R&B

After topping R&B radio last week, Jill Scott’s single “Pressha” rises to No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart dated March 14. According to Billboard, “Pressha” moved from No. 2 to No. 1 in its eighth week on the chart, bumping Kehlani’s “Folded” from its two-week reign. “Pressha” is Scott’s first chart-topper on

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

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.

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

Welcome to Chart Brief, Rated R&B’s weekly column tracking the latest movements across R&B charts. Each week, we’ll break down and analyze the R&B artists making waves on the Billboard, radio, and streaming charts. This edition covers the charts dated Feb. 14, 2026. Billboard Charts Adult R&B Airplay Tracks the week’s top Adult R&B hits

Essence has announced its 2026 Essence Festival of Culture will return to New Orleans from July 3 through July 5 at the Caesars Superdome. In celebration of Women’s History Month, the company has also revealed the first wave of performers. R&B queens Brandy and Monica, who wrapped up their The Boy Is Mine Tour last

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

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

Emerging R&B singer JayDon has secured his first No. 1 hit. His Paradise-assisted smooth jam “Lullaby” jumps two spots at urban radio this week, dethroning Cardi B’s “ErrTime” from the summit. According to Mediabase, “Lullaby” received 5,215 monitored spins (up 601 from the prior week), with 11.4 million audience impressions. “All praise to the almighty.

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye has donated $350,000 in support of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) emergency response in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Melissa. The donation, made through the global star’s XO Humanitarian Fund, will help WFP as it aims to reach 200,000 Jamaicans recovering from the Category 5 storm. “We are grateful to

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

At the heart of Daniel Caesar’s fourth album, Son of Spergy —the follow-up to 2023’s Never Enough — is faith and family. Released Oct. 24 via Republic Records, the album opens in church with “Rain Down,” a spirit-stirring hymn where Caesar and Sampha trade leads, belting to the heavens, “Lord let your blessings rain down,

Femme It Forward, the women-powered music and entertainment company, has announced the honorees for its 4th annual Give Her FlowHERS Awards Gala. The star-studded ceremony is set for Nov. 21 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Launched in 2022, the gala honors “the brilliance, resilience, and creativity of women whose voices and vision shape

“You are currently in my pocket,” Samm Henshaw tells me over Zoom, making his way through his London home as the evening kicks in. “Sorry, I just got in not long ago, so I’m shifting stuff around,” he continues. The British-Nigerian singer has had a busy day, starting with a morning performance taping for BBC’s

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

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

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,

Ari Lennox is set to hit the road this spring. The Grammy-nominated singer has revealed the dates for herVacancy Tour. The 31-city North American tour kicks off April 12 at WAMU Theater in Seattle. From there, Lennox will visit San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and more before concluding June 6 in Charlotte. Citi

Welcome to Chart Brief, Rated R&B’s weekly column tracking the latest movements across R&B charts. Each week, we’ll break down and analyze the R&B artists making waves on the Billboard, radio, and streaming charts. This edition covers the charts dated Feb. 21, 2026. Billboard Charts Adult R&B Airplay Tracks the week’s top Adult R&B hits

Los Angeles-based singer Sophia Galaté steps into the spotlight with her debut album, For My Own Entertainment. Released Oct. 24, the 35-minute set brims with lush instrumentation that draws from R&B, soul and funk. Across the album’s 12 tracks, Galaté gives herself permission to prioritize and explore her full self without feeling the need to