Kehlani, Brandy, Monica, And More New R&B For The After Hours
This week in R&B has got us tempted by the danger and ready to crash, but we promise to proceed with caution. Kehlani‘s new album is for her day-one fans, for the LGBTQIA+ community, and if it isn’t for you, it’s definitely for us. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande gave her mocha grandes the best gift—a reimagined version of Brandy and Monica‘s “The Boy Is Mine.”
The 80s—James Fauntleroy and No ID—made something old new again as they remastered the classic debut. Pink Sweat$ is still writing songs that make you want to be in love as HENNESSY, TA Thomas, Akia, and Benji. are getting vulnerable. Strikly Bidness brought the soul of the ’70s to 2024 while Gallant, THEY., and Jaden all return from their respective hiatuses. Rounding this week’s selects that are a thrilling combination of love, lust, and a funky good time, we have Tyra + Tiara with their debut album and Maeta‘s highly-anticipated EP, executively produced by Kaytranada.
VIBE‘s top new R&B picks will make you ride this endorphin-driven high. Enjoy.
Kehlani – CRASH
Kehlani’s self-proclaimed favorite album is here. She goes from being a sweet, sexy savage to now being fun, free, and fired up as she fights to find love in a world that was good until it wasn’t.
With features from Jill Scott, Young Miko, and Omah Lay, CRASH is the “ever so imperative present.”
They noted that it was birthed from “pure joy, passion, and hunger” and is an amalgamation of varying sounds, but it’s ultimately for the day-one fans. The You Should Be Here stans. Outside of the hit summertime anthem, “After Hours,” we’re obsessed with the bold declaration “8,” the seductive “Sucia,” the nostalgic “Crash,” and the vulnerable “Lose My Wife.”
CRASH is Baelani’s first full-length release since 2022’s blue water road.
Ariana Grande feat. Brandy and Monica – “the boy is mine (Remix)”
After shocking the world with a cameo in Ariana Grande’s “the boy is mine” music video, Brandy and Monica joined the Wicked actress for the remix.
Complete with hypnotizing harmonies and soul-stirring riffs/runs, the collaboration is one of epic proportions. Even though Monica herself said that the original record should never be remade but Grande’s version was magical enough to make her change her mind.
“As soon as I heard this version, I fell in love with it,” Monica told Entertainment Tonight. She also shared that reuniting with the Vocal Bible also helped them mend their relationship and has opened the door for more collaborations from them in the future.
Will the reimagining live up to the Grammy-winning 1998 classic, which is regarded as the best-selling female duet of all time? Only time will tell.
Pink Sweat$ – “Bloom”
Pink Sweat$ is once again singing about love in its purest form. With his new single, “Bloom,” the crooner details a love story that isn’t comparable to anything he’s previously experienced.
“Heard someone say the world is done/ But with you I feel it’s just begun/ I’m living, living finally,” he sings in the chorus. When first teasing “Bloom” earlier this month on Instagram, he shared that he’s “making music that makes me smile.”
With the potentiality of summer romance, this perfectly soundtracks those early butterflies as you’re falling for that special person.
THEY. – “Diamonds And Pearls”
R&B duo THEY. — comprised of songwriter Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — return with their new single, “Diamonds And Pearls.” As they offer fans a preview of what’s been happening since 2023’s Nü Moon, the new single is groovy and mesmerizing.
Of the record, the pair explained, “This is our first release since our last album and I feel like it sets the tone for what’s to come from THEY. We started teasing a snippet of the hook last year and it got a great response from our fans, we hadn’t even written the verse yet. Excited to be finally releasing the full version.”
Alt-R&B lovers, buckle up! THEY. is back and better than ever.
The 80s (James Fauntleroy and No ID) – The Pursuit
The 80s’ cult classic debut is finally available to stream. After James Fauntleroy and No ID first joined forces in 2011, the pair have shared today that “sometimes to go forward, you have to go back” and this is step one in that pursuit.
This is the project that earned them a cult-like following, but this time, they’ve added a new feature with Snoh Aalegra on the moody, soulful “Blue.”
The pair said in a statement, “The recognition and appreciation for ‘The Pursuit’ and its succeeding EPs exceeded far beyond what they had imagined. Now, The 80s want to share newly mastered and revamped versions for both their earliest fans and for the masses and the mainstream listener to enjoy.”
Maeta – Endless Night
Just two weeks after Kaytranada dropped his long-awaited new album, Maeta reveals her new EP, Endless Night, solely produced by the eclectic visionary.
Despite having worked together in the past, this is the first time Maeta and Kaytra parterned up for a feature-length project. This sound completely deviates from her usual sensual, heart-wrenching ballads and she loves that.
“I just want everyone to have fun, dance and be free this summer!,” Maeta gushed in a statement. After the impact of 2023’s When I Hear Your Name, this is a welcomed pivot from the budding star.
TA Thomas – “Risky”
TA Thomas is reminding the masses that real vocalists still exist, as heard on his new musical offering, “Risky.” The track is emotionally raw as he convinces listeners to still pursue love in spite of being hurt in the past. He recognizes the beauty in one’s wounded heart and how everyone can relate to that pain, but love is always worth the risk.
This is a taste of what TA has up his sleeve since dropping his debut EP, Caught Between 2 Worlds.
Jaden – “Roses”
Jaden has ended his four-year music hiatus, not long after his sister WILLOW, with his emotive new track, “Roses.” The song puts the spotlight on young love and healing, but he describes the record as “a Therapy Session set to the key of Bb Major and at the tempo of 165 Bpm.” Though “Roses” is slow and practically meditative in nature, he teases that brighter singles are on the horizon.
HENNESSY – “Jumbotron”
HENNESSY is putting on for the lover girls everywhere. As she details a surprising connection with a new man, she boasts about the things that may make them compatible. However, she also isn’t afraid to explain how some may be envious of her new romance because who doesn’t crave having their better half? She puts all of the feels and more on the jumbotron of life to properly analyze the musings.
Benji. – “Radio”
This release caught us off guard in the best ways. As our formal introduction to Benji., we may be late to the party, but we’re happy to have arrived.
The Pittsburgh native puts this interesting spin on soul music, but it works.
With “Radio,” he brings back yearning, but think if Luther Vandross and Musiq Soulchild were one. It’s the lead single from his new album, Love Gun II, set for release on July 19. Described as a “reckoning with a more accountable version of manhood as he searches for love,” the new LP is full of main character energy from a lover’s perspective minus the arrogance and lack of self-awareness.
Tyra + Tiara – Don’t Forget Your Keys
Tyra + Tiara‘s debut album, Don’t Forget Your Keys, fused their worlds of R&B and tech to create a soundtrack for science and soul.
As Black women in STEM who also sing, they wanted to remain true to their multi-layered core.
“We wanted to create an album that speaks to our dual passions and shows that you don’t have to choose between science and art,” Tyra shared. Tiara added, “Our goal is to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how diverse they may be.”
Standouts include “SILENT KILLA,” “SO FAR,” “PLEASE GO,” “ALWAYS,” and “HIS SITUATION.”
Gallant – “Coldstar.”
Gallant makes a valiant return to music with his enthralling single, “Coldstar.” As he sings about longing and escapism within memories, the crooner reminds people why they fell for him in the first place.
The record is experimental but familiar. It marks his first proper solo release since 2021’s “Relapse.”
On making “Coldstar.” with Canadian record producer and songwriter Stint, Gallant noted, “It was a gloomy day in April, and I kept thinking about when I used to feel down a lot, how I would wrestle with this persistent feeling of ‘wanting to go home when I’m already there’.”
After listening to an array of video game soundtracks from 1999, he took those elements, blended in some jazz, and formulated this enchanting dreamscape about wanting to flee and find solace within a core memory.
Akia – “Soft Girl Era”
We may have hot girl summers, but it’s a soft girl era all year round. Akia captures this essence flawlessly on her new single, “Soft Girl Era.”
It’s not just a song, but an anthem dedicated to femininity and open hearts. With her compelling vocals, she encourages women to embrace their softness and the duality of womanhood.
This is the first of many offerings from the newly-signed Since The 80s singer.
Strikly Bidness – “Baby”
Strikly Bidness first hit the scene in February with their debut single, “Get It Up.”
It was a feel-good, funky jam that brought the essence of the ’70s to the present day. Now, the band is back with “Baby.” It instantly makes you want to sway your hips and catch a groove.
It’s a different vibe from their debut, but in the best way because it highlights their range. “You know this love ain’t free/ I put that on me/ I put that on this VSOP,” lead vocalist CAMP sings.
They may be tempted by the danger, but we’re enticed by what’s to come.