R&B

Kiana Ledé is a compliment queen. The South Phoenix, Arizona, native begins our interview on Wednesday afternoon with kind words about my facial appearance. “It’s the skin for me,” Ledé flatters over a Zoom call, donning a braid updo in a decorative cream living area. Ledé pauses momentarily when her Out West Salad from Calif

Tamika Scott of Xscape has enlisted rapper/actor Method Man for her new solo single “Tonight,” which samples Nas’ “One Night.” The liberating tune hears Scott dismissing any drama that comes her way as she unapologetically celebrates life. “It’s the weekend and I’m in my zone / Tonight I’m not trying to be home alone /

Jon Vinyl is ready to let go of a relationship on his new song “No Feelings,” produced by Axthentic, The 25th Hr and Evan Miles. Vinyl’s honeyed voice glides over the smooth instrumentation as he tells off a no-good lover. “I’m not here to love you / I hope that you get the message /

Dinner Party, the supergroup composed of Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington, made their late-night television show debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! They delivered their first televised performance of “Insane” with Ant Clemons. Filmed in a living room stage design, Dinner Party assumed their positions with their respective instruments while Clemons, wearing his signature

The weather is heating up and so is festival season. For fans searching for R&B-centric festivals to attend this year, Rated R&B has you covered. From coast to coast, these R&B music festivals will showcase R&B talent, ranging from chart-topping headliners to emerging artists on the brink of stardom. Here’s a roundup of 2023 R&B

The Black Music Honors is returning for its eighth edition, with several notables being recognized. Iconic R&B group SWV is among the honorees, as are Missy Elliott, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Jeffrey Osborne, and The Hawkins Family. Don Jackson, Black Music Honors founder and executive producer, stated, “Black music is the heartbeat of our culture, and

Usher will be presented with an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music. The R&B legend will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree at Berklee’s 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m. at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.  Usher will be joined by iconic singer Roberta Flack and kora player Sona Jorbarteh,

Daniel Caesar’s third album, Never Enough, has landed on the charts. His first album for Republic Records opens at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. Never Enough marks Caesar’s highest debut of all his albums on this chart, following 2019’s CASE STUDY 01 and 2017’s Freudian, which opened at No. 3 and No.

Ciara has teamed with Jackson Wang for his new sultry new single “Slow.” It was co-produced by DVLP, Luyo and Tristan Hoogland.  On the track, Ciara and Wang sing about taking their time in the bedroom with their respective partners. “Slow the pace, ain’t a race, woah / I’m here all night for love, that’s

Rihanna has earned another award from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her 2010 single “Only Girl (In the World)” has been certified 7x multi-platinum with over seven million equivalent units sold. The EDM-influenced track, co-produced by Stargate and Sandy Vee, was the lead single from Rihanna’s 2010 album, Loud. It’s the best-selling single

Puddin (a.k.a. K. Michelle) and country rapper Justin Champagne can’t stay from under each other in the video for their new collaboration, “Country Love Song.” Filmed at Seventy-Four Ranch in Jasper, Georgia, the tender video neatly pulls together what country living looks like — simple and relaxing. Puddin and Champagne cannot help but be inseparable

Alicia Keys will be playing on a lot more stages this year. The award-winning singer/songwriter has unveiled the dates for her headlining Keys to the Summer Tour.  The North American leg kicks off June 28 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. From there, Keys will perform in major cities, including Tampa, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto,

Beyoncé is that girl. The music icon is named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023. She is featured in the Titans section, joining notables including Angela Bassett, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Lauren Powell Jobs, and Lionel Messi. Grammy winner Steve Lacy also made TIME’s annual list. His write-up was done by Chlöe, whose debut

R&B newcomers Q and Baby Rose are heading on tour together this year. Their co-headlining Through the Soul Tour kicks off at the Velvet Underground in Toronto, Canada, on May 28. From there, the two will play shows in various U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. The tour wraps June 25

Rising singer Jaz Karis has returned with her new single “Therapy.” Produced by Prodigal Sons, “Therapy” is a bittersweet breakup anthem that hears Karis singing about wanting to move on from a relationship but can’t shake off lingering feelings.  “I’m so over being free, over therapy / Don’t want to be with you, I want

Erykah Badu has her headlining Unfollow Me Tour. She’ll be joined by conscious rapper Yasiin Bey (a.k.a. Mos Def), who will serve as a special guest. The Unfollow Me Tour kicks off June 11 in San Antonio, Texas, at the AT&T Center. From there, Badu will play various U.S. cities, including Seattle, Chicago, Washington, D.C.,

Emerging progressive R&B singer Casper Sage has shared his new EP Pseudo. The three-track project features the previously shared song “Spinnin‘,” which was released in January. “With ‘Spinnin’,’ I was trying to express the frustrations of trying to make the same changes within my life, but somehow ending up right where I started from. Ultimately, always

In April 2008, after the success of her comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey had nothing else to prove. While the last go-round was the victory lap that solidified Carey as a bonafide legend, her stunning follow-up, E=MC2, perhaps earned Carey the right to be an artist without the pressures to be heard.

As teased, K. Michelle has released her new song, “Wherever The D May Land,” featuring emerging Memphis rapper Gloss Up. Peter Eddins and Kenneth Paryo produced the catchy collaboration. “Wherever The D May Land” is a perfect sex-positive singalong for listeners to treat men like an option on a spin wheel. If he or his