Rated R&B is bringing you the most essential releases this week. From the traditional R&B that purists love to the boundary-pushing sounds of the alt-R&B scene, this new music roundup keeps its pulse on what’s happening in the genre. Dive into it below.
Kenyon Dixon, Ego Ruins Everything
Kenyon Dixon does some self-work on Ego Ruins Everything, his new concept album that’s equally reflective and results-driven. Among the album’s 22 tracks, six of which are interludes that thread the story, is “Running Away,” where his vices and avoidant behavior ultimately lead him on a journey to face his defects. “This album gave me permission to show the parts of myself that don’t always make it into the music, and I think that’s what makes it my most complete body of work,” shares Dixon. Other standouts include “Breathe,” “The Light” and “Show & Prove.”
Victoria Monét, “Reach Out”
After teaming with Kaytranada for “Alright,” the R&B-house standout that closed out her Jaguar II era, Victoria Monét and the producer/DJ keep the momentum steady on “Reach Out,” which features additional production from longtime collaborator D’Mile. Serving as the second single from her new album, Frequency of Love, “Reach Out” has a spellbinding groove that struts its way from a catwalk to a dancefloor with ease. And the video? Tens across the board. [Read more about Victoria Monét’s Frequency of Love]
Tyla, “Right Now”
After making a splash with 2024’s TYLA, home to her global hit “Water,” the South African artist defines what it means to be an African pop star on her second album, A*POP. Even as Tyla expands her sonic palette, the singer’s R&B influences still cut through songs like “Right Now.” The sultry track features songwriting by Poo Bear (Usher, 112) and Bibi Bourelly (Rihanna, Mariah Carey), with Troy Taylor leading the album’s vocal production.
Q, “I Wish You Were Here”
Before Q Marsden unveils his new album Do You See Me? on Aug. 7, a project he said was “created by the patterns of my mind and experiences,” the alt-R&B auteur unlocks his latest perspective, “I Wish You Were Here.” Anchored by a mellow guitar and emotional piano chords, the forlorn track captures the aching longing for affection from someone in the same room who feels worlds apart.
Isaia Huron, “No Way!”
Isaia Huron seems to always be in the throes of romantic chaos. It’s the recurring motif that shaped his 2025 debut, Concubania, and one he further dissected in its follow-up, Mr. Lovebomb, named after the fictional persona it centers on. “His strength is being accurate in his self-reflection. His weakness is not choosing the most optimal way to go about things,” Huron told Rated R&B earlier this year. In “No Way!” Huron finds himself outgrowing his role as a side piece as his feelings intensify. “Are you gonna leave me if he calls you?” he asks, before desperately pleading to be chosen. “No Way!” indicates his promised Mr. Lovebomb deluxe is on the way. [Read our interview with Isaia Huron, where he talks about Mr. Lovebomb here]
Sy’Rai, “Bullseye (Nice Shot)”
Sy’Rai agonizes over a love betrayed on “Bullseye (Nice Shot),” her second offering of the year. The follow-up to her seductive come-on, “Late Night,” is steeped in pain but recognizes it will eventually dissipate. “It’s about feeling blindsided, questioning everything, and learning how to pick yourself back up,” she explains.
Jaymin, “Proud”
On “Proud,” Jaymin pushes past the romantic bliss he earnestly sang about on Sweet Nothings, his debut EP that dropped in February, to plead for a love worth saving. “I ain’t too proud to beg,” he croons over a mid-‘90s R&B soundscape, updated with trap soul era drum programming. As Jaymin puts it: “I wanted the production to feel warm and easy, even though the emotions underneath are anything but.”
Felix Ames, Did The Rain Stop?
Milwaukee soul singer Felix Ames, who’s inspired by greats like D’Angelo and Maxwell, is proving to be an album artist. Each project feels meticulously crafted to tell a story that is both deeply personal and cathartic. His 2023 debut, JENA, is named after the Louisiana town where his ancestors lived. He followed up in 2025 with Cruel, Cruel World, where he sought refuge through faith and love. On his third LP, Did The Rain Stop?, Ames confronts his fears to find true healing. He explains, “This album is a documentary of the moments of healing that gave me enough strength to stop asking if the rain had stopped and step out to see for myself.”
Chris Crispy, Behind The Shades
Syd and Steve Lacy aren’t the only members from The Internet to drop an album on the same day (July 17). The band’s drummer, Chris Crispy, made his solo debut with Behind The Shades, an eight-track EP produced alongside Bobby Earth that floats between lo-fi R&B and psychedelic funk. In his romantic pursuit, he’s joined by Syd on “Hidden Feelings,” where the fear of rejection has him making a quick confession before shutting out a response. “La-la-la-la, la-la / Oh, no, I’ve got to go,” Crispy sings, still hoping it’s not one-sided. “But do you feel the same?” he asks.
Check out last week’s music picks.
Discover more music on theRated R&B Playlist.
Previewupcoming R&B album releases.