R&B

Alicia Keys has unveiled the video for “Kaleidoscope,” the joyous tune from her Hell’s Kitchen musical, featuring singer and actress Maleah Joi Moon. The Kajal-directed video was filmed entirely at Manhattan Plaza in New York City. “This video is so special to me, it captures the spirit of Hell’s Kitchen, the place I grew up, and

Music duo Louis York (Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony) has joined forces with PJ Morton for their new single “Puppet Strings.” In the retro-soul tune, Kelly sings about a love so entwined that he feels like a marionette handled by his partner. In essence, the song speaks to how we can’t help who captures our

After sharing “One Last Dance” in March, soul vocalist Baby Rose and Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD have released their new EP, Slow Burn. The 23-minute set takes listeners on a genre-defying trip through the underbelly of Americana, psychedelic rock, blues, country and beyond.  Slow Burn includes a feature from Mereba, who appears on the centerpiece track “Caroline.”

Sekou has unveiled his new single “Let Go of Me Slowly,” produced by Yakob. The piano ballad is gut-wrenching at its core, as Sekou comes to terms with the end of a relationship.  “Can you promise / Say you remember my name / Say you remember the way it felt to hold me / Even

Genre-defying artist Jean Deaux has unveiled her new EP, nowhere, fast, via Guin Records. The eight-track, introspective project includes the previously shared “Dreamin” and “Roll With Me.”  Speaking on nowhere, fast, Deaux reveals, “It’s about coming to the end of your 20-somethings and feeling everything has been such a blur, from childhood to young adulthood, to

Andra Day’s new album is coming this spring. The Grammy-winning singer has announced her third LP, Cassandra (cherith), will release May 10 via Warner Records.  The album contains 16 tracks, including the previously shared “Where Do We Go,” “Probably,” and the latest single, “Chasing.”  The latter track tells a heartwarming story about finding unexpected love. Day’s

Genre-bending artist DRAM is back with his new album, DRAM&B, released independently on his label Waver Records. The 10-track set was preceded by the singles “When She Call” featuring Ellis Quinn and “Marry Me.”  DRAM&B is doused with endearing songs that are warm and radiant like a golden summer day. “This album was made with the intention

Chlöe has shared her new single “Boy Bye,” her second release of the year.  On the saucy kiss-off, Chlöe says adios to a lover who fails to meet her halfway in their relationship. In the first verse, she sings about overextending herself while he doesn’t even try to make an effort. “I was always loyal,

R&B veteran and actor Marques Houston has released a visual for his latest single “Admit It.”  In the video, Houston shows off his slick dance moves to the Afrobeats-tinged track. Speaking on the video, Houston tells Rated R&B, “I’ve been enjoying the fusion of sounds and culture lately. I’ve been in the mix with the

Chris Brown is back with his 11:11 (Deluxe) album, five months after releasing the standard version. The expanded set includes 13 new tracks, totaling the project to 35 tracks. The new batch of songs includes features from past collaborators Mario, Bryson Tiller, Davido, Joyner Lucas, Lil Wayne, and Tee Grizzley. Opening with “Bruce Lee,” produced by YX,

The I Love RnB Music Festival 2024 lineup has been unveiled. The festival will return Saturday, Sept. 7, at Grand Park in Los Angeles, California.  R&B veteran Omarion and rap legend Bow Wow will headline. Since the longtime collaborators will be at the same event, perhaps they will treat festivalgoers to music from their 2007

Tamia and Joe Thomas have extended their co-headlining tour into the fall.  The R&B veterans have announced four new shows, with more dates to be unveiled soon. The fall leg kicks off Sept. 13 at Landers Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and will include stops in South Carolina, Florida, and Texas. Presale tickets will be available

Keith Sweat has another top 10 hit on Billboard. The R&B legend’s latest single, “Lay You Down,” has reached the top 10 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart at No. 10.  It’s Sweat’s first top 10 visit since his Raheem DeVaughn-assisted single “Can’t Nobody,” which peaked at No. 4 in April 2022. “Lay You Down”

Beyoncé’s eighth album, Cowboy Carter, dominates multiple Billboard charts in its opening week. The sprawling body of work bolts to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with 407,000 equivalent units sold in the first week. According to Billboard, Cowboy Carter sold 168,000 pure copies and garnered 300.41 million official streams — Beyoncé’s biggest streaming week. Cowboy Carter

Rising singer Tanerélle has released her new single “Better Days,” produced by Dazy and Midi Jones. Over smooth production, enriched by warm guitar plucks, cinematic strings and crisp drums, Tanerélle finds solace in the face of adversity. Instead of focusing on the negative, she chooses to remain hopeful.  “Keep a slow pace, show face /

Rising singer Amber Mark is back with her new single “Comin’ Around Again” via PMR/Interscope Records. Over a lush production embellished with a resonant bassline and warm piano, Mark sings about a guy she’s met who could very well end up being a future partner. “Boy, I ain’t got high hopes / But damn you’re

Khalid has returned with his new single, “Please Don’t Fall in Love With Me,” produced by Jason Kellner and Denis Kosiak. On the melancholic track, which samples Alicia Keys’ “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready),” Khalid laments about an ex-lover he can’t shake off. Lyrically, the song delves into the complex emotions felt after a breakup: betrayal (“The fact

The Capital Jazz Fest 2024 lineup has been revealed. The 31st annual event returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, from June 7 to June 9.  The Friday Night Soul concert, hosted by Laiya St. Clair, will feature performances by Anthony Hamilton, Chrisette Michele, and Teedra Moses. The show will run from 7 p.m. to

Lucky Daye is dropping new music this month. The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter revealed his next single, “Hericane,” will release April 19. The New Orleans native shared the news Wednesday (April 3) on Instagram, along with a pre-save link.  Daye first teased “Hericane” track in March. He posted a video of him in a car playing

Welcome to the Tillerverse. Grammy-nominated artist Bryson Tiller has shared his self-titled album via RCA Records.  The 19-track concept album takes listeners on an odyssey through Tiller’s musical palette that goes beyond the trapsoul box he’s been placed in. He bounces from silky bedroom jams (“Attention”) and flirty grooves (“Persuasion” featuring Victoria Monét) to Jersey