R&B

K. Michelle has unveiled the release date and artwork for her final R&B album, I’m the Problem. The album will be released Sept. 22 via MNRK Records. The album cover depicts K. Michelle sitting on a bathroom floor next to a red cup with a blurred-out object that appears to be a light-blue gun. The

Mariah Carey has achieved six new single certifications from RIAA, including two coinciding with the 30th anniversary (Aug. 31) of her third album, Music Box. “Hero,” the album’s second single, has been certified 3x multi-platinum with sales of over three million equivalent units. The signature song spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard

Tinashe has unveiled the tracklist for her upcoming album, BB/ANG3L, due Sept. 8 via Ricky Reed’s Nice Life Recording Company. The album will contain seven tracks, including the singles “Talk To Me Nice” and “Needs.” The former song, released as the lead single, was co-produced by Nosaj Thing and Scoop DeVille, while Royce David and

Rising alt-R&B singer/songwriter Casper Sage has returned with his new EP, Synthesis+.  The project contains six songs, all written by Sage, that are meant to bring light to a dark time. Three tracks were released ahead of Synthesis+: “is this real life?” “FML” and “Flow State.”  “U4EA,” which has hints of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make

Dante Bowe is living his life unapologetically, even amid what he calls “a transitional season.” The inspirational singer and songwriter made his introduction in 2017 with his debut album, Son of a Father. “I was just a kid at that time — early twenties — discovering myself,” Bowe tells Rated R&B over a Zoom call.

Francis LeBlanc, better known as Fridayy, makes his formal introduction with his self-titled debut album, out now on Lost In Melody/Def Jam Recordings.  The album was preceded by the singles “Don’t Give It Away” with Chris Brown and “When It Comes To You.”  “This album is the story of Fridayy, but it’s also the story

Keke Wyatt is back. The seasoned vocalist has shared “Water Into Wine,” her first offering on Shanachie Entertainment. “Water Into Wine” is a song of patience, narrated by a woman who understands her partner’s imperfections and occasional romantic blunders. Despite this, she is willing to stay committed to the relationship as long as he demonstrates

Chris Brown is heating up the charts with “Summer Too Hot.” His current single debuts at No. 5 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart this week. It’s Brown’s 49th top 10 hit on this list and 78th entry overall.  Elsewhere on Billboard, “Summer Too Hot” opens at No. 93 on the Hot 100, tallying

AUGUST 08, the R&B singer-songwriter signed to Jhené Aiko’s Allel Sound and Def Jam Recordings, has died. He was 31.  The Los Angeles native’s cause of death has not been revealed at this time.  Def Jam Recordings provided Rated R&B with the following statement: “The entire Def Jam family mourns the tragic loss of Ray

Ciara’s latest single “How We Roll” featuring Chris Brown moves from No. 4 to No. 1 this week on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart.  On the same chart, Ciara’s Lil Baby-assisted “Forever” debuts at No. 10, notching her 10th top 10 hit on this list. Ciara’s top 10 hits on the R&B Digital Sales

R&B newcomer Zae France has released his new EP, Rhythm n Backwoods Szn II, via Compound Entertainment/Def Jam Recordings. It’s the sequel to his 2019 project.  Rhythm n Backwoods Szn II is laced with slow-burning tunes (“Take It All,” “Give It Up“) and midtempo grooves (“What It Do” featuring Fridayy, “Whoa” featuring DaDa) that still have

Global Events Productions has unveiled a new lineup of R&B Music Experience shows for this fall, featuring headliners such as Monica, Tevin Campbell, Tank, Xscape and Tamar Braxton. Taking place over the next four months on weekends, the shows will span nationwide, including Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago; Tampa, Florida; Baltimore; and Miami. Other R&B

Emerging singer and songwriter Lendryx has shared his new song “Forces.” It was produced by frequent collaborator Dionso with additional production from OSEI and Jproof (Usher, Ariana Grande, Ty Dolla $ign). “Forces” is a rippling slow jam covering romantic contentment. At times, it feels as though Lendryx revels in swirling around aimlessly in this toxic

Grammy-winning singer SZA makes it clear that she has enough to share in the video for “Snooze,” directed by Bradley J. Calder. From the onset of the video, SZA is shown on bizarre and random dates with famous suitors like Justin Bieber and Woody McClain (Power Book II: Ghost, The Bobby Brown Story). She even

Emerging R&B boy band Pop Money has released their new single “Boys Don’t Cry” via Nick Cannon’s NCredible and Republic Records. Co-produced by Cannon and Koncept, “Boys Don’t Cry” is a downcast ballad about a lost love. “When it’s raining I go / Outside / ‘Cause the rain will hide the tears in my eyes

If anyone knows a thing or two about patience, it’s Victoria Monét. The singer and songwriter just dropped her debut album, JAGUAR II, on RCA Records, after more than a decade of hard work. The 34-year-old cut her teeth in the music industry in 2009 as a member of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins’ short-lived R&B girl

Legendary producer, songwriter, artist and music executive Jermaine Dupri has unveiled the lineup for his 30th anniversary So So Def Festival. The two-day event is set for Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, at Central Park in Atlanta, Georgia. TLC, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge and Xscape are among the R&B acts set to hit

Charlotte Day Wilson is back. The emerging singer, songwriter and producer has teamed with Snoh Aalegra for her new single “Forever.”  On the enduringly beautiful track, the two both acknowledge that time cannot keep them and their lovers together if they have grown apart. “Friends say / I’m the girl that’s / All the time in the world wouldn’t be

Vedo emphasizes his choice to love his partner in his new song, “Intentional,” produced by Camper (Usher, Coco Jones). On the tender, bass-heavy track, Vedo says that satisfying his partner’s needs is innate and asks for reciprocity to strengthen their bond. “Everything I do / Comes natural, so girl, you know it’s true / See,

R&B megastar Usher has made a new appearance on Billboard this week with his latest single “Boyfriend.” The track, co-written by Camper and Rico Love, enters at No. 6 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart, led by Lizzo’s “Good As Hell.” It marks his 18th top 10 hit on this chart, which according to