I can still feel my feet sliding across the Nickelodeon orange carpet in my room that acted as my stage, as Chris Brown's "Throwed" acted as my theme music. I was eleven, maybe twelve and reliving this doesn't get any less embarrassing as I get older, but it's who I was. I was a moon walking, alto who loved playing football and basketball, but secretly wanted to be the next Chris Brown. This was pre-Rihanna for clarification. To put it simply, aside from growing up on Fruity Pebbles and re-runs of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I was raised on R&B. This was mainly a result of having a Black mother who said, "I'm not buying any damn CDs with Parental Advisory stickers on them. You're too young. When you have your own money and pay your own bills, you can buy your own CDs." To her credit, aside from that one time she bought my older brother that Bow Wow CD, she stuck to this rule. She wouldn't even buy me Kanye's Graduation album. However, I got a firm education in early Chris Brown, Alicia Keys' Diary, Mary J. Blige, Jagged Edge, B2K, Aaliyah and any Estelle songs I could record off the radio with my MP3 Player.

Eight years later, I'm glad that my Mom let me discover Rap as a teenager. To her defense, I wasn't ready for Gucci and Young Jeezy in the fifth grade just because I watched re-runs of The Wire on BET. I developed a love for the craft of R&B and a deep appreciation for the many facets that the genre has. However, today, it feels as if R&B has been pigeon holed and people only care about five, maybe six artists. Many listeners only want to hear a few R&B musicians or as Frank Ocean famously said on his album, Nostalgia, Ultra, "All you bitches want to hear is Jodeci." To be more contemporary, the last time a girl asked me to listen to Bryson Tiller, I left. As someone who loves R&B in the modern age, it hurts me that the radio or general public's scope of R&B barely stretches outside of Bryson Tiller, PND, The Weeknd, Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, Miguel, Trey Songz or any other artist that you know did a song with Kendrick or Drake. I love Bryson Tiller, PND, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and Miguel. I've seen Bryson Tiller live and he was great, but there is more to R&B than just him. Many people know this, but a lot don't; there is a world outside of Trap Soul. For those who don't know an R&B world outside of Pen Griffey, please sit back, pass me the aux cord and let me put you on. Here are fifteen lesser known R&B artists that you should give a shot.

Note: These artists are in no particular order.

1. Tim Vocals

He's probably been in the New York streets more in recent years than your favorite New York rapper has claimed to be. Yes, I'm looking at you, Troy Average. Vocals has his own unique style of blending drug talk, gun talk and love, in to one cohesive project. In my own opinion, he's the Pusha T of R&B. He's got the street background, but he's moving away from that towards a more universal style that's more palatable for a general audience.

Suggested Song(s): Next, Things You Do For Love

2. Audrey Rose

Aside from being born in my home state of New Jersey and being incredibly beautiful, Rose put out one of the best R&B projects of 2014, Chapter One: Guns & Roses, which featured one of the best R&B tracks of 2014, Ice Cream. Having already collaborated with Rap legends like, Jadakiss & Remy Ma, Rose is off to a fast start and will only continue to rise as time goes on. Jersey stand up!

Suggested Song(s): Bang, Used To Be and Ice Cream

3. Jake & Papa

I was first put on to Jake & Papa by the R&B podcast, Red Light Special, which if you're not listening to, you need to get it together. In 2014, the brotherly duo put out a solid mixtape entitled, Sexual Warfare, which features standout tracks such as Leave Me and Entertainer. Above all else, the track's leading single, Starless, features the hilariously incredible line, "With all due respect, fuck your man."

Suggested Song(s): Entertainer, Leave Me and Drumma

4. Villz

To be honest, the first time I heard his song, Shooter, I thought he was Frank Ocean. Hailing from Tennessee, Villz, is the sole reason I got through a Frank Ocean-less summer. His voice combined with his songwriting capabilities keep listeners engaged for an entire project. He's still very raw, but he has potential.

Suggested Song(s): Shooter, 420am

5. Roy Wood$

If you hear his single, Got You Good, you will think he is The Weeknd. If he grows out his hair, starts looking like he doesn't take showers and begins dating supermodels, he will be The Weeknd. With a cosign from Drake, Roy Wood$ will be the next star in the The Weeknd, PND lineage.

Suggested Song(s): Got You Good

6. Shawn Harris

I debated on whether to put Shawn Harris on this list. The biggest reason for that is that he is as much a rapper as he is singer, if not more so a rapper. Also, there is so much unknown about Shawn Harris. His early The Weeknd, like elusiveness might be his downfall, but it also might be his greatest asset. Only time will tell. All we know about him right know is that he's from Miami and puts out dope music. To be honest, the music is all that people really care about at that moment. We'll get to his image later on.

Suggested Song(s): Love Like Drugs

7. Marc E. Bassy

When I first heard, Marc E. Bassy, I thought he was Black. His soulful voice lends itself well to R&B and the fact that he is white does in fact make his brand more unique in a genre that was created and is dominated by Black artists. Race aside, he's dope. That's the only way to put it. With features on G-Eazy and Kehlani tracks, he's definitely got the Bay behind him and seems to be headed in the right direction.

Suggested Song(s): Lock It Up

8. Bilal

I included Bilal on this list because in my opinion, he is the most underrated R&B artist in the 21st century. He's been around for nearly two decades and consistently puts out fire, but never gets the credit he deserves. He is the epitome of what soul music is and where it can go in the future. Anytime I can get the chance to put people on to Bilal, both young and old, I'm going to do it. If you're not listening to Bilal, get your life or Bilal and I will come in and get it for you. He may not be new or young like a lot of these artists, but he is just as under appreciated.

Suggested Song(s): His Entire Catalog

9. Kelela

She's from D.C. and I was still late on her. I'm still ashamed that it took me awhile to find Kelela, but I'm happy I did. Her music came at the right time in my life. The intro to her latest project, Hallucinogen, let me know that I wasn't the only going through a period of time where I realized I was never enough for my significant other. At the end of the day, that's what music is about, connecting with people and evoking emotion.

Suggested Song(s): A Message, Rewind

10. Shy Girls

Renegade, Renegade, Renegade. That's all I can say. Once you hear that, you'll understand. Link below.

Suggested Song(s): Renegade

11. Rotimi

When Dre from Showtime's hit show, Power, is not selling drugs or avoiding getting caught up in some B.S. between Kanan and Ghost, he makes love music. Who knew?

Suggested Song(s): Lotto, Situation

12. PnB Rock

He's another one that I struggled with. When I first heard his music, I felt that he was rapper. However, he insists on being called an R&B artist, so I'll respect his wishes. Not to mention, his last three projects are titled, RNB, RNB 2 and RNB 3. How more R&B can you get? PnB Rock could possibly be the next big thing out of Philly if Meek doesn't rise of the grave that wheelchair Jimmy put him in. If you like Fetty Wap, you will like PnB Rock or at least, I think you will.

Suggested Song(s): Jealous

13. Elijah Blake

He is one of the greatest enigmas of Black American music today. He's probably written for your favorite artist and he's put out great projects, but it always feels like he's one song away. You rarely see him do interviews or press and he rarely collaborates with other artists on his own music. Either way, his pen game is serious and he has talent to back up his braggadocious public persona. Above all else, he has one of the more interesting concept albums of the past twelve months, Shadows & Diamonds, in which his girlfriend catches him cheating and ends up dating the girl, she caught Elijah cheating with. You have to hear to understand it.

Suggested Song(s): Strange Fruit, Everyday and Talk To Me

14. JMSN

Every now and then you just need something smooth that you can vibe with. That's what JMSN provides. That's his lane and he owns it.

Suggested Song(s): Street Sweeper, Bout It

15. Lorine Chia

Lorine Chia is lot like the JR Smith of R&B. She lives in the Cleveland area and she grossly under performs in big moments. She has all the talent in the world, but the only thing that is stopping her is herself. Her sound bounces all over the place from R&B to Soul to Rap to who knows what. If I was working with her, I'd tell her to find something and stay with it.

Suggested Song(s): Water to Wine, Living In Vain

Although this list is only fifteen artists deep, I want to give a special shoutout to BJ The Chicago Kid, Jeremih, The Internet, Jazmin Sullivan, Kaytranada, Lipstick Gypsy, Tory Lanez, Eric Bellinger and all artists of that nature that do great work, have success, but don't reach the heights they probably should for one reason or another. I would've put them on this list, but they are little bit too well known to be considered "relative unknowns to the general public". With all of that being said, I am always looking for great R&B and Soul music to listen to, so if you have contemporary R&B and Soul artists that you think I should be listening to, hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, IG or Snap. Bless up.