Ten contemporary R&B songs from the future

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In some circles – especially, it seems, those who read Vice – there is a real stigma attached to listening to R&B. It is seen as music for children or people so endlessly horny their hormones must have eaten their brains. But that's bullshit and I'm starting a new club night to prove it. Below are ten splendid contemporary, futuristic-sounding R&B songs for you to enjoy once you get a break from listening to Ariel Pink and the Boredoms on repeat.


Trish - "Bump"
This sounds like a sleazier version of something Ross Orton might have produced for MIA back when she wasn't a tone-deaf nu-rave Tamil warrior.


Babyface feat. Pharrell Williams - "There She Goes"
The combo of square-wave bass stabs and hypnotic flute melodies reminds me of early grime. Easily one of the best tracks the Neptunes have ever produced.


Nivea feat. Lil Jon & YoungBloodZ - "Okay:
There really isn't enough bubblegum crunk in the world.


Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj - "Bottoms Up"
Trey Songz is pretty corny but the chorus is really catchy and Nicki Minaj only seems to really let herself go on guest appearances.


Kelis feat. Andre 3000 - "Millionaire"
This has to be the fastest BPM for an R&B song ever.


Cherish feat. Sean Paul - "Do It To It"
Snap's premier girl group's best song.


The-Dream - "Love vs. Money Part 2"
The-Dream wrote this about his ex-wife Nivea. I love the looming synths and how completely crestfallen he sounds.


Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain - "Blame It"
T-Pain saves all his best stuff for other people – which is good because a whole song of his Auto-Tuned solo warbling is usually a bit much.


Mariah Carey feat. T-Pain - "Migrate"
This is produced by Timbaland protege Danjahandz, who has done the impossible and made Mariah Carey sound exciting for the first time in about ten years.


Drake feat. Omarion - "Bria's Interlude"
I fucking hate Drake, so it's lucky that this is basically just Omarion crooning over some smooth G-funk – R&B-funk, if you will.

You can hear all of these songs and more on an upcoming Saturday at Love vs. Money at the Alibi on Kingsland High Street.

JTD

1 year ago

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