Algee Smith, Zyah Belle, Liamani And More New R&B For Lost Lovers Seeking Clarity

This week in R&B is all about lovers seeking clarity.

These new offerings are also methods of showcasing vulnerability as a superpower. With drops from Algee Smith, Zyah Belle, Liamani, JKing, The Amours, Yola, Genia, and more, we can’t get enough of what these artists are bringing to R&B’s front lawn.

Check out VIBE’s top new R&B picks below.

Algee Smith – Love Lost

Algee Smith may be best known for his acting prowess, but he’s about to become your favorite singer’s favorite singer with the arrival of his new EP, Love Lost.

Whether he’s reimagining Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” on “Spiraling,” gaining clarity as heard on “The Way It Goes,” or transporting you to the heart of Atlanta on “Magic City,” the project is fun, vulnerable, daring, and earnest.

“This EP is very personal for me. It represents growth, heartbreak, accountability, and vulnerability. The timing couldn’t be better. I’ve matured a lot as an artist, and this project displays that,” said Smith about his new music offering. We urge you to hear him out… literally.

Zyah Belle feat. Dende – “Automatic”

Zyah Belle’s “Automatic” is sultry and confident. Described as a “no-nonsense anthem about love,” the record is utterly captivating and passionate.

“’Automatic’ is for anyone who’s ever been caught in the push-and-pull of a lovers’ quarrel,” she explained in a statement. “We all love a little chase, but nobody wants to feel like they’re begging for love. This song is about chemistry—the kind that flows effortlessly, without games. When I wrote this, I was thinking about the moments when you realize that love isn’t supposed to feel like you’re pulling teeth. It’s supposed to feel… automatic.”

This single is a taste of what fans can expect on her upcoming EP, set to drop later this year.

Liamani – “True Love”

If Mariah Carey paved the way for Ariana Grande, then they both laid the foundation for Liamani. At just 16, the budding triple threat returns with her new single, “True Love,” following releases “Hanging By A Thread” and “Sunkissed.”

On the hypnotizing, angelic record, the young powerhouse sings about a fading relationship and what it really means to have true love. This ballad will appear on her forthcoming EP, Dear Little Me out August 15.

The Amours – “Clarity”

The Amours embody what R&B has been missing. Their single, “Clarity,” is an emotionally-charged anthem about prioritizing one’s self in a relationship. Produced by Camper, the record is soul-stirring and heartfelt.

“‘Clarity’ is for the true yearners. As you all know, we’re lover girls for real! And we can attest that all we truly want is for the love that our hearts desire to be as clear as possible. Especially, when you know your worth and you don’t want to waste your time carrying avoidable emotional damage,” said The Amours. “Cheers to accepting nothing less than Clarity in your relationships and putting yourself first!

Their new music chapter will conclude with the arrival of their new album, Girls Will Be Girls, out on August 15.

Yola – “Amazing”

Yola may be genre-fluid, but this music is helping to define her as a powrful vocalist and musical storyteller.

With “Amazing,” she boasts about manifesting a great relationship after several dating nightmares and it’s done to a funky melody. We simply can’t get enough.

“’Amazing’ was written as I began dating in the US and imagining my future partner. I was visualizing the kind of person I’d meet and the strength we’d need to make it a healthy and happy relationship. ‘Amazing’ is a wish in a song that came true, so I’m putting it out for everyone else to see that manifestation works!,” Yola shared.

Genia feat. Timbaland – “Toastyy”

Genia’s “Toastyy” features Timbaland and his signature sound — namely from Aaliyah’s “Try Again— which continues to carry R&B into the future. Produced by Jonas Jeberg, Genia pulls listeners into her flirty embrace as she sings, “Baby, won’t you come and make a move?” 

When speaking on the track’s inception, Genia noted, “‘Toastyyy’ came out of a particular headspace. It wasn’t overthought, it just kind of arrived. It was chasing a feeling, and somehow it all locked into place. It’s warm, a little warped, and lives unapologetically in its own lane.”

JKing feat. Zae France – “Like That”

After a “deeply personal” two-year hiatus, JKing returns with Zae France for his sultry new drop, “Like That.”

Described as “the kind of late-night R&B that doesn’t ask for permission,” the Mark Ivy-produced single is a sensual comeback. “This song is for anybody who ever had to rebuild from scratch: emotionally, physically, musically,” JKing shared. “But also for anyone who’s in their I-know-you-want-it-like-that era.”

With a drop like this, we praise this return and can’t wait for more.