R&B

Kem has released his first live project, Anniversary – The Live Album.  The R&B balladeer recorded the album at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in his hometown Detroit, Michigan, to celebrate his 20th anniversary at Motown Records.  The delightful, career-spanning album includes Kem’s signature songs such as “Love Calls,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Share

After much anticipation, LaTocha of Xscape has released her debut solo album, The Invitation: A Conversation with God. She hyped the gospel record on SWV & Xscape: The Queen of R&B, a six-episode limited series airing as part of Bravo’s Sunday lineup. The Invitation: A Conversation with God was released on LaTocha’s Made Girl Music

R&B singer Estelle has teamed up with Harlem DJ and producer Austin Millz for his new single “Freeway.” Over a stutter-stop beat and rapid handclaps, Estelle steps on the gas in a fast whip with the top down to get to her baby. She is anxious to be inside their arms and knows that rushing

Singer Keithian has released his new single, “Ways.” On the thumping track, Keithian sings about a partner who seemingly no longer wants to subscribe to casual encounters and wants to see them progress further. “Ways” is about the feeling you have when you are in an entanglement that is headed to a relationship,” Keithian says.

Tone Stith has announced a two-night residency at AB, a restaurant-turned-music-venue in Nashville, Tennessee. The back-to-back shows, powered by Lovenoise, are set to take place on May 5 and May 6. All shows are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET. Stith is the first artist to perform a residency at AB. Joining him for

Leon Thomas has shared “Crash & Burn,” the fourth song from his upcoming debut album, Electric Dusk. Faxx Only and BNYX of the Working on Dying production collective produced it. Against a chopped and swirled backbeat, Thomas casts himself as a hapless man with a bummer love life. Like the calm before the storm, the

THEY. are back. The R&B duo, composed of singer/songwriter Drew Love and producer Dante Jones, has released their third album, Nü Moon. It’s the follow-up to its 2020 sophomore LP, The Amanda Tape. The Nü Moon campaign started last spring with “Blü Moon,” a song designed to remind fans of the early 2000s R&B. Three

How often have you not been serious about finding love, and suddenly, like a random guest, it comes knocking at your doorstep? Singer Arin Ray gets swept off his feet on “For Granted,” the latest song from Dinner Party, on which he is featured. With valuable support from the supergroup, composed of Robert Glasper, Kamasi

Don’t call Stephanie Mills an underdog. “I’ve had a fabulous life and fabulous career,” the legendary singer confidently tells Rated R&B. “It’s just that I’ve never had someone to display my accomplishments the way others have. My career has always been very grassroots.” Mills has achieved considerable success since the age of nine when she

Jhené Aiko has returned with another feel-good track, “Calm & Patient.” The song is filled with positive affirmations over a glistening production that incorporates sound bowls played by Aiko. The mellow instrumentation also features a bass (Robert “Bubby” Lewis), as well as a flute and saxophone both played by David Otis. “And I know whatever

Mahalia makes one thing abundantly clear in her new song: Her love comes with “Terms and Conditions.” The new tune, produced by The Elements, was co-written by RAYE, who also contributed background vocals. On “Terms and Conditions,” Mahalia outlines her expectations from a future love interest. It isn’t stuffed with a bunch of legalese that

Blue Note will bring its Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa, to California, for its second year this summer. The three-day affair takes place July 28 through July 30 at Silverado Resort in Napa, California. This year’s lineup includes Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige at the top of the bill, along with rap acts

Maxwell is returning to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a new summer residency, dubbed NIGHT, The Trilogy Show. The R&B icon will play a three-night residency at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The shows take place on Aug. 9, Aug. 11 and Aug. 12. Presale tickets for NIGHT, The Trilogy Show go on sale Wednesday,

Rising singer Chxrry22 is the latest act to perform for Vevo’s DSCVR series. The Toronto native delivered live renditions of “The Other Side” and “Wasteland.” Both songs are lifted from Chxrry’s debut EP, The Other Side, released in September 2022 via XO Records/Republic Records.  “My approach to writing this project was, “just be as honest as

Summer Walker’s 2018 EP, Last Day of Summer, has spawned sleeper hit. “Karma,” co-written and co-produced by Arsenio Archer, has reached No. 9 on urban radio this week. It’s one of four R&B songs within the top 10 on the radio format. “Karma” advanced in popularity thanks to going viral on TikTok, with user @whereisreese

Polow Da Don loves to bring people together. The Atlanta, Georgia, native, born Jamal Jones, has produced hits for artists such as Usher, Ciara, Mario, Fergie, Robin Thicke, The Pussycat Dolls, Nick Minaj and more. Yet, he believes his forte is uniting people. “Music is not my gift; bringing people together is,” he tweeted one

Kiana Ledé has released a new song in honor of her birthday and the third anniversary of her debut album, KIKI (April 3). It’s titled “Jealous” and features Grammy winner Ella Mai. The two stars lament against a slow-burning backdrop, highlighting the normalization of envy. A lustful partner whose love stick is hard not to

Tyrese has a growing hit on his hands. “Don’t Think You Ever Loved Me,” his current single, posts at No. 8 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart this week. It concurrently enters No. 9 at R&B radio. This accomplishment on the Adult R&B list gives Tyrese his first top 10 hit since “Waiting on You”

Summer Walker has announced her new EP CLEAR 2: Soft Life will arrive May 19 via LVRN/Interscope Records. Walker shared the news toward the end of her set at Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sunday night.  CLEAR 2 is the sequel to Walker’s 2019 EP, CLEAR. The featureless, four-track project consisted of all acoustic

Shay Lia has returned with “TAKUTÁ,” her first new song in two years.  The Djiboutian-French singer teamed with Colombian producer Andrés Rebellón to create a hip-shaking groove that is full of bliss. “Cette garce est East-African (This baddie is East-African) / Pour qui se prend-elle? (Who does she think she is?) / Genre y a