R&B is demanding to be taken serious as acts like India Shawn, Aaron Page, Kehlani, Tiffany Evans, Psiryn, Larrenwong, Beano French and more prove that good music is ready for public consumption.
Whether JayDon is singing a “lullaby” or Jenevieve is “head over heels,” there are stories being told and melodies we can’t get out of our head.
Dive into VIBE’s top new R&B picks.
India Shawn – “Kill Switch”
India Shawn has finally shared her powerful new single, “Kill Switch.” Though different from her previous releases, India is proud of the “unexpected shift.”
India shared, “I move away from the familiar shadows of unreturned love and reclaim the power to decide my own fate. It’s a song about recognizing the potential danger of crossing the line from friends to lovers, and trying to safeguard what’s real before it becomes too messy; this could turn from a good thing to hate, keep it shallow for our own sake.”
This marks India’s proper debut on D’Mile’s label, VANTA Music.
Aaron Page – Before I Go
Budding star, Aaron Page has dropped his long-awaited EP, Before I Go.
Complete with standout tracks like the flirty “Sympathy” and the introspective “Lord Knows,” Page is focusing on the bouncy “CLRS” as the song of the summer from the dynamic eight-track project.
Overall, Page described the EP as “special,” adding, “It’s a conversation really of what life’s become for me. From my relationship(s) to this journey musically I’m just doing my best to be present & narrate this story & where this road takes me.”
Kehlani – “Folded”
We may still be reeling over CRASH and While We Wait 2, but Kehlani is keeping us fed with new music and “Folded” has had fans in a frenzy since she began teasing it on social media.
Produced by Khris Riddick-Tynes, Andre Harris, Donovan Knight, and Don Mills, and cowritten by the aforementioned men as well as DIXSON, Keh, and Kamal Wilson, “Folded” is a multilayered, sensual ballad about love, lust, yearning, and seduction. “I folded your clothes! Now come fold me up! and i’m folding! and i’m doing the folding! and coochies have folds… so many layers,” the singer joked about its true meaning.
There’s no word on when their album is slated for release, but it’s already clear that “Folded” is one of them ones.
JayDon feat. Paradise – “Lullaby”
JayDon, formerly JD McCrary, is the newest teenage heartthrob to take R&B by storm. The triple-threat has fans flocking to him over his latest release, “Lullaby,” with labelmate Paradise.
The HARV-produced ballad is mesmerizing as JayDon coos over the lush melody singing about his lady being his “beginning, middle, and end.” His falsetto reminds us of Tone Stith and of course, Usher. With JayDon being under the latter’s wing, we know he’s destined to soar.
Jenevieve – “Head Over Heels”
Jenevieve isn’t playing around. “Head Over Heels,” which samples Tom Browne’s “Charisma,” is a hypnotizing reflection about the high of falling for someone.
It’s a tender follow-up to “Haiku,” which we praised a refresher to R&B’s recurring, toxic nature.
Beano French – “Someone Like You”
The return of Beano French couldn’t have come at a better time. The Philly-bred crooner is back with his first single in four years and it’s a blaring summertime groove for real lovers.
“This is a good first page into this new chapter of me,” the crooner shared with VIBE. “This record embodies who I am as an artist. I’m fun. I love love and honestly, it just feels good to be back in the space that I’ve felt I didn’t belong in for a long time.”
If this is a solid indicator of how he’s carving out his lane, R&B is ready for him.
Tiffany Evans – “Hope You Understand”
Tiffany Evans is coming to collect her well-deserved flowers as she follows up her anthemic last single, “Would You” with the vulnerably, heartwarming “Hope You Understand.”
Of the endearing ballad, Evans shared, “This one’s from the heart. No filters, no masks.” Produced by Rodrickus Hill, the record showcases the singer’s goosebump-inducing vocal range and earnest emotions.
So far, she’s 2-for-2 when it comes to new music, so we know she won’t disappoint when it’s album time.
Psiryn – In The Key Of Us
Girl groups are so back! Budding trio, Psiryn, have finally released their debut EP, In The Key of Us.
Following the success of “Sober” and “The Softest,” the women are taking over the reigns of traditional R&B. From exploring intimacy to baring their emotions through storytelling, this is one project we can’t get enough of.
For Anaya Chayenne, Jada Denise and Victoria McQueen, In The Key of Us is “not just a debut, [but] a declaration.” The trio explained, “This body of work is for anyone learning how to love without losing themselves. It’s soft, it’s strong, and it’s honest. ‘In The Key of Us’ represents who we are, individually and together.”
Elijah Blake – “Work It Out”
Elijah Blake‘s new offering, “Work It Out,” is a groovy blend of R&B and funk.
It oozes sunshine and summertime as Blake invites listeners to dance and celebrate the bright side.
“This summer I feel like dancin’ so tonight my hope is that my new song ‘Work it Out’ makes all you lovers out there feel the same,” the crooner noted on Instagram. “I wrote this song while I was making my last album & now in hindsight I find it so interesting how one can feel 2 polarizing emotions all at the same time. In true Gemini fashion… There’s heartbreak & then there’s the joy of coming out of it even better.”
His next album is set to “create an atmosphere of joy and resilience.”
KIRBY – “That Man”
KIRBY proves she’s the epitome of Southern Soul as she returns with “That Man,” the lead single off her forthcoming album.
Dubbed as a “soul-stirring tribute to the unsung heroes, workers and dreamers,” the chilling release is one that’s near to her heart.
“‘The Man’ is a song dedicated to my father,” said KIRBY. “At 71 years old, I don’t know a more hardworking man, but his latter years have taught me that the American Dream is not earned by the hours you put in. And that in today’s time, an old man’s social security can make him feel many things, but rarely financially secure […] The rat race is rigged, and on those days when it all gets to be too much, I point the finger at the proverbial Uncle Sam, and mumble under my breath, ‘I can’t stand THE MAN!’”
This next musical chapter will unapologetically honor her Mississippi roots as well as those who broke barriers in order for her to thrive today.
Gracie’s Corner feat. Charlie Wilson – “Have A Good Time”
Who said R&B couldn’t be family-friendly? Gracie’s Corner has partnered with Charlie Wilson for the fun single, “Have A Good Time.”
“Working with Charlie Wilson on ‘Have A Good Time‘ has been an absolute dream. His energy and passion for music are contagious, and he brings such a joyful spirit to everything he does. This song is all about celebrating movement, fun, and togetherness—something Uncle Charlie embodies effortlessly. Seeing Gracie and Charlie share the mic is a special moment for families everywhere, and we can’t wait for kids to dance along!,” said series creator, Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth.
It’s vibrant nod to children’s classic, “Simon Says,” with Wilson’s signature twang.
Larrenwong – “Coast To Coast”
Larrenwong has released the music video for his sultry single, “Coast To Coast,” off his latest EP, 4th & Long.
Directed by Sean Regner, the video centers around the crooner during a night on the town. As they get consumed by moonlight and lust, he promises to have more than just a goof time by offering a “connection without boundaries.” Both the record and visual are perfect for romantic summer nights and slow-burn relationships.
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