Month: January 1970

Ebubé isn’t ready to accept heartbreak — and really, who is? His new ballad “Mr. Postman” stings like a papercut. Over a mournful piano, joined by languid tambourine and resonant percussion, Ebubé dodges a love note written on a pink slip. He knows it’s on the way but isn’t ready to read the words that

Ari Lennox‘sVacancyis here. The Washington, D.C., native has released her third album via Interscope Records. (It’s her first release since parting ways with J. Cole’s Dreamville Records.) The 15-track set was preceded by the singles “Soft Girl Era,” the title track, “Under The Moon” and “Twin Flame.” Lennox performed the latter song live onThe Jennifer

Grammy-winning producer Camper has released his debut album,Campilation, via November Yellow/Slang. The 11-track offering was preceded by the singles “I Need It” with Syd and Tank; “Waiting On You” with Tone Stith; “War” with Ari Lennox and Jeremih; and “OOWEE” with Jill Scott and Ty Dolla $ign. The star-studded album also features collaborations with Stevie

It’s New Music Friday, which means Rated R&B is bringing you the most essential releases. From the traditional R&B that purists love to the boundary-pushing sounds of the alt-R&B scene, this week’s roundup keeps its pulse on the essence of R&B. Dive into it below. Stream all of this week’s picks and more on theRATED

Jhené Aiko, Ludacris, Ashanti and Nelly are set to headline the 2026 Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival. The festival, co-hosted by the City of Miami Gardens and the Black Promoters Collective, returns to Hard Rock Stadium March 7-8. Aiko will headline day one, while Ludacris will close out day two with a special 25th

Lifetime has announced the premiere date for Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again. The film, starring Toni Braxton, Cree Summer (A Different World) and Essence Atkins (Half & Half), airs Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. Breathe Again, inspired by and titled after Braxton’s 1993 classic, followsToni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough, which premiered in

This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase tickets through them — at no extra cost to you. As we step into 2026, more R&B artists are gearing up for tours and concerts. Before we dive into the upcoming shows, let’s look back at some of the highlights of 2025,

The last several months have seen a thematic resonance emerge in R&B: paternal reckoning. While Daniel Caesar probes reconciliation on Son of Spergyand KIRBY honors her father’s resilience while indicting the American Dream on “The Man,” British-Sudanese crooner Elmiene now confronts the emotional burden of his late father in his new song, “Cry Against The

Following the release of his debut single, “Muni (I Used To Love You),” songwriter-turned-artist MarcLo delivers his new track “Marvel.” Where the former leaned into a jazzy production, “Marvel” stuns over a soulful groove that makes you want to get up and dance. On the self-penned bop, MarcLo is completely spellbound by his romantic partner.

Khalid is getting ready to hit the road in 2026. The pop-R&B sensation has unveiled the dates for hisIt’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour. The 25-date North American leg, featuring special guest Lauv, kicks off on May 16, 2026, at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. From there, Khalid will make

When Sasha Keable debuted “Tai Chi” during her Tiny Desk performance in July, fans instantly demanded its release. As the year nears its end, the British-Colombian singer gifts fans with their wish.”You’ve been bullying me for months. It’s finally yours,” Keable shared in an Instagram post on Monday (Dec. 8). Named after the ancient Chinese

Rising R&B-pop sensation Josh Levi has unveiled the dates for his headliningHydraulic Tour. The 10-city North American trek begins Feb. 18, 2026, at Subterranean in Chicago. From there, the “Birthday Dance” singer will make stops in Toronto, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and more before concluding March 11 at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco. Levi’s upcoming

Legendary R&B group Blackstreet has signed a new deal with XOXO Entertainment, the label and management company owned by producer Adam H. Hurstfield. The quartet (Chauncey “Black” Hannibal, Levi Little, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams) joins a roster that includes pop&b band 98 Degrees. “We are beyond excited to partner with Blackstreet. As some of

Live Nation Urban and Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) have announced the lineup for the inaugural HBCU AWAREFEST. The HBCU fundraising event, focused on the student loan debt crisis, is set for March 26, 2026, at State Farm Arena. Jill Scott, John Legend and Earth, Wind & Fire are at the top of the bill. The

Ne-Yo knows the champagne life all too well. His new single, “Simple Things,” eschews flashiness in favor of everyday pleasures. On the country-tinged track, produced by Dave Cohen and Young Lan, Ne-Yo sings, “It’s the long talks and the quiet drives / And the slow alks, that’s when you realize / It’s always the simple

Summer Walker closes her album trilogy with a victorious finish on the Billboard charts. Finally Over It, the concluding installment of her trio of LPs, debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. According to the publication, itsold 77,000 equivalent units in the first week, marking the highest opening number for an R&B

Kiana Ledé isn’t done letting go of what no longer serves her just yet. The Phoenix native has released Cut Ties (Deluxe Version), an extended version of her 2024 album, via BMG. The reissue features four bonus tracks, including three remixes with Chlöe (“Weakness”), Queen Naija (“U Can’t Remember”) and BJ The Chicago Kid (“Outta

It looks like Jaymin has found what he was looking for. After yearning for “Something Real,” the rising R&B artist is falling madly in love in his new single “HELP!” Over a moody backdrop that recalls a ’90s Timbaland production, the Seattle native is so deeply infatuated by his lover that it’s overbearing in the

After much anticipation, Summer Walker has delivered her third album,Finally Over It, via LVRN/Interscope Records. The two-part album is the concluding installment of the trilogy that began with Over It (2019) and continued withStill Over It(2021). Disc One (For Better), which includes the lead single “Heart of a Woman,” features collaborations with Chris Brown, Anderson

Grammy-nominated R&B vet Mario has released his new EPMood Swings via New Citizen/EMPIRE. The eight-track offering, executive produced by Dre Moon (Beyoncé, Chris Brown, The Weeknd), includes the singles “Nobody But Us” and “Home.” It also features a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, who appeared on his 2023 track “Used To Me.” InMood Swings, Mario