Can't believe I missed this thread as it happened
The Dream - operatic, over the top, melodramatic (with a deadpan smirk), sheened futurist, lascivious, tongue-in-someones-cheek, R Kelly minus the hideous truth, etc. Etc.
In fact there's a certain irony to the dream (inherited from R Kelly) which somewhat calls into question RnB going for those big authentic emotions... except I don't think that's what's happening on the musical level.
"put it down" e.g. is really a comical song about shagging but musically it registers as an impassioned cry.
Saying that I do think RnB (in the mainstream) lost something when it became vulgar like rap.