Soul music is a genre of popular music that originated in the African American community in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. It combines elements of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz. The term 'neo soul' was coined in the late 1990s to describe a style of music that blended classic soul with modern R&B. Neo soul artists such as Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, and Lauryn Hill have become popular in recent years. Neo soul is often characterized by its mellow sound and its focus on meaningful lyrics.