R&B

It’s a May afternoon, just a couple of hours since the flower moon’s peak illumination. Durand Jones & The Indications — the progressive soul band consisting of Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein — are all present on our video call, checking in from New Orleans (Jones), Los Angeles (Frazer) and Chicago (Rhein). Our

LaTocha Scott, mononymously known as LaTocha, has returned with her new single “Love Changes.” Produced by Tyler Jasper and Travis Jasper, “Love Changes” finds LaTocha grappling with a time of uncertainty in a relationship. “Just like the seasons, we never say the same / Looking for reasons, reasons to say I’ll stay / I’m going

R&B veteran Kem has departed from Motown Records, his label home for more than 20 years. The “Love Calls” singer is returning to his independent roots with the relaunch of Kemistry Records, which initially released his debut album, Kemistry, before reissuing it on Motown. “For more than 20 years, the Motown Records label has been

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn celebrates the 20th anniversary of his debut album, The Love Experience, with a commemorative mixtape. The special set, hosted by DJ Lil Mac, incorporates remixes and exclusive commentary that brings back that classic mixtape feel. Speaking on The Love Experience (20th Anniversary Mixtape), DeVaughn shares, “This mixtape is a love

Rising R&B singer-songwriter Sasha Keable has released her new single “Feel Something.” On the hip-hop soul-flavored track, produced by Taylor Hill, the British-Colombian singer expresses desire for a tangible love. “I just wanna feel something, something,” she sings in the choir-backed chorus. Regarding the song’s inspiration, Keable candidly states, “I needed to say what I

This is not a drill. R&B greats Brandy and Monica have joined forces to announce their co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour. Produced by Black Promoters Collective, the joint tour, named after their groundbreaking duet, kicks off Oct. 16 in Cincinnati. From there, they will visit Milwaukee, Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Washington,

Grammy-nominated singer Halle has released her new track “Braveface,” which she co-wrote with RAYE. Produced by Bongo ByTheWay, Ervin Garcia and Johan Lenox, “Braveface” is a diaristic ballad where Halle narrates how she holds her head high amid challenging times. While it’s not always easy — and she confesses to feeling so “tired” at times

Progressive soul singer Lady Wray, formerly known as Nicole Wray, has unveiled her new albumCover Girlwill release Sept. 26 via Big Crown Records. She worked alongside longtime collaborator Leon Michels to craft “a joyful, revitalized vision” of her evolving sound: ‘60s and ’70s-inspired soul and disco, ‘90s hip-hop and R&B, and gospel. Regarding Cover Girl,

Eric Benét is back on top of the charts. His Chanté Moore-assisted duet, “So Distracted,” rises from No. 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart dated June 28. It tallies Benét’s fifth visit to the top of the summit. He previously reached No. 1 in November 2024 with “Something We Can

Lady Wray has shared the dates for her 2025 North American tour. The 26-city outing begins Sept. 28 at Tubby’s in Kingston, New York. From there, the singer formerly known as Nicole Wray will play in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago and more. The tour wraps up Nov. 22 at Scoot Inn in

Genre-defying artists Jane Handcock and Anderson .Paak have joined forces for “Stare at Me.” Over a disco-funk groove, helmed by N.W.I. (.Paak, Jairus Mozee and J. LBS), Handcock and .Paak portray love interests whose hearts ignite through each other’s gaze. The dance floor-filling track captures that sensational feeling of eye contact and the passion it

Emerging R&B singer JayDon has unveiled the video for “Lullaby,” which features Paradise. Directed by Maseo Refuerzo, the sleek video features the 17-year-old showing off his freestyle dance skills against an azure blue backdrop. Meanwhile, Paradise, accompanied by his leading lady, performs his verse against a black background. “Lullaby,” written byFelisha King(formerly of R&B group

Psiryn — the emerging R&B trio consisting of Anaya Chayenne, Jada Denise and Victoria McQueen — has delivered their debut EP,In the Key of Us. The six-track offering, available via Kandi Burruss‘ Kandi Koated Entertainment, includes their No. 1 radio hit “Sober” and the Xscape-inspired “The Softest,” a reimagined version of the legendary group’s “Softest

Genre-defying singer and songwriter India Shawn has released her new single “Kill Switch” via VANTA Music/Hollywood Records. On the ethereal, acoustic-driven track, produced by longtime collaborator D’Mile, Livvy Bennett and Michael B. Hunter, Shawn pumps the brakes on a friendship drifting toward romance. Rather than giving in to temptation, she is intent on preserving their

Mariah Carey‘s new era is off to a spectacular start. The iconic singer and songwriter’s fresh single “Type Dangerous” opens at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart. It tallies Carey’s third No. 1 on this chart, which launched in November 2012. She earned her first chart-topper with 2013’s “#Beautiful” with Miguel, which

Grammy-nominated singer Ro James has released his new single “On Me,” produced by Joe Craze and Casa Maya. On the heartfelt track, which he co-wrote with Andrew Diaz, James laments over a fleeting love: “Look me in my eyes when you say cheese / That’s how I want you in my memory / Keep your

Grammy-nominated singer Alex Isley has achieved her first award from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her 2020 hit “Good & Plenty,” with singer/musician Masego and producer Jack Dine, is now certified gold. The sultry jam has sold over 500,000 equivalent units in the U.S. Not only is “Good & Plenty” Isley’s first RIAA

Love has Nija swept off her feet in her new single “Heaven.” Produced by Jack Rochon, “Heaven” is steeped in slow-burning intimacy as she sings, “Ooh, give me a glimpse of heaven baby / Let me breathe you in.” Nija tells Rated R&B, “‘Heaven’ is about that feeling when love hits you so deep it

Chris Brown has officially kicked off a new era with his song “Holy Blindfold.” It was co-produced by The Monsters & Strangerz, Jonathan Bellion, and Tenroc. On the breezy track, Brown sings about the euphoric rush of being lost in love. “Let the sky fall / If I’m lookin’ at you, then my lens is

Grammy-nominated alt-R&B singer Gallant has joined forces with Wooyoung, from the K-pop band ATEEZ, for his new song “underpressure!” The synth-laced groove, co-written by Gallant, Maddox, and Eden (이든), captures a couple whose love is put to the test. Rather than calling it quits, Gallant is committed to easing their tension. “The bad days hit