rolling r&b 2022

Mariah the Scientist has a really nice new EP out

Yes! Thank you! Definitely going to check this out.

I almost started this the other day. Nicole Wray has another album under her Lady Wray alias. I checked out Piece of Me the other day and it's good! First few tracks were stellar and it's definitely in that "retro-" tradition, but it feels equal parts influenced by Motown and J Dilla. It left me with the thought that if there's such a thing as "record collection" rock in my attention span, surely there's room for an r+b equivalent.

Here's "Come On In" from Piece of Me. Maybe a bit corn and I can think of at least three classic songs it reminds me of, but none of them definitively and I think she's in peak voice here. I like it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrWJ0ktzqVs

Thanks again for making this.

Sure! I would’ve done it sooner, but not a lot has been catching my ear lately.

Been listening a bit to Lucky Daye from New Orleans who is doing a US tour in April.

But no new release from him

curmudgeon, I thought Lucky Daye's Painted was a solid album. Nothing amazing, but I really loved the track "Ready for Love." Candydrip was released on Friday, though I haven't listened to it yet. The first single "Over" is decent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylf8gJQe8So

Thanks for the reminder! I'm going to listen to Candydrip on my walk today.

Thanks

Update: on first listen, I enjoyed Candydrip very much. Very dreamy production. First few tracks and last few tracks (especially "Fever") really got my attention. Looking at the rest of his Spotify now, he's been fairly prolific with collaborations over the past couple of years and this album definitely has a more pop slant to it. He has a sense of very self-aware humility about him that's nothing if not endearing. Second listen now and it's holding up. Not all the way sure what to make of him of him as yet, but definitely don't mind it while it's playing. "Feels Like" is probably the most accessible thing on the album, but it's an easy highlight for me.

I like the flip he’s doing on those iconic Ohio Players album covers. Honey becoming Candydrip.

https://linkstorage.linkfire.com/medialinks/images/aabfcb3b-703c-4209-9e45-8b9588c07bd5/artwork-440x440.jpg

good album. the production is really nice. reminded me a bit of the victoria monet album from a few years ago in terms of being a slick but ultimately retro presentation of R&B while still having enough personality and ideas to make it feel like it's bringing something to the table. will need to listen a few more times for the songwriting to really stick w/ me but enjoyable listen

oh i see d'mile did essentially the whole album haha. i should've known

Daye sang a Sam Cooke song on American Idol once, and in press coverage I have seen other mentions of his interest in Marvin Gaye and others after he and his Mom left a church that instructed members not to listen to secular music.

Yes, production is nice on this new one.

album is pretty good. felt my interest wane a bit halfway, but it finishes strongly (or what Austin said, I guess).

case in point: track 16 “Cherry Forest” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQKEsIDkhMg

new Normani, “Fair”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNsbPNqfL4Q

live in The Tonight Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdIiLNfaBu0

in, on, at, over, under

Great extended version of "No Love," ft. a Cardi vocal verse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmB0Q7qkweM

Summer Walker, SZA, & Cardi B - No Love (Extended Version)

I'm not familiar w/Olivia Escuyos, but I'm listening to this new EP and digging it... she has a nice voice, the beats are good

Nice new one from Gwenn Bunn - "2ManyThings":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x3A9oVJApo

Yes, I love this immediately. Thank you.

She also had a great track called "Pressure" a few years back

Sorry to up this for something that's already been discussed but Lucky Daye's "Feels Like" is becoming one of my favorite songs of the year. Such an easy, carefree jam. The chorus is glorious and that partial rap verse at the end has just enough whimsy to be charming. I've had it on my current favorites playlist since the album came out and I like that song more every time it comes up.

i'm surprised "over" is his mainstream breakthrough lol, i enjoyed it last year but overall not rly one of the stronger singles i've heard from him. still need to hear the album

"feels like" is def one of the big standouts for me off the album. "over" doesn't stand out to me but happy for him nonetheless

coco jones - caliber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNs4eBk5Cu8

i enjoy this song by former disney teenybopper signed to def jam

new Chlöe, “Treat Me”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OfaMlMcZew

not feeling this one too much on first encounter

the song is a bit half-hearted but her voice sounds incredible going to those high notes and that video is another argument for her becoming a world-conquering star

Sounds like it's trying to check as many boxes as possible

I bailed halfway thru... :/

I do like this take tho:

TREAT ME meets CASE OF THE EX. 💞 @ChloeBailey @MYAPLANET9 pic.twitter.com/3ZokBNdNae

— amorphous (@loneamorphous) April 8, 2022

btw, from what I can see Normani’s “Wild Side” was never posted last summer, which, okay - but let’s please not criminally overlook the Kaytranada remix that dropped in November:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZCanXiv0yo

Nice beat on this track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWbsxWyQydM

Fousheé - Double Standard

This one's very cool... I don't know about the video, but the track is deep:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsNXMr-WYvE

Eliza - Straight Talker

Whoa, that Eliza!

Sorry to up this again for nothing new, but:

Mariah the Scientist has a really nice new EP out

― u swear (morrisp), Monday, March 14, 2022 4:14 PM

+ Sorry for the late response on this, but "Church" is one of my favorite songs of the year. The EP is too short! Very "90s reminiscent vibe"-heavy, but that's bread+butter to me. Definitely has my full attention should a full length be following.

Here's "Church"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYTe6MzV8c

Yeah, I feel like she gets better & better. “Only Human” is my playlist add from the EP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP-0EqzRkxU

Love that one too. She reminds me a lot of Aaliyah.

new mariah the scientist. "admin"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fnf609bhnA

first listen now. don't like it.

Weird... it's also on Amazon Music, but I don't think it's real, considering (a) it's not on her official YouTube account, and (b) she doesn't seem to actually sing on the track (it's just some dude?).

(I actually like the music/beat, but not the dude, lol)

Who hacked my shit

— Mariah The Scientist (@MariahScientist) May 9, 2022

very curious, indeed.

it showed up in my spotify new releases under her artist profile. idgi.

I have the new Ella Mai album on, it's sounding nice. I've never been too into her stuff on a song-by-song basis, but this plays well as a longform

^I've been listening to this a lot, it's fresh and flows really well.

Meanwhile - Ayanis pops up with another good one ("U Betta," ft. Kali):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEcAg3j-DzU

I'm a big fan of the Ella Mai album too. It's so lush. Seems like almost no one is talking about it though?

missed your revive last week morris. just finished listening to heart on my sleeve right now and yeah: this is really good. beats are definitely the spotlight for me. on one listen, there wasn't a big obvious highlight but i also don't remember flat out disliking anything. also kind of a chuckle that lucky daye pops up here, too. that guy must live in a studio. anyway, i immediately wanted to play it again, which i did and it's so good.

i've never checked her out before now, so double thanks.

Yeah, exactly! No clear standouts (although I particularly like the instrumentation on the first track); but appealing enough to listen to twice in a row.

on second listen, "power of a woman" is my pick. i know: me picking the slow jam. shocking.

Reading an enthusiastic review of Ravyn Lenae live reminds me I haven’t yet heard her new debut album

Lenae is touring in support of her long-awaited debut album, “Hypnos.” The 23-year-old emerged in the mid-2010s, self-releasing her first EP as a teen and collaborating with fellow Chicago upstarts like Noname and Mick Jenkins. In 2018 — just in time for Valentine’s Day — she released “Crush,” a pristine collection of glistening, lovesick funk produced by fellow R&B wunderkind Steve Lacy

I gave it a few tries, but couldn't connect.

ravyn lenae and amber mark are two tasteful well reviewed R&B albums from this year that i found anonymous and impenetrable

Listening now and see what you mean-- too smooth and tasteful

Chloë, next instalment - could potentially be upgraded to (hot) summer (night) jam. the bass is doing nice things:

“Surprise”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMlJKBXU1v4

pleasantly surprised to learn that THEY. is back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1tXflAmNPE

this could be very tasty indeed:

PLAY WITH THE CHANGES REMIXED

ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 16TH

CLICK THE LINK TO PRE-ORDER NOW🦋 https://t.co/MLsvZnHKx4 pic.twitter.com/jSBoCtoKBO

— R O J O (@Rochelle_Jordan) July 26, 2022

Noone has mentioned this one yet and it might be my favorite R&B track of the year so far:

George Riley feat. Vegyn - Jealousy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ylrtyt9D1w

ILM might recognize her as the guest vocal on Anz - You Could Be

her album last year was great, especially "power"

looks like she has another out in september so i'll look forward to that

I like this a lot - what a vibe! (don't think I was familiar w/ this artist... looks like she released an LP last year, will have to check it out)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkMMUoGAeQQ

Jenevieve - Love Quotes

Very sweet ballad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ets34Xz-w0w

Satya - Checker Print Kitchen

Ari Lennox has a very good new single out, see here for more: Ari Lennox's album Shea Butter Baby: good lord

i heard this on the radio today and was certain it was a '90s thing. is there a general '90s throwback thing going on right now?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkw2YGjp-UQ
toia jones - cheat

need to catch up in here but just wanted to say eliza has put a couple other new songs on spotify since "straight talker" and they're also quite good. has a very "alternative" kind of vibe overall. really like her.

Gwen Bunn has an album out, but I haven't been able to get into it... her vibe is a little too mellow for me when stretched out beyond a song or two.

yeah, didn't want to be negative — that song posted in here previously was good but . . . uhm, ultimately wears kind of thin.

xpost to the discussion over on the pfork thread about their overlooked records list

just now checking out ogi's monologues from may. definitely recommend. spotify link

Austin – check out my note to you in the "random old r&b you are loving" thread

I enjoyed this a lot:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/have-rbs-toxic-kings-taken-it-too-far-1397258/

it’s the remix baby:
https://i.discogs.com/IgdnyZEYlS9Lu1qyKGjXepnFIybmOe4jEzb4Jwqmplk/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:595/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTU3ODYx/NzMtMTQwMjYxNzIz/NS02MDUzLmpwZWc.jpeg

sisters are doin’ it for themselves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZ1EKghyw0
Ari Lennox ft. Summer Walker • Queen Space

I like Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights although some may find it too Pharrell style retro

Ari Lennox is hosting an album release event for herself Thursday in DC w/ go-go band Sirius Company

ravyn lenae and amber mark are two tasteful well reviewed R&B albums from this year that i found anonymous and impenetrable

― J0rdan S., Tuesday, June 14, 2022 2:31 PM (two months ago) bookmarkflaglink

Please go back to the Ravyn Lenae album, "Venom" in particular. Vocals are solid, very Janet Jackson, but the production is what has kept me coming back repeatedly throughout the year. Lots of off-kilter tracks with super cool bass sounds that contrast with her wispy vox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiP_wrikEuA

I found the album less instant than the EPs (which I've listened to lot) but I'm pretty sure it's at least as good I just need to give it time

new ari lennox is solid on first listen

Jenevieve's "Love Quotes" (which I posted above) is included on a new EP, Rendezvous... listening now, the whole thing sounds very good (talk about '90s)!

I really like ari lennox

new kiana lede ("irresponsible") is pretty nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J6WXsGd9RM

(is there a slight nod to "it's only love" in the chorus melody? or just a similar progression)

thx everyone- lots of new goodies to check out + catch up with.

the eliza album is called a sky without stars and is out today. haven't listened yet but "heat of the moon" has been a recent repeater for me.

very singular, deep late night vibe on a sky without stars on first listen. if you liked the singles, you'll like the album. really sparse, eerie bass grooves for the most part and oddly reminiscent of atliens beats at times. she has that subdued withdrawn vocal mannerism down perfectly and it probably isn't going to be everyone's thing, but i'm very into it.

excuse a possible spamming in here while i play catch up.

first things first, this ari lennox is damn good. beats are stellar across the board. the song with lucky daye even has a crusaders sample! what!? dope. very solid album.

going back to the eliza album quite a bit since friday and i have to double down on its strength: very firm four mics from me.

be back with more...

digging into ravyn lenae now and immediate first listen love on "m.i.a." megajam.

rest of the album is also very solid, but more of a sustained vibe. her voice reminds me of someone i can't properly place atm. definitely going to listen more but damn, "m.i.a." - that's the shit i'm here for.

I'M GONNA RUN THE TOWN

AIN'T NOTHIN IN MY WAY

Sevyn Streeter's "23" is a joy and a possible best of the year rnb track for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu0mxcFbZaE

The new George Riley album/EP Running in Waves is fire.

philly artist lay bankz went viral on tiktok for a song that i actively avoided because of its title ("left cheek (doo doo blick)"). i heard that song in the wild recently and loved it, pretty fresh mix of r&b and east coast club that really leaps out of the speakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApSejZt95-k

her new song "in my bag" is even better, imo. didn't know that you could write a slow jam at 150 bpm, but there's a first time for everything

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du7roy1k68I

There's a new Charlotte Dos Santos album and it is slightly exquisite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFwsbin_MYg

Possibly half of it has already been released over the past year but all is new to me; bit Quadron-ish.

I’m not familiar w/ Dess Dior, but I really like this jam with Mariah the Scientist (“Stone Cold”):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T3wA9a-1Ug

(Mariah is saying she has new music coming up soon, as well)

...and here's her new song, Bout Mine

I really like her stuff. Apparently "Spread Thin," from her last EP, has become kind of a minor hit

there was some discussion about afropop/afrobeats’ influence on current US r&b a few weeks ago over on the Wizkid thread.

Masego is more afro-friendly than most. his new track “Say You Want Me” is co-produced by P2J of Wizkid and Burna Boy fame:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=960TNYKBxxs

Lush new single from Mahalia – "Bag of You"

need to play catch up again in here, but also wanted to share the new luna luna single:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBJjOu4ZaXY

"talk too much"

very haunting. i like it a lot. more bilingual pop music, please.

http://narrowcast.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-20-best-r-radio-hits-of-2022.html

Some Dude’s faves he heard on radio

always a fascinating peak into a different world, in several ways....

Nice to see Ella Mai show up on a list this year (and I did think Summer Walker f/ SZA and Cardi B - "No Love (Remix)" was great; I believe it's on the LA Times list).

a new twist on the r&b/afrobeats merger:
US artist Fridayy (who did work with/for Chris Brown, DJ Khaled and Lil Baby) turned to Asake for the remix of his gospel-y “Blessings”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z0VCpMG5Eo

That’s… interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PIpzA2vbcU

another one for the d&r&b playlist

Ari Lennox ft. Summer Walker • Queen Space

― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Wednesday, August 31, 2022 11:52 PM

as things continue winding down on this year, this just grows in stature. easily top ten of the year for me.

This is a really nice ballad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XACnLBDzyUo

King Sis - It's Yours

Lush new single from Mahalia – "Bag of You"

― Reese's Pisces Iscariot (morrisp), Sunday, November 13, 2022 9:45 PM

this is stellar. very much sigh + smile vibes.

I’m not familiar w/ Dess Dior, but I really like this jam with Mariah the Scientist (“Stone Cold”):

(Mariah is saying she has new music coming up soon, as well)

― Reese's Pisces Iscariot (morrisp), Tuesday, October 18, 2022 10:47 PM

also a shout for this. very sick beat and that attitude — well well well. . . i know how it goes. i ain't impressed.

mariah's probably my most anticipated album right now. absolutely ready for a a full length. she's amazing.

oh yeah re: mariah the scientist, here's her latest single. i kinda forgot about it because it's just. . . okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC2EcXbjUyU

"bout mine"

not really feeling it, but it hasn't impacted my anticipation.

Good track she released this week - "Christmas in Toronto":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-M0u-nbfvY

(we started this year's thread talking about Mariah... feels nice to wrap it up with her as well)