R&B

It’s the return of Samm Henshaw’s Untidy Soul video series, and he unveils a black-and-white visual for his focus track “Joy.”  The Jim Pilling-directed video sees Henshaw clad in a suit with a suitcase in his hand. He takes a seat in a cab of sorts, where he gets an unsolicited word on the power of prayer. 

Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, known together as Silk Sonic, have reached the end of the line on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart this week. “Love Train,” the duo’s remake of Con Funk Shun’s bedroom classic, makes a stop at No. 1.  Of Silk Sonic’s four singles to appear on this chart, “Love Train”

Durand Bernarr is a man who can do both. On “Company,” from his 2020 album Dur&, the multifaceted entertainer sings about his many layers — especially when it comes to romance. “The song is about duality,” Bernarr tells Rated R&B. “I’m the man that can do it all. There are different dimensions to how I

Jazmine Sullivan and Ari Lennox have earned a new award from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “On It,” their duet that appears on Sullivan’s Heaux Tales project, has been certified gold. It has sold more than 500,000 equivalent units. Sullivan went to Instagram to thank her fans for their support. “Thank you all for making “On

Aiyana-Lee is spellbinding in the official video for “Make You Love Me.”  The Nayip Ramos-directed video begins with a police officer and an investigator opening the trunk of a seemingly abandoned car. Inside, where confetti pops out, they find a note sealed with a kiss and a potential voodoo doll.  The video’s storyline shifts to

PJ Morton has revealed the tracklist for his upcoming studio album, Watch The Sun, which arrives April 29 via Morton Records.   The proper R&B follow-up to 2019’s Paul has 11 songs and features an all-star cast of collaborators, from El DeBarge and Jill Scott to JoJo and Alex Isley, to name a few.  Water The Sun features

The Library of Congress has announced that Alicia Keys’ debut album, Songs in A Minor, has been added to the National Recording Registry. The album qualifies to be preserved for all time based on its “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.” “I’m so honored and grateful that Songs in A Minor,

Mary J. Blige will receive this year’s Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, which takes place on Sunday, May 15, at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.  The special achievement “recognizes outstanding artists who have achieved excellence on the Billboard Charts and have made an indelible mark on music itself.”  Blige is now the 11th

With fame and fortune comes human evolution. On his new single “Lifetime,” Canadian singer-songwriter Dylan Sinclair understands this change will happen but hopes his love interest can handle it in the long run. Partnering again with Jordon Mansell on production and inviting in Rowan, Sinclair has deeply felt emotion spewing from his voice as he sings of

The 2022 CMT Music Awards took place last night (April 11) in Nashville, Tennessee. Among the performers at country music’s biggest night was Monica, who joined Jimmie Allen and Little Big Town for a live rendition of their collaboration “Pray.” The legendary R&B singer took the stage wearing an all-white ensemble, which she complemented with

Muni Long is now a platinum-selling artist.  According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), “Hrs and Hrs,” the breakout single from the singer-songwriter, has been certified platinum with more than one million equivalent units sold. The track was first certified gold in March.  Long found it hard to contain her emotions about the news, writing on

Funk Fest Tour has announced its lineup for its launch in Orlando, Florida, on June 3 and June 4. Legendary R&B acts Mary J. Blige and Jodeci are set to headline the family reunion-style event. Blige will grace the main stage at Central Florida Fairgrounds on Friday, June 3. She will be supporting her latest album, Good

Lion Babe has confirmed turning their Rainbow Child album into a visual project. The duo (vocalist Jillian Harvey and producer Lucas Goodman) work to accomplish this by rolling out a new video for “Home.” In the self-directed and edited video, Harvey makes tossing and turning in the bed look like art, rocking a dramatic hairstyle

Ashanti was honored on Thursday (April 7) with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Before the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter gave her speech, she was introduced by close industry friends, including rapper Ja Rule and actress Tichina Arnold, who each delivered speeches. Dressed in a white fitted pants suit with a lengthy ponytail, Ashanti took

Rated R&B’s Front + Center artist Samm Henshaw has announced a North American headlining tour supporting his debut album Untidy Soul.   Beginning June 3, Henshaw will perform eight intimate shows across the U.S. in major cities such as San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.  The forthcoming tour marks Henshaw’s return to nationwide regions after his

Iyla has an anthem on her hands. The emerging singer/songwriter has released her new song “Sad Bitch Bad Bitch,” and she snaps with a self-assured attitude that’s hard to deny. Built around a bass-heavy, horned-soaked beat, “Sad Bitch Bad Bitch” is blunt and unfiltered, finding Iyla putting away the Kleenex for good after adjusting infinitely

KALLITECHNIS is considerate. “It’s not a long-distance call? I’m using my manager’s phone, and I don’t want him to get a crazy bill,” she wonders on a Thursday afternoon, just a few minutes after she successfully dials in. That thoughtful nature is an automatic action for the Canadian singer/songwriter, who recently received a JUNO Awards

With all that’s going on globally, Kenyon Dixon shares how he presses on with his new song “Get High, Get By” featuring rapper D Smoke. Dixon co-produced the song with Marqus Curtis and Chris “CBlakk” Daniels. On “Get High, Get By,” Dixon sings about being bombarded by an enormous amount of stress that comes with

If Summer Walker doesn’t do anything else, she’s going to make sure her whole team eats. The multi-platinum superstar has endorsed NO1-NOAH, her Ghetto Earth Records signee, and his brand new single “Bonjour” with a verse that will have you clutching your pearls.  There are no clever sexually French innuendos here. However, it does have sly lines that

If you haven’t gotten a feel for Davion Farris and his infallible style of R&B, his new single “Bad Guy” makes up for any lost time. Fused with smooth and mellow guitar licks, lush keys, and his suave vocals, Farris explores an angle of heartbreak that doesn’t find the man at fault but the woman.