R&B

Fresh on the heels of her exclusive Apple Music Live concert, Mary J. Blige has released a live album comprised of the setlist. It marks Blige’s second live album, following 1998’s The Tour, which Rated R&B placed on its list of favorite live albums in 2020.  Over an hour-long, Apple Music Live: Mary J. Blige

India Shawn has unveiled the video for “Caught in the Middle,” following the release of her freshly-shared debut album Before We Go (Deeper). The Dennis Leupold-directed video sees Shawn and her love interest (played by Deivys Nicola) journeying through a sweet connection that leaves them inseparable. When Shawn isn’t glued to her man at their

Calvin Harris has shared another new song from his forthcoming album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2. The Scottish DJ joins forces with Normani and Tinashe, along with rapper Offset, for “New To You.” The superbly musical track finds Normani covering the chorus. Tinashe delivers a verse about square one of a growing love that she

It’s finally here. Beyoncé’s highly anticipated seventh studio album, Renaissance, is available now. It’s her first proper album since 2016’s culture-shifting album, Lemonade.  The 16-track album includes the lead single “Break My Soul,” co-produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. The empowering anthem scored Beyoncé a historic milestone on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. During the week of July

The Weeknd received the most nominations at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, with five total. The global superstar, who just started his Afters Hours Til Dawn Tour, is a two-time nominee in the Best Collaboration field, one for “One Right Now” with Post Malone and the other for “La Fama” alongside Rosalía. The Weeknd

Rising singer Brandon is back with his first single since last July. The self-produced track is titled “Cherie.” Brandon is unraveling at the seams on the guitar-lined song now that his partner has left his side. “I miss her / I just want to kiss her / Girl, you know I only want your body

Thirty years seems like forever for an artist of Mary J. Blige’s stature to finally see themselves as a queen. In a February interview with long-standing friend and radio personality Angie Martinez, Blige dubiously played iHeartRadio’s The Box. In this game, she gave commentary on items and moments from her storied career placed in the

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Jhené Aiko’s best-selling single is “Sativa,” the alternate version featuring Rae Sremmurd. The song is now certified 5x multi-platinum with cumulative U.S. sales of more than five million equivalent units.  The original version, lifted from Aiko’s 2017 album Trip, features Swae Lee, one-half of Rae Sremmurd

H.E.R. is set to star as Belle, the confident bookworm princess, in ABC’s upcoming animated and live-action adaption of Beauty and the Beast. The two-hour live production will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the animated film that debuted in 1991.  As the first Black-Filipina Belle, H.E.R. is thrilled to make history and bring her interpretation

Ro James has not given up on the promotional efforts for Mantic, the long-awaited follow-up to his Eldorado debut. The Germany-born singer has released the corresponding video for “Too Much” featuring Miguel.  The Daps-directed video sees James and Miguel busting wheelies and shifting gears in fast cars in forgotten semi-desert where beautiful women aren’t hard

Steve Lacy’s sophomore album, Gemini Rights, debuts at No. 7 this week with 34,000 equivalent units sold. It’s his highest-ranking debut on the Billboard 200 and his first album to appear in the top ten of this chart. Lacy made his solo Billboard 200 debut with the 2019 album Apollo XXI, which went to No. 160

Vedo is not selfish in pleasing his woman, making it known in the new song “Come First,” featuring Baby Tate. It was co-produced by OG Parker, Romano and Xynothing. “Come First” is a wild tale of bedroom escapades that finds Vedo holding out on getting his rocks off too soon to make sure his woman

Hot on the heels of the new song “Heartbreaker,” DaniLeigh continues steady output with the new EP My Side. The seven-track effort follows the multi-platinum singer’s 2020 album Movie.  Thus far, DaniLeigh’s shared two My Side songs, including the one mentioned above and the harsh “Dead To Me,” which arrived on May 10. She recently shared

At some point in time, we’ve all worn a shiny red nose and matching red shoes for someone we couldn’t let go. Tink is going through a similar situation, sharing her experience breaking soul ties on the new song “Goofy.”  For “Goofy,” a slow jam about an unwise Tink hooked on the goods of an

Rochelle Jordan has announced her new project Play With The Changes Remixed, set to release Sept. 16. It’s a reimagined version of her 2021 album, Play With The Changes. The album will include remixes produced by Kaytranada, Sango and Soul Clap, among others. To accompany her album announcement, Jordan has released her “Love You Good (Remix)”

Kem returns with Full Circle, his first music collection since 2020’s Love Always Wins. Named after his co-headlining 2022 tour with Babyface, the brand new EP features the love song “Stuck On You,” issued in February.  Full Circle is equipped with five songs, some of which could be described as his most energized. Kem enlisted the

Singer-songwriter India Shawn has released her debut album, Before We Go (Deeper), via LACA Records/Epic Records — and it was well worth the wait. The 14-track LP includes all the songs from Shawn’s 2021 EP, Before We Go, and seven new tracks. Every song on Before We Go (Deeper) was produced by Oscar and Grammy winner

SZA lends her vocals to her Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate Doechii’s “Persuasive (Remix).”  Doechii opens the remix with the original chorus and first verse. “She’s so persuasive /That marijuana / She’s so flirtatious / How does it feel to be you?” Doechii sings on the midtempo dance bop.  SZA comes in on the second verse,

Singer and actress Shonka Dukureh was found dead in her Nashville, Tennessee, apartment on Thursday. A cause of death has not been revealed. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the news on Twitter. “BREAKING: No foul play is evident in today’s death of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in this year’s

Fans of Whitney Houston and vinyl collectors alike can rejoice. According to the late music icon’s official social media channels, five of her albums will be released on vinyl in 2023. Those five albums include Whitney Houston (1985), Whitney (1987), I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990), Preacher’s Wife (1996) and My Love Is Your Love (1999).