Jazz once defined cool. From smoky clubs in New York to the underground scenes in Paris, jazz was the genre that broke barriers, challenged conventions, and pushed music into new realms. But here we are in the 21st century, where genres like hip-hop and electronic music dominate the charts. The question is: where does jazz fit into this landscape? Has it lost its edge, or is it still quietly influencing the sounds we hear every day?
In a music world obsessed with newness, jazz may seem like a relic to some—a genre resigned to history books and old record collections. But for those who know where to look, jazz is not only alive but thriving, finding its way into modern music in ways both subtle and profound. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into jazz’s role in the contemporary music scene, from its overt influences to its hidden echoes in today’s biggest hits.
Jazz’s Influence on Hip-Hop: An Unexpected Alliance
It may seem strange to draw a line between jazz and hip-hop, but the two genres share a common spirit: rebellion. Hip-hop, like jazz, was born from marginalized communities as a form of expression, a way to speak out against oppression and find beauty in struggle. And over the years, hip-hop has embraced jazz’s improvisational nature, incorporating its sounds, rhythms, and ethos into some of its most iconic tracks.
Artists like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and more recently, Kendrick Lamar have brought jazz back into the mainstream by blending it seamlessly with hip-hop. Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly is a perfect example—an album that’s as much a jazz record as it is a hip-hop masterpiece. Tracks like “For Free?” and “These Walls” pull directly from jazz’s playbook, with live instrumentation, complex rhythms, and lyrical improvisation that evoke the essence of bebop and cool jazz.
Jazz’s influence in hip-hop doesn’t stop at sound; it extends to storytelling. Just as jazz musicians use their instruments to tell stories and convey emotion, hip-hop artists use their words. The fusion of jazz and hip-hop has created a new space for personal expression, where artists can dig deep into social and political themes, continuing jazz’s legacy of speaking truth to power.
Jazz in Electronic Music: A New Frontier
If hip-hop is jazz’s rebellious cousin, electronic music is its futuristic offspring. Jazz’s complexity and unpredictability may seem at odds with electronic music’s precision and repetition, but some of today’s most innovative producers are merging these worlds in fascinating ways. Artists like Flying Lotus, Thundercat, and BADBADNOTGOOD are redefining what jazz can be by pushing it into the digital realm.
Flying Lotus, in particular, is a master of this fusion. His album Cosmogramma is a journey through sound, blending jazz, hip-hop, and electronica into a genre-defying experience. It’s chaotic and beautiful, a perfect example of what happens when jazz’s improvisational spirit meets the structured loops of electronic music. Tracks like “Zodiac Shit” and “Do the Astral Plane” feel like jazz for the digital age, where drum machines and synthesizers replace traditional instruments but the soul of jazz remains intact.
Then there’s Thundercat, a bassist and producer who’s made a name for himself by blending jazz with funk, soul, and electronic vibes. His work, especially on albums like Drunk, shows that jazz isn’t just a style of music—it’s a mindset, an approach to creating that’s open to exploration and innovation. Thundercat’s tracks are packed with intricate bass lines and unexpected turns, embodying jazz’s unpredictable nature while sounding like something that could only exist in the 21st century.
The Rise of Neo-Soul: Jazz’s Influence on R&B
Neo-soul is another genre where jazz has found a home. Artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper have carried jazz’s influence into R&B, creating music that’s smooth, soulful, and undeniably jazzy. Unlike traditional R&B, which often sticks to a pop structure, neo-soul takes risks with complex chords, improvisation, and arrangements that feel almost like jam sessions.
Robert Glasper, in particular, has been instrumental in bringing jazz back into the R&B world. His Black Radio series bridges the gap between genres, featuring collaborations with artists across the musical spectrum, from hip-hop legends like Mos Def to soul singers like Jill Scott. Glasper’s music is a reminder that jazz doesn’t have to be confined to its traditional forms—it can evolve and adapt without losing its essence.
Jazz’s influence on neo-soul also lies in its storytelling. Neo-soul artists often explore themes of identity, love, and resilience, much like jazz artists of the past. By blending jazz with soul and R&B, these musicians are keeping jazz’s legacy alive while making it accessible to a new generation of listeners.
Jazz’s Struggles in the Pop World: Is There a Place for It?
While jazz’s influence is clear in genres like hip-hop, electronic, and R&B, it’s much harder to find in today’s pop music. The pop landscape is driven by formulaic structures and catchy hooks, which don’t leave much room for jazz’s complexity or spontaneity. Occasionally, you’ll hear a jazz-inspired chord progression or a sax solo in a pop song, but for the most part, jazz remains on the fringes.
That said, there are exceptions. Artists like Amy Winehouse, John Legend, and Norah Jones brought jazz elements into the mainstream, proving that there is an audience for pop music with a jazz twist. But these moments are few and far between, and jazz is often seen as too niche or too “difficult” to fit into the commercial music machine.
This doesn’t mean that jazz is irrelevant in the pop world—it just means that jazz’s influence is often indirect. Many pop producers and songwriters grew up listening to jazz, and while it may not be obvious in their work, jazz’s fingerprints can be found in the complex harmonies and subtle nuances that elevate pop music beyond its usual formula.
Final Thoughts: Jazz’s Place in Modern Music
So, is jazz still relevant in today’s music scene? The answer is a resounding yes—but not in the way it once was. Jazz may not dominate the charts or sell out stadiums, but it’s woven into the fabric of modern music in ways that are both subtle and profound. It’s the genre that gave birth to improvisation, that challenged musicians to think beyond notes on a page, and that taught us that music could be a form of protest, celebration, and everything in between.
In a world that often values simplicity and mass appeal, jazz stands as a testament to the beauty of complexity. It may not always be front and center, but its influence can be felt in the grooves of a hip-hop track, the layers of an electronic beat, and the soul of an R&B ballad. Jazz’s journey from the spotlight to the background doesn’t diminish its power—it only makes it more timeless.
For those willing to dig deeper, to seek out the jazz influences in their favorite tracks, there’s a whole world of music waiting to be discovered. Jazz is still here, shaping music in ways that are as surprising as they are inspiring. It’s the genre that refuses to die, the music that keeps reinventing itself, and for that, we should all be grateful.