R&B

As teased, Ari Lennox has released her new single “Get Close,” co-produced by Wu10 and DZL. It marks her first offering of solo music this year. Lennox desires closer proximity to her irresistible suitor on the sultry track, despite their differences. “You like Tupac, I like Janet / So damn stubborn, I won’t have it /

Emmy-winning music director and multi-instrumentalist Adam Blackstone has announced that he will release a new album just in time for the holiday season. A Legacy Christmas, Blackstone’s first holiday and second studio album, will be released Nov. 24. The album will include guest appearances from Boyz II Men, Andra Day, BJ The Chicago Kid, Keke

GoGo Morrow has enlisted melodic rapper Yung Bleu for a remix of her bedroom jam “Don’t Stop.”  He appears in the second verse, where he narrates an intimate session with his partner. “I just hit your spot / I can see it in your eyes / I’m collecting all your data / Puttin’ it on

Omarion has announced his new album Full Circle: Sonic Book Two, the sequel to his project released in May.  Due Dec. 15, Sonic Book Two will contain 15 tracks, including the lead single, “Taking Off,” featuring rising R&B act BJRNCK. The sensual tune, produced by Greg Curtis, depicts the reunion of two lovers after a

First-time Grammy nominees SiR and Alex Isley made their late-night television debuts Tuesday (Nov. 14). They performed “Back To Love” with Robert Glasper on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Glasper played the piano on stage while two passionate singers poured their hearts into the ballad’s emotional on-stage debut. “Back To Love” arrived on July

Grammy-winning musician Robert Glasper has recently announced that he will embark on a mini-tour to conclude the year. The tour starts Dec. 4 with two nights at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Illinois. Glasper has a series of sold-out shows lined up in Oakland, California, from Dec. 7 to Dec.

Keke Palmer will host the 2023 Soul Train Awards, which airs Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and BET Her. BET Networks confirmed the announcement on Wednesday (Nov. 15) afternoon. “Keke Palmer is a globally recognized multihyphenate talent who embodies confidence and positivity and is one of the most engaging and lovable

R&B mainstay Babyface began the year nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 65th Grammy Awards for “Keeps On Fallin’,” a chart-topping collaboration with Ella Mai. The single was the lead single from Girls Night Out, an album released on Capitol Records that featured collaborations with women in R&B and hip-hop. Girls Night Out

R&B newcomer Rhyan Douglas has released his debut single, “Last Page.” It was produced by WahWah James (Kali Uchis, TOBi), and Tarron Crayton (Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker). “Last Page” is an emotionally raw ballad in which Douglas processes heartache over a gentle acoustic guitar backdrop. Throughout the three-minute track, the 19-year-old showcases his vocal range

Before the year closes out, Marsha Ambrosius will hit the road for a mini tour later this fall. The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter has announced the dates for her upcoming shows at City Winery locations across the U.S. Ambrosius will launch her tour in Chicago, Illinois, where she will play a total of four shows

Kenyon Dixon was surprised when the nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards were announced last week. His 2023 song “Lucky” received his second career nomination, and first as a solo artist, for Best Traditional R&B Performance. “This one feels different,” Dixon exclusively tells Rated R&B days after he was nominated. Being included in the same

Maeta’s current single, “Through The Night,” has propelled her promising career to new heights. The Free Nationals-assisted track climbs from No. 12 to No. 8 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart, marking Maeta’s first top 10 hit on the chart. Maeta nearly achieved her first top 10 hit on the chart with her seductive track

Usher’s single “Good Good” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage slides to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart for the week dated Nov. 18. The R&B superstar now has eight No. 1s on the Adult R&B chart, tying with Bruno Mars, Tank, Maxwell, and Kem for the second-most among male artists. Charlie Wilson

Legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and renowned rock band Chicago have announced their co-headlining Heart & Soul 2024 Tour. The 30-city run kicks off July 10, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri. They will stop in Cincinnati, Toronto, Houston, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The Live Nation-powered tour concludes Sept. 10, 2024, in Palm Desert, California.

While not exactly new to the R&B pool of nominations at the Grammys, Sean “Diddy” Combs has received his first nomination as a lead artist in one of the two R&B album categories. The Love Album: Off The Grid, released independently on the mogul’s Love Records, is up for Best Progressive R&B Album nomination at

Music legend Smokey Robinson and SiriusXM have joined forces to launch Smokey’s Soul Town, a year-round channel curated by Robinson.  Airing on SiriusXM’s channel 74, Smokey’s Soul Town features classic soul, R&B, and Motown from the ’60s and ’70s, showcasing artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Jackie Wilson, and The Temptations. The channel

Usher continues his chart domination. His single “Good Good” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage ascends from No. 3 to No. 1 at R&B radio. It’s his second chart-topper on this same airplay format this year. He topped R&B radio in June with “GLU,” his first song release of 2023. The bedroom jam spent one

“ICU” was Coco Jones’ first song to top Billboard and radio earlier this year. Now, the Camper-produced track honors the rising singer with her first career nominations at the 66th Grammys Awards. Honored with five nominations, Jones contends mainly in the R&B, Rap, & Spoken Word Poetry Field, with four R&B nominations. Jones is up

J-Sol’s new single “Toxic Love” features a horn-mad partner treating him like a boy toy. The tune’s production, helmed by Butta-N-Bizkit (John Legend, Ledisi, Mali Music), embodies an Afro-fusion vibe, while the lyrics depict the British-Nigerian artist’s inner turmoil with a woman who holds power over him. J-Sol sings, ” I don’t even wanna beat

Alt-soul singer and songwriter Samoht has returned with his new album, Amor. The 13-track effort, released independently, includes previously shared songs “Moonlight,” “Pool,” and “Sexy & You Know It.” Samoht expresses his love for his partner through various emotional states, including devotion (“Emergency”), sexual desire (“Azz”), and seeking forgiveness after conflict (“Belong 2 U”). Courtesy