r&b
The 15 Best R&B Songs of Spring 2020
From Chloe x Halle's evolution on 'Ungodly Hour' to Teyana Taylor's 90s-inspired 'The Album,' R&B has kept us grounded amid chaos.
The Music Industry Fails Black People Every Day
Black Lives Matter is exposing a flawed industry predicated on the abuse of Black talent at the hands of white executives, publicists, and newsrooms.
DVSN's 'Dangerous City' Makes Being at Home Feel Like a Basement Party
The collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign and Buju Banton is a body roll-inducing ode to staying indoors, which feels spot-on during a pandemic.
18 R&B Songs That Make Up for This Unbearable Year
Thankfully, singers like Jhené Aiko, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Kehlani provided an escape for us this winter.
I Tried a Sound Bath, the Latest Obsession of R&B Singers Like Jhené Aiko
SZA and Aiko say sound bowls are a secret weapon for healing—so I tried sound meditation to see whether it brings peace of mind.
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.