For most people, it is much easier to categorize music in one genre or another. After all, it just makes things navigable and simple to classify. Several artists speak out against categorization, but it is often the best way to keep up with the trends. Neo Soul (aka nu soul) is a great way to describe one of the most recent musical sensations. Artists like Zhane, Groove Theory, and Tony Toni Tone were among the first to deliver a mixture of classical soul from the ?60s and ?70s with a healthy dose of ?90s experimentation and genre crossing. Just like the deep, moving hits performed by legends such as Marvin Gaye, neo soul artists have a passion for dealing with real issues - far more edgy than modern pop and more emotionally charged than gangsta rap.

Although listeners are increasingly feeling the vibe, neo soul isn't entirely new. Whereas the ?90 s were a time that saw the emergence of hardcore rap artists such as 2Pac, Scarface and Master P, neo soul has helped to revitalize the R&B genre while unleashing a sound all its own. From D'Angelo's ?Brown Sugar? to Lauryn Hill's ?Sweetest Thing,? these artists have further revolutionized a unique music genre and established a new movement of listeners.

Conya Doss is one of several artists who have emerged on the neo soul/R&B scene. Possessing a strong global fan base, she created a stable foundation with her groundbreaking debut album, A Poem About Ms. Doss. Her second and third attempts, Just Because and Love Rain Down were respectively praised, proving that this Cleveland native could hold her own in the arena of soulful love ballads.

Goapele is another female sensation that has made a name in the neo soul genre. Her music has received praised from Billboard, Essence, Vibe, Rolling Stone and a wealth of other notable sources. She dropped an EP release in 2001 with Closer and followed it up with Even Closer a year later. Goapele's second effort was considered to be way before its time, and it is still topping charts on radio playlists from Baton Rouge to Detroit four years later. Innovative lyrics and a naturally beautiful singing voice have propelled this sultry songstress into the ranks of rising talents in the new genre of soul.

Females aren't the only artists mesmerizing listeners with new flavorful melodies. Also known as...?BlkMagic,? Prince Damons is one of the most versatile talents to grace the soul genre. As a producer, his sounds have been heard all over the world, complimenting the widely familiar rhythmic voices of Platinum recording hip hop artists such as Too Short and E-40. Multi-dimensional producers like Prince ?BlkMagic? Damons provide a musical sounding board for artists to communicate their soul.

From N'dambi's jazzy Little Lost Girls Blues to Julie Dexter's intimate underground gem Dexterity, a myriad of new artists are paying homage to the roots of classic soul with tasteful modern flavor that promises to carry it into the future.