r&b
Ray J's 'Gifts' Is an Underappreciated Relic of His Reality Show Days
You can't listen to the song without remembering the 'For the Love of Ray J' contestant who dropped from the top of a stripper pole into a split.
Brent Faiyaz's 'Fuck the World' Makes Life's Tough Questions Sound Sexy
The singer talked to VICE about the importance of making conscious R&B desirable. "There are ways to be sexual and still be intellectual about it."
D'Angelo's 'Voodoo' Redefined What an R&B Album Could Be
Twenty years ago, the singer's sophomore album gave the middle finger to the limitations placed on Black music. It was also a means of healing.
Ari Lennox's 'Shea Butter Baby' Deserves Better Than Its Award Season Snubs
The industry’s omission of an album created deliberately for Black women means it hasn’t overcome its inherent biases.
Summer Walker’s Canceled Tour Proves Social Anxiety Is Deeply Misunderstood
The backlash the R&B singer faced when discussing her mental health issues sparked a conversation on the misconceptions of anxiety. We asked a cognitive behavioral therapist what social anxiety looks like in the internet age.
The 2010s Were the Decade When Black Protest Music Went Mainstream
Beyoncé, Solange, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Rihanna released provocative, forward-thinking albums during the rise of the Trump candidacy, solidifying Black music's legacy as protest music.
Justin Timberlake's New Music Will Lean Heavily on Black Artists, Again
The 'Man of the Woods' singer appears tired of the woods; he just announced forthcoming collaborations with SZA, Lizzo, and Meek Mill.
Summer Walker's 'Over It' Brought Your Favorite R&B Singers Out of Hiding
The singer's highly-anticipated debut album features guest spots from artists like Usher and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
The 28 Best R&B Songs of Summer 2019
Summer was hot and so was R&B with artists like Bryson Tiller, Jorja Smith, and H.E.R. leading the way.
BJ the Chicago Kid's '1123' Magnifies the Soul of the Black Experience
The singer's follow-up album is an ode to the Chicago upbringing that shaped how he approaches love and life.
Amaal's Intimate R&B Shows that Love Is Hard Work
The Somali Canadian singer went from making protest music to analyzing the blind spots in her love life on her debut EP, 'Black Dove.'
Rihanna, What Do You Mean 'No More Music?'
The singer unveiled a $230 "No More Music" t-shirt at her first pop-up shop for her LVMH-endorsed Fenty label.