A fusion of hip-hop music and R&B, new jack swing was distinguished by significant use of rapped choruses or bridges and prominent use of drum machines such as the Roland TR-808. Teddy Riley and his group Guy are credited with being the inventor of the genre; other notable figures include Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jodeci, and Boyz II Men. A female alternative, new jill swing, was championed by acts such as Shanice, TLC, and SWV.

Also called "new jack R&B" or "swingbeat", the term was coined either by journalist and New Jack City co-writer Barry Michael Cooper or music artist/producer Teddy Riley who invented this style in the experiment of integrating hip-hop rhythms, samples and production techniques with the urban contemporary R&B sound. The style developed in a way similar to many previous styles, as a new combination of older styles. Some of the songs had only hip-hop beats, some had rap sections alternating with singing. New jack swing is mellifluously soulful solo or harmonizing vocals sung over funky, rap rhythms.

A Short List of new jack swing artists

• Basic Black
• Bobby Brown
• Bell Biv DeVoe
• Blackstreet
• BlackGirl
• Boyz II Men
• Tevin Campbell
• Color Me Badd
• Chuckii Booker
• En Vogue
• Five XI
• Force M.D.s
• Force One Network
• Foster & McElroy
• Guy
• Aaron Hall
• Highland Place Mobsters
• Immature/IMX
• {safm} Keisha Jackson{/safm}
• {safm} Lataesha{/safm}
• Janet Jackson
• Joe Public
• Johnny Kemp
• New Edition
• Michael Jackson
• Me 2 U
• Mint Condition
• Ol' Skool
• {safm} Profyle{/safm}
• Riff
• Al B. Sure!
• Keith Sweat
• SWV
• Timex Social Club
• Today
• Tony! Toni! Toné!
• Total
• Troop
• II Close
• Whistle
• Alyson Williams
• Wreckx-N-Effect
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