Let's stop asking about the state of R&B [1]. In case you haven't noticed, the genre has been in great hands for quite some time. But some music-lovers just haven't been looking hard enough for the sounds they've been begging new artists for. The new school of R&B have taken a page out of their predecessors' books but also added their own spin on a genre that's been nurtured for years and years.
Whether they're crooning over smooth instrumentals or adopting the contemporary fusion of melodic trap, there's no doubt that today's class of vocalists are carrying the torch for R&B. Household names like SZA [2], H.E.R. [3], and Summer Walker [4] have the game on lock whenever they drop, but there are plenty more veterans — and a handful of newcomers — who are taking their rightful places at the forefront of R&B. Ahead, check out every artist who should be in your playlist rotation this year.
SZA
I've been waiting years for SZA to follow up her 2017 phenomenon, Ctrl, but the silver lining for us impatient fans has been the loose tracks she's been so generously releasing lately. Last summer, she surprised us when she dropped three songs via an anonymous SoundCloud link. And since then, she's released "I Hate U" [6] as an official single, so the hope is that an album — or at least an EP — is on the horizon. She debuted the visual for "I Hate U" as "part one" [7] to whatever she has in store for the future, so I'm safely betting that new music is, indeed, on the way.
H.E.R.
H.E.R. has consistently been at the forefront of R&B since she released volume one of her self-titled EP in 2016, and she hasn't slowed down since. Between her four Grammy wins [8] — all of which happened before her debut album — and eight pending nominations [9] for this year's ceremony, H.E.R. can be considered one of the hardest-working artists of her generation. I mean, she's already manifesting EGOT status [10] and halfway toward her goal. So at this point, the real question is: what can't H.E.R. do?
Lucky Daye
Lucky Daye already has big plans set up for 2022. The New Orleans native dropped his newest single, "Candy Drip," at the top of December and teased his forthcoming sophomore album of the same name, set to arrive in the spring. The Grammy-nominated singer teased some of the album's heavy-hitter features to Vibe [11] magazine — which include Lil Durk, Smino, and Alicia Keys [12] — so I have no doubts that the project will be another hit added to his catalogueue. He's also scheduled to hit the road for his 26-city Candy Drip tour alongside Joyce Wrice beginning in March.
Ari Lennox
Fans have been feening for a new album from Ari Lennox [13] since the release of her dynamic debut, Shea Butter Baby. And while listeners still await a future date for her sophomore album, she's been holding us over with her features and new single, "Pressure." Lennox's new song marks the first time one of her solo entries has hit the Billboard Hot 100 [14], so clearly the demand for her sound is there. Now, fans are just crossing their fingers that she lets some more new music out of the vault soon.
Summer Walker
Summer Walker [15]'s music knows just how to get us all in our feelings, but I never turn down the chance to hear her sultry voice. She released arguably one of the best R&B albums last year when she dropped Still Over It [16], which marked the first time a woman R&B artist had topped the Billboard 200 [17] in over five years. The numbers are definitely on Walker's side, and so are her loyal fans.
Brent Faiyaz
It's been two years since Brent Faiyaz dropped a full-length project, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. Since he released his F*ck the World EP, he's collaborated with folks like Drake [18], Tyler, the Creator [19], Baby Keem [20], and Tems. He closed out 2021 with his new single, "Mercedes," and now fans are buzzing about the possibility of more new music.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan [21] has had the most impressive resurgence in music that I've seen in a long time. The explosive release of her Heaux Tales EP turned it into one of the most talked-about projects of 2021 and even earned the Philly songstress three Grammy nominations. She's the people's champ when it comes to R&B, and a lot of fans are rooting for her to finally get her flowers at the Grammys. Between her timeless records and captivating performances, Sullivan has just the kind of flair that R&B needs to truly thrive.
Normani
Normani [22] is someone people have been rooting for ever since she broke out as a solo artist in 2019. Her first single, "Motivation," [23] had a moment of its own, but Normani didn't pick up on the momentum of the song until two years later when she dropped "Wild Side" [24] with Cardi B [25]. Still with all the buzz, she has yet to release her debut album, but apparently she's sitting on two to three projects' worth [26] of music. The singer told WPGC 95.5 FM that the delay on their releases is due to "insecurities" and being "very critical" of herself. Hopefully, Normani shakes her nerves this year so the world can hear what else she can do as an artist.
Giveon
Giveon [27] is more than the talented vocalist who landed a major Drake feature [28] — his incredible run in 2021 proved that. The one question on everyone's mind after hearing him on Drake's "Chicago Freestyle" was, "Who is Giveon?" Well, the singer told us when he dropped his debut EP, Take Time, in 2020. After getting his big break, it's been all gas for the soulful crooner. His other big collaboration happened last year when he worked with Justin Bieber and Daniel Caesar on "Peaches." Now, after he dropped his latest single, "For Tonight," everyone is wondering what the Grammy-nominated singer's next move will be.
Cleo Sol
Fans fell in love with Cleo Sol's sound in 2020 when she dropped her debut album, Rose in the Dark. And somehow she found a way to top that project with 2021's Mother — her deeply personal album that, like the title suggests, explores the many things she's experienced as a mother. Sol's knack for making beautiful, timeless records is her true talent, and her ability to capture an array of emotions in her songs is what draws her listeners in.
Khalid
By now, Khalid [29] is for sure a household name in music. Ever since American Teen dropped in 2017, he's been on everyone's radar, and almost every year since then, he's managed to drop a new project. His latest, Scenic Drive [30], is a great listen for all the hopeless romantics out there looking for a smooth project to add to their music library. He's a fan favourite among his listeners as well as his peers/collaborators — which include Alicia Keys [31], 6lack, Ty Dolla $ign, Ed Sheeran [32], and more.
Tems
Tems is a name on everyone's lips now after her featured vocals on WizKid's summer anthem "Essence" [33] blew up. With cosigns from superstars like Drake and Rihanna [34], the Nigerian singer has the world's attention — but she's just getting started. On the heels of her newfound success [35], she announced her US tour; dropped her sophomore project, If Orange Was a Place; and scored a major-label deal. Needless to say, Tems has been booked and busy, and I hope it stays that way for a very long time.
6lack
6lack is an R&B artist who defies the traditional rules of the genre. Yes, he has the singing voice of an R&B star, but his style has a hip-hop core — per his 2018 song "Scripture." The Grammy-nominated artist offers a realist lens in his music, as opposed to always singing about his latest infatuation, which makes him stand out from the rest. He hasn't dropped an album since 2018's East Atlanta Love Letter, but his newest loose singles like "Rent Free" and "By Any Means" have kept fans occupied in the meantime.
Snoh Aalegra
Snoh Aalegra has been releasing music since 2016, but she rose to prominence after she released her 2019 album, Ugh, Those Feels Again. Since then, her music has personally had me in a chokehold, and I can't help but regularly loop her projects over and over again. Last year, she dropped Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, and once again, her fans couldn't stop swooning over her music. Her sound is for the lovesick listeners who enjoy drowning in the depths of slow R&B.
Tone Stith
The first time I ever heard Tone Stith sing was at a H.E.R. concert in Philadelphia back in college. And I swear, he has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard in my life — he quite literally caught me off guard. Ever since then, his songs have held a special place on my R&B playlists — particularly his feature on H.E.R.'s "Could've Been (Remix)," in case you're curious. Between his newer short projects FWM and Still FWM, it's very hard not to play them at least three times in a row.
Kirby
If I had to sum up what Kirby's music sounds like, I'd say it's that comforting hug you need from your homegirl every now and then to get yourself back in check. I very much relate to the Mississippi native's songs — down to her album titles, Sis. and Sis. He Wasn't the One. I've been enjoying her soulful tracks ever since I stumbled across "Apple" in 2020, and I haven't looked back since. So if you haven't already, please do yourself a favour and check out Kirby's music ASAP.
Victoria Monét
Starting out as a hit-making songwriter, Victoria Monét [36] has lent her pen to write songs for some of today's biggest stars — including Ariana Grande [37], Chloe X Halle [38], Brandy [39], and others. But more recently, she's been moving into the spotlight as a solo artist, and her fans are welcoming the transition with open arms. Her 2018 EPs, Live After Love, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, were well-received bodies of work, but her Jaguar EP is the real standout. If there's one thing Monét knows how to do, it's capture the moment.
Muni Long
For years, Muni Long — formerly known as Priscilla Renea — penned hit songs for some of our favourite artists (including Rihanna [40], Ariana Grande [41], Mariah Carey [42]) as one of the music industry's go-to songwriters. But now she's having her own major moment after scoring her TikTok smash [43], "Hrs and Hrs," that's steadily climbing up the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If this sultry ballad isn't enough to convince you of her star power as a singer, allow us to direct you to her new eight-song project titled Public Displays of Affection — you're welcome.
Capella Grey
There's no other artist out there who reps their city as hard as Capella Grey does. The Bronx-bred, self-proclaimed "new kid on the block" earned his first RIAA gold-certified single, [44] "Gyalis," thanks to his home state [45] right in the middle of the pandemic — which coincidentally gave him the perfect opportunity to jump-start his career. The minute his infectious song got a hold of radio, it quickly spread out far and wide across the country, and now he's becoming a hot commodity among his peers. He released his second single, "Talk Nice," at the end of 2021, so I'm hoping his album is the next thing to hit streaming.
VanJess
Sister-singer duo Ivana and Jess, aka VanJess, are a pair who are representing contemporary R&B quite well. They released their debut album, Silk Canvas, in 2018 and have been keeping the momentum going with their Homegrown (Deluxe) album that arrived in September. They've collaborated with many of their R&B peers — including Goldlink, Masego, Kaytranada, and Lucky Daye — and proven to be a force with a stacked catalogue to back it up. At their core, the two singers are all about R&B, growing up on artists like Mariah Carey [46], TLC, and Aaliyah [47]. But their sound is out of this world, and I personally can't get enough of it.
Nnena
Cleveland rapper, singer, and songwriter Nnena has been making music for roughly five years now, but her breakout moment came from a placement on Insecure's season five premiere [48] with her song "Fun." After that spotlight, her career kicked into full gear, making her late-night TV debut on The Late Late Show With James Corden in January. She ended 2021 with the release of a new four-song EP titled Just Cause, and I have a feeling this is only the beginning for her.
Mahalia
Mahalia is a rising star in R&B, but she doesn't subscribe to the traditional sound — which is one of the things I love about her. The Grammy-nominated Jamaican British artist draws inspiration from icons like Jill Scott and Lauryn Hill [49], but her music has a personal touch only she can create. Between using throwback samples and adding hints of pop to her music, Mahalia's sound is really one of a kind. Some of her standout songs are "What You Did" featuring Ella Mai, "Jealous" featuring Rico Nasty, and "Roadside," just to name a few.