Elmiene, Elle Varner, Khalid, And More New R&B Straight Outta Heaven

This week in R&B is emotional, angelic, and soul-stirring—at least the majority of our picks are.

With new offerings from Elmiene, Elle Varner, Khalid, Ego Ella May, Queen Naija, emawk, Marques Houston, Journey Montana, and Jessie Reyez, there’s so much good music that will help you navigate your complex emotions and varied moods. Whether they’re honoring their family, being a hopeless romantic, or giving Black women their flowers, these new tunes will get you right.

Check out VIBE’s top new picks below.

Elmiene – For The Deported

Elmiene is one of the greatest R&B acts of this generation. His new EP, For The Deported, is a tribute to his Sudanese heritage. After being separated from his extended family for seven years, he finally reunited with them earlier this year, and his conversations with them inspired this heartfelt project.

“Sudan is the reason I feel like I am as musical as I am and why I am so inclined to poetry. Sudan is a country with a lot of history, tragedy, emotions, and feelings. It has a really deep cultural history. Sudan is the reason I’m here right now,” Elmiene explained when sharing the backstory of his EP. “There’s a lot of deporting going on in our world. Whether it is Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, or any other country, it is a real thing. I haven’t made a real comment or notion on it yet, and it just felt like a duty to my blood and role as an artist to make a statement. It all just feels right. If not now, then when?”

It’s heartbreaking, honest, and a full-circle moment for the crooner.

Khalid – Sincere (Deluxe)

Controversy aside, Khalid is powering on with the arrival of Sincere (Deluxe). Following the August release of his third album, the extended edition features six new tracks, including collaborations with Normani, Ayra Starr, and Chlöe. 

“My favorite part about the deluxe is showcasing the talented black women that I have as my collaborators that kill the game time and time again. This is me giving them their flowers,” he said in a statement.

“Personal” with Normani is a sexy record that makes you want to slow grind. “So what’s up with you?/ Can I pull up on you?/ Keep you company/ When I’m all up in there, don’t you run from me,” Khalid sings on the pre-chorus. “Make It Up To You” with Ayra Starr is more sensual as he pleads to give someone his all and be the best lover he can be. “MIA” with Chlöe is a combination of the two with a bit more bass, where they ponder why their lover is “missin’ in action.”

If you slept on the initial drop, now’s a good chance to catch up.

Elle Varner – “Fallin Up”

Elle Varner is back! After releasing her first single in five years in May, she’s returned with her next drop. “Fallin Up” is an endearing tune about how deeply an unexpected love can change one’s life.

Per Rated R&B, Varner explained, “‘Fallin Up’ was inspired by an extraordinary love that unexpectedly knocked on my door. The romance was really romancing, and all through it, I somehow managed to feel extremely grounded yet lifted at the same time. So I did what I always do and poured my emotions onto the page, capturing the essence of that love in words and melody. It’s a reflection of a heart open and unguarded, embracing the magic of something truly special — real love.”

We’re excited to hear more from this gem as she embarks on this indie journey.

Ego Ella May – FIELDNOTES: COMPLETE

Ego Ella May’s FIELDNOTES era has come to an end with the release of its final installment. I features her new single, “Winter Sun,” and the bonus track, “Miss U.”

The songbird noted that the focus track, “Winter Sun,” is about “how you feel when the sun finally comes out after days of grey, dull skies during the season. It’s about the warmth kissing your face and how everything seems okay once the sun comes out—it’s the little things.”

She also confirmed that her sophomore album is coming next year.

Journey Montana feat. Eli Derby – “YOU (Remix)”

Journey Montana linked up with Eli Derby for her long-awaited remix to “YOU.” Derby’s addition brings a welcomed male perspective to the sultry tune.

“You found me, I was alone/ Found me, gave me a home/ Saved me, you gave me hope/ I love you,” Journey sings in the chorus. Derby chimes in, “The sky could be fallin/ The world could go to flames/ But none of that matters/ Cause you’re the one I wanna spend my last days with.”

It’s sweet, heartwarming, and a taste of what Journey’s cooking up for 2025.

Jessie Reyez – “Merry Nothin”

Jessie Reyez is sticking her middle finger up to the holiday season with the official release of her single, “Merry Nothin.” First released as a one-off in 2022, the single is the opposite of what “All I Want For Christmas Is You” evokes.

“Merry Christmas, merry nothin’/ This December sucks/ I’m alone under a mistletoe while you’re f**kin’ a slut somewhere/ Santa Claus ain’t real/ He’s fake just like most people,” Reyez sings in the chorus.

She doubles down on her jaded sentiment in the second verse as she sings, “I can’t walk into a mall/ ‘Cause this holiday music makes me want to die/ Every time I see a snowman, it’s mood/ ‘Cause that’s really how I feel inside.” Overall, the record is quite hilarious and relatable for those Grinches out there whose hearts have shrunk due to a bad breakup or something similar.

Marques Houston – The Best Worst Year Ever (Deluxe)

Marques Houston released his latest album, The Best Worst Year Ever, back in August and has just dropped the deluxe edition.

“Giving y’all all of me,” Houston said of the surprise drop, which is accompanied by the second part of his docuseries. The deluxe LP features four new songs: “Rumors,” “Toxic Love Triangle,” “DM Her,” and “Celebrate You.”

Out of the new additions, our favorite has to be “DM Her.” It’s so fitting for today’s dating landscape.

Queen Naija – “Straight Outta Heaven”

Queen Naija released a new ballad, “Straight Outta Heaven,” which details her heartfelt journey of motherhood and is dedicated to her children. She stated that this new record is a sequel to 2018’s “Mama’s Hand” and written for her firstborn son.

“When I became pregnant with my [second son], I worried how I would be able to split my love in half, which is something I know many mothers can identify with. That feeling lead me to creating ‘Straight Outta Heaven.’ There are no instructions that come with how to do this #momlife, but all of us are just trying our best,” Queen Naija shared.

“Straight Outta Heaven” is another loosey that followed “Missing You” and “Good Girls Finish Last.”

emawk – A YEAR

We came across emawk through the release of his second album, A YEAR, and what a gift this was.

Written and produced entirely by him, A YEAR is described as a “range of sounds and stories,” but it feels like a contemporary spin on neo-soul. It’s a chill vibe that you can play on repeat without growing tired of it.

Whether he’s singing about his pursuit as a hopeless romantic or drawing inspiration from other art, this album is his “concise exploration” into varying mediums over the span of a year. After giving this a few plays, we highly recommend diving into his entire discography.