Mary J. Blige, Jordin Sparks, Tinashe, And More New R&B For Weekend Drives
Remember the time when we looked forward to weekend drives as passengers? Before we became adults and weekend drives turned into daunting bouts of sitting in traffic? Allow these new R&B releases to free you from those inhibitions and fall back in love with long drives after surviving the work week.
From Mary J. Blige, Jordin Sparks, Tinashe, and Jabari Banks to Coco Jones, Wé Ani, Kyle Dion, WanMor, and more, this week in R&B is about consuming the last bits of escapism as summer begins to flee. Buckle it up, grab the aux, and press play on VIBE’s top new R&B selects of the week.
Mary J. Blige feat. Fabolous – “Breathing”
Mary J. Blige teams up with Fabolous yet again for her new single, “Breathing,” amid retirement rumors. Produced by Shaun “S Dot” Thomas, MJB sampled The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Kick In The Door” and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You,” inspired by Nina Simone‘s “I Put A Spell On You.” “Breathing” is classic Mary with a bit more of a Hip-Hop feel with Fab kicking the song off. It’s the second single following the release of Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous.
Jordin Sparks – “Remember”
Jordin Sparks’ R&B resurgence is a joy to witness. Following the release of “Call My Name,” the American Idol winner returns with “Remember,” which samples Michael Jackson’s “Remember The Time.” It’s an upbeat jam that reminisces on the fun of falling in love and immediately gives you flashbacks to her underrated 2015 LP, Right Here Right Now. Sparks teased on Instagram, “There is SO much more on the way…this is only the beginning!” This is the second single from her new album, No Restrictions, out on Sept. 13.
Tinashe – Quantum Baby
Part two of Tinashe’s trilogy, Quantum Baby, is here. Complete with singles “Getting No Sleep” and the contested song of the summer, “Nasty,” it’s a quick eight-track album that immediately lures you in with the hypnotizing “No Simulation.” Yet, there’s the seductive “Thirsty,” the vulnerably relatable anthem, “Red Flags,” and what we feel should be a radio hit, “No Broke Boys” that continue to keep your attention. Part three of the trilogy, which began with 2023’s BB/ANG3L, has yet to be announced.
Coco Jones – “Sweep It Up”
Coco Jones has fans even more ready for her debut album with the help of her newest single, “Sweep It Up.”
Co-written by Leon Thomas and produced by London On Da Track, Ray Keys, Jeremy “J Dot” Jones, and Cash Money AP, the infectious record serves as a “warning” for those playing games when it comes to dating. Jones is doubling down on the demand to let actions speak louder than one’s words. She’s telling potential lovers that if you can’t get it together, someone else will come and “sweep it up.”
“I am so excited to give the world an uptempo R&B bop,” Coco shared in a statement about her new song. “I’ve been waiting on this for awhile.”
Wé Ani – “Hardwood”
Rising star Wé Ani —pronounced Way Ah-nee —is teasing her new EP, Harlem Girl in a Perfect World with her funky new single, “Hardwood.”
“I was staring at the floor in the studio and thought to myself ‘Wow, most dance floors are made of wood and make the best sound when people are moving,” Wé explained in a statement about the jazz-fused record. “We ran with the idea of feeling the ground beneath your feet and being one with the people around you. There’s something electric that happens at a fantastic party, whether it’s with friends, family or strangers. This song feels like a time-lapse of a really great party.”
Before becoming a viral sensation on TikTok, Wé became a household name after appearing on American Idol, The Voice, and winning Amateur Night at The Apollo.
Kyle Dion – “cum again?”
Kyle Dion oozes sex appeal and we can’t get enough. Described by the crooner as “the anthem of unforgettable sexy summer escapades,” his single “cum again?” allows Dion to embody being the master of gratification in the bedroom.
“This song embodies everything that I stand for – sex, love, fun,” he explained. “It’s a meaningful record to me as it gives a more mature sound as compared to my previous records, while still embodying that playful and cheeky energy. ‘cum again?’ and my recent single ‘BRB’ feel like a good introduction to the new world of music that I’m building right now, where I’m playing with vocal effects and left-of-center production while still keeping to my roots in R&B.”
Kyle debuted “cum again?” at Lollapalooza earlier this month in partnership with ONE Condoms.
WanMor – “The One”
WanMor is continuing their reign of reimagining ’90s classics with their flip on SWV’s “You’re The One.” Produced by Hitmaka, Tariq Beats, and Paul Cabbin, their track “The One” only interpolates part of the SWV hit. The thriving quartet adds their own flair and catchy chorus by singing, “I ain’t used to this, but girl you’re the one for me.”
Jabari Banks – “Weekend Drive”
Jabari Banks is having quite the week. The third season of Bel-Air is out, and he’s dropped a new single, “Weekend Drive.” As he delves into a sense of normalcy in relation to romantic relationships, he explores themes of alignment and art on his song.
“I hope that people feel my heart,” Banks tells VIBE while adding, “When people view my life, I want them to view it as art and the correlation between everything that’s ever happened to me. It’s all dialed in and dynamically aligned with the stars.”
Skylar Simone – SHIVER
Skylar Simone’s new EP, Shiver, is here. It’s flirty, enticing, and bold. With production from D’Mile, Scribz Riley, and Trackside, Skylar balances the exploration of one’s self as it relates to heartbreak and confidence. Singles aside, “Someone Who Cares” is heart-wrenching, “I Wish I Lied” is heartbreaking, and “Permission” is heartwarming.
Skylar confessed that creating Shiver “was both challenging yet so beyond rewarding,” noting, “I’ve grown in so many ways because of these songs, and I am forever grateful for the ups & downs that inspired me & led me to creating what this EP now is today. I really hope y’all love it & it lives up to the expectations.”
Juls & Masego – “Perspective”
Juls and Masego first expressed interest in working together back in 2016. Now, it’s finally happened. On “Perspective,” the men pay homage to bossa nova, jazz, and Brazilian funk through rhythmic, soulful messaging, and melody. When speaking on the collab, Juls shared on Instagram, “This record is an ode to appreciating multi cultural backgrounds through shared experiences of travelling the world. May you fall in love with this as much as I have.”
Isaia Huron – I’ll Finish The Lyrics Later
Isaia Huron’s new EP, I’ll Finish The Lyrics Later, is the epitome of wearing your heart on your sleeve—even if that wasn’t the initial intent. The singer-songwriter confessed that these songs were never supposed to be available for public consumption, but after quietly dropping them on Soundcloud, he realized that they actually resonated with music lovers.
“This project is about embracing the unfinished and the evolving nature of creating music,” he explained. “I’ll Finish the Lyrics Later captures the idea that sometimes music is a journey in progress, and it’s okay to leave some things unfinished as you find your way through.”
The EP toys with deciding when something is done and embracing the “perceived flaws” creating art. It’s a fun listen where you can lost in the cacophony of drafts and embrace the whole piece for what it is: a perfectly imperfect arrangement.
ASTN feat. Aáyanna – “Only For Your Eyes”
Budding songird Aáyanna has enlisted the help of singer ASTN for her new single, “Only For Your Eyes.” The two described the tune of as a “modern boy-meets-girl love ballad,” as their musical synergy comes together into an innocent song of endearment that details the gravity and complexity of love. This is Aáyanna’s first duet, but it’s clear she’s no beginner when it comes to this.