoo’s are a big convention to a male RnB artist. Many artists
have multiple tattoos mainly on their chests if not there arms.
• Unlike male hip-hop artists, RnB male singers tend to be more
subtle with their jewellery such as maybe a designer watch,
chain, or an earring.

3. Fashion
• Women:
• RnB women artists are typical known for wearing minimal clothing. A
lot of the time they always have flesh on show such as cleavage and
toned stomachs, this attracts to many male fans as women are
typically seen as objects of desire.
• Hair and make up for women artists is always very well done up,
dramatic and eye catching. Their hair is always presented as being
natural and perfected portraying that they take pride in their image as
an artist. A lot of female artists use quite dark colours to do their eye
make up, such as the smoky eyes effect which helps to make their
eyes more alluring catching the readers attention. To portray power
and pride a wide majority of female RnB artists wear seductive
colours on their lips such as red or pinks to give their image a more
sensual feel.
• All female RnB artists wear high heels to enhance their legs giving
them that sexy appearance, appealing to the readers and target
audience. However not all wear heels, some wear trainers not only if
its for choreography within their music videos but to give them that
quirky edge going against what a typical classy sexy RnB artist would
wear.
• Jewellery is also worn by RnB artists such as diamond earrings,
necklaces and bracelets all to give these female artists that final touch
of femininity and seductiveness. However it is more men artists that
are known for wearing the jewellery such as the big chain necklaces,
rings, earrings and more.

4. Iconography
• Men:
• Men RnB artists are usually muscly and topless in all of their music videos creating
a sexual vibe. A lot of music videos now are filmed with various effects in order to
make them more sensual to appeal to the viewers watching. Most male artists in
their music videos wear some jewellery to highlight and emphasize their wealth
however its mostly hip hop artists that wear jewellery. Most male RnB artists in
their music videos wear very minimal clothing and have close ups on their bodies
to show off their ‘abs’. An example of a male RnB music video which shows off
theme of sensuality is Trey Songz – love faces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzhKarW3ylo&safe=active
• Women:
• Very much similar to the male RnB artists, women also express their sexuality
through the clothing that they wear; being very minimal. Another way female
artists represent their sexuality is through the makeup they wear and how they do
their hair. Most women artists are portrayed as sexual objects or unable to
function without a man however nowadays there are many gender stereotypes
being broken in the music industry. An example of a female RnB artist that is
breaking a gender stereotype in her music video is Ciara in her video – like a boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKH7Emy1SY&safe=active

5. Slow Songs
• Slow songs within RnB music usually always follow a narrative story, mainly always
with a co-star. This is a convention which is very common throughout all RnB slow
songs. In many videos of slow songs, there is always kissing and intimate scenes
this also being another key convention. The co-star featuring within the video
mainly wears minimal clothing, all these conventions are normally always found in
slow songs of RnB artists. Most slow songs in the RnB industry always base around
sex, break ups or being in love, these are mainly done by women however some
men do sing slow songs based around them ideas.

6. Fast songs
• Fast songs in RnB music, usually always consist of the artist having fun, and
enjoying themselves. You can always tell this by the colours used within the music
videos, the costumes they wear and their mannerisms. For fast songs, these music
videos are mainly choreographed. Males are shown in a wealthy light and women
are presented in a powerful one. Women generally wear minimal clothing and
most settings for fast RnB songs are set in a club scenery.