In April, rap legend DMX made his untimely transition, leaving behind adored loved ones and an anticipated comeback album titled Exodus. Today, the LP arrives posthumously with an all-star lineup of collaborators, from U2’s Bono and JAY-Z to Nas to Lil Wayne. Alicia Keys is another big name on Exodus, featured on “Hold Me Down,”
R&B
Truthfully, we all can fall from grace, but it doesn’t mean we’re less human in the eyes of others. According to Joy Denalane and her starring new track, it simply means we were a part of “The Show.” The traditional soul number joins Denalane’s seasoned voice with the production of her frequent collaborator Roberto Di
Justine Skye’s flattering melanin skin is hard to keep your eyes off of in the official video for “Twisted Fantasy” featuring Rema. Directed by Alex Nazari, the video starts with Skye strutting through an uninhabited wilderness. She eventually ends her fleeting trek and enters a portal that takes her to a dimension where braids connect
India Carney, a former top-five contestant on cycle eight of The Voice, takes center stage in the video for her debut single “Human.” Amid the racial unrest last year and stunned by the lack of rightness from people, Carney felt compelled to write this piano-driven tune. She said in a press release, “I wrote this
Natasha Mosley has two things on her mind: her man and her money. In her latest single, “Closer,” the Mosley underscores why both are near and dear to her heart. Described to Rated R&B as “really a vibe,” the melodic song pairs Mosley once again with producer Tranell “Trabeats” Sims. The lyrics are concise and
Tone Stith has a trend of cranking out banger after banger. His new song “Like The First Time,” co-written by Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas, is no exception. The lyrics of this super chill track find Stith calling out his female friend, who is capping on her timeline about what he brings to the
Singer-songwriter and producer Josh X has teamed up with fellow Haitian rapper Baky for his new track “Eskize Mwen.” Speaking on his new single, Josh X explained, “‘Eskize Mwen’ is a kickoff to the summer. As we prepare for post-COVID life, this record looks to fuse together the Brooklyn “Drill” sound with Koompa to create a
Whichever direction a relationship takes, you have to know that you’ll be fine, no matter how painful it might be. LOONY is facing this harsh reality in her new song “either side.” It’s the third song from her upcoming album, Soft Thing, due June 17. The serene track finds LOONY’s airy harmonies against brash drums,
Many within the Black community are still left searching for answers in the wrongful deaths of unarmed Black individuals; Butterfly Ali is one of them and expresses it in his new song called “Truth Is.” Ali shared in a press statement he used his affecting voice for this song to “open up more conversations” about
Expect to be blown away anytime Doja Cat takes the stage of any awards show. The fusion artist stormed last night’s Billboard Music Awards alongside SZA to perform their “Kiss Me More” collaboration for the first time. From the striking looks to the bomb choreography, the two entertainers sold the bouncy tune as if their
Alicia Keys was a girl on fire at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. The R&B legend lit the Microsoft Theater stage in Los Angeles ablaze when she performed a five-song medley to honor the 20th anniversary of her classic debut album, Songs in A Minor. Rocking a white fedora and styled in a bleach-dyed pants
Front + Center is Rated R&B’s artist discovery series, putting new and emerging R&B singers at the center of your attention. Being ready and fully prepared can be an excuse for people to hold themselves back from going after their dreams. We tend to hear that waiting for the right time to go after what
Masego has booked a few more nights at his relaxing villa, releasing the deluxe edition of last year’s Studying Abroad. The Extended Stay version is a suitcase of all six songs from the resorting EP, including the D’Mile-produced “Passport” and the taunting “Bye Felicia.” The sensual shapeshifter orders five new songs from room service. One
Singer TJ Jackson wants to know why he is feigning over a mystery woman on his brand new song “Secret.” On the David Thulin-produced tune, Jackson discusses falling for a woman who is hiding something stronger than secret, the art of temptation. The song has a modern feel to it reminiscent of the trap soul
Kehlani is rolling in seven new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Three collaborations have resulted in gold awards, including the Keyshia Cole-featured “All Me,” the Dom Kennedy-assisted “Nunya,” and “Can I,” featuring a Canadian native. Kehlani’s 2015 mixtape, You Should Be Here, also received a gold plaque. It made Grammy history
H.E.R. is almost assured of hitting the number-one spot on R&B radio with “Damage” in the coming week. Before she does, the multi-awarded musician is celebrating the platinum success of the Herb Alpert-sampled track. It has now sold more than one million equivalent digital units in the United States. The achievements of “Damage” date back
Last month, H.E.R. headlined the 20th Anniversary Honda Civic Tour via Live Nation’s Twitch channel. The Grammy and Oscar-winning singer/songwriter delivered a stirring performance with support from her band and background singers. In case you missed it – or if you want to revisit it — Rated R&B has teamed up with Honda to premiere
Cautious Clay takes a self-reflective approach in the official music video for his song “Wildfire.” The visual arrives just one week after the single went live. In the vivid, Colin Read-directed video, Clay is glued to an antique television, watching a forest fire. As the video takes shape, he changes the channel, altering the reality. He
Alicia Keys is ready to get back on the road and perform her new and timeless hits. Her world tour in support of her seventh album, ALICIA, has been rescheduled for 2022. It was originally slated to launch in June 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Keys will kick off the European leg of the
In February of this year, Amorphous, best known as a mashup sensation and budding producer, was seen in the studio working on new music for his debut album with Kehlani. The first product of their teased session has arrived, and it’s called “Back Together.” It marks the beginning of the road for his not-yet-titled debut