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These artists are making R&B fun again.
Courtesy of mega/gamma.; Jacq Justice; Sophie Jones
This week in R&B puts the fun back in the genre as well as the emotions it soundtracks. From love and heartbreak to introspection and exploration, artists and fans alike are ready to get their groove on while feeling all their feels.
Some acts including India Shawn, Amirah, Kaash Paige, BLK ODYSSY, and Khalid are bending the genre with new albeit familiar sounds while others like JayDon, Amber Mark, Josh Levi, Ebony Riley, Jordyn Simone, and Kent Jamz are cementing their blossoming legacies with riveting releases.
Check out VIBE’s top new R&B selections below.
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JayDon – ‘Me My Songs & I’
Image Credit: Courtesy of mega/gamma. Usher’s protégé, JayDon, is craving out his own lane in R&B and his debut EP, Me My Songs and I, is concrete proof of that.
As an 18-year-old triple threat, fans of the child star see him as a young man navigating the ebb and flow of love, heartbreak, growth, and self-discovery. Whether he’s pleading on “Lullaby,” confronting guilt on “Don’t Hate Me Now,” or searching for a fresh start on “Brand New,” JayDon is riffing into the heavens and bringing back that good ol’ R&B that earned his mentor his longevity. It’s clear he has the same goal.
There are no skips on this EP, so get ready to have this on repeat for the foreseeable future.
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India Shawn – “Gone”
Image Credit: Jacq Justice India Shawn, following the success of “Kill Switch” and “Cotton Candy Blvd,” is continuing to thrive in her new musical era with “Gone.”
Produced by D’Mile and John Kercy and written by Shawn, D’Mile, Bianca “Blush” Atterbery, and Jean Baptiste Kouame, the record is reminiscent of southern soul with a western spin on contemporary R&B.
When speaking on the record’s meaning, Shawn explained, “‘Gone’ isn’t just about someone leaving, it’s about what I gain in their absence. Peace. Clarity. Strength. This song is about being more than okay alone—it’s about finally feeling powerful in it.”
She noted that ‘Gone’ “is about releasing what doesn’t serve you—not in bitterness, but in clarity. It’s me learning that being alone isn’t lonely when you’re finally honest about what you deserve. I wrote it from that moment where you stop fighting to fix something that keeps breaking you, and instead, you choose yourself. Sonically, I wanted to break out of my own box with this song. D’Mile and I kept pushing until it felt bigger than just a pretty track—it had to feel like an anthem for finally walking away and not looking back.”
All three records are a different vibe from her last full project, BEFORE WE GO (DEEPER) and we can’t wait to see how it all comes together on her next album.
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Khalid – ‘after the sun goes down’
Image Credit: Courtesy of RCA After being outed on social media and reclaiming the power of his truth, Khalid returns with his freest album to date, after the sun goes down.
Khalid said in a statement, “This chapter is about taking my power back, living in my truth, and being able to express myself freely. I’m excited for my fans to experience this new era with me, not just musically, but personally.”
From the infectious “in plain sight” and enthralling “medicine” to the authoritative “please don’t call (333) and mesmerizing “momentary lovers,” the LP explores a new look from Khalid as it relates to love and freedom.
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Josh Levi – ‘HYDRAULIC’
Image Credit: Blair Caldwell From the moment we first heard Josh Levi, we’ve been hooked and through his debut album, HYDRAULIC, our obsession only skyrocketed.
With production from London On Da Track, MNEK, Poo Bear, Troy Taylor, Camper and more, Josh has set himself up to succeed in this saturated industry. Through pulsating melodies and lyrics that will live rent-free in your mind, this LP is a knockout for the crooner.
When speaking on his debut, Josh expressed, “Love, like hydraulics, is a system that lifts, dips, and demands care and maintenance. It reflects the ups and downs in life. Love can also be seen as a finely tuned system of emotions, like a hydraulic car. It soars in moments of joy and dips in the lows, but it takes constant effort to maintain. Similar to a mechanic, I continue to keep myself functional even when the system – my heart/mind – breaks down so that I can always keep moving.”
Standout tracks include “DON’T GO” —which is his spin on the Destiny’s Child classic, “No, No, No”—, the reflective “CARE 4 ME,” the declarative “THE ROOM,” and the definitive “RNB.”
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Amber Mark – ‘Pretty Idea’
Image Credit: Wendy Ngala Amber Mark‘s sophomore album, Pretty Idea, is all-consuming and epically intoxicating.
Described as a “love letter to the smooth sounds of old-school soul that explores the heartache, chaos, and heady highs of love,” each track carries its own musical weight that lures you in with its unique charisma.
“I’d like to thank me… my insecurities, my accomplishments, and my failures. Every emotion, Every experience a lesson… A chance to grow. Every achievement and every dream thats come true started with a pretty idea… This is mine, and now it’s yours,” said Amber of her new album.
From the Motown-inspired “Sweet Serotonin” and the nostalgic “Too Much” —which interpolates Usher and Alicia Keys’ 2004 classic, “My Boo”— to the unapologetic “Doin’ Me,” the charming “Don’t Remind Me” with Anderson .Paak, and the emotive “The Best Of You,” this LP exudes joy and gratitude.
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Chase Shakur – ‘WONDERLOVE +’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Def Jam If you thought Chase Shakur‘s debut album, WONDERLOVE couldn’t get better, you were wrong. With the deluxe installment, he evolved the listening experience with seven previously unreleased songs.
The album art teases, “Audio includes extreme levels of dopamine, listen carefully. Listen at extreme volume for max play. Listening experience with drugs may vary. Please be aware. Side effects may include: crying, horniness, and mellowness. Thank you for your participation; please enjoy.”
The new standouts include the airy “hide & seek,” the anthemic “decatur baby,” the dreamy “i’m ready” with Odeal, the vibrant fan-favorite, “tell me why.”
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Ebony Riley – “Only You”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Riley Montana, Inc./Interscope Records Ebony Riley doesn’t miss and her long-awaited return doesn’t disappoint.
With “Only You,”she delivers a sensual slow burn that has her relinquishing control to an intoxicating love. “Celebrate a motherf**ker if you doing right,” she softly repeats with a chilling intensity during the outro that feels both like a dare and a command.
If this is the energy she’s ending her hiatus with, we’re eager to see how she continues the momentum.
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BLK ODYSSY -“HEARTBREAK”
Image Credit: Courtesy of EMPIRE BLK ODYSSY‘s new single, “HEARTBREAK,” is a groovy good time. Don’t get too lost into the hypnotizing melody though because this offering is an earnest display of the genre-bending artist speaking the love he longs for into existence.
Written by the artist alongside Paramore’s Mikky Ekko and Zac Farro, BLK ODYSSY explained that the record isn’t just about love and loss.
“When we wrote it, I was thinking about something much bigger,” he noted. “I was feeling this heavy sense of division in the world, like everyone had lost empathy, compassion, and patience for one another. It felt like our whole country had a broken heart. This song became a way for me to let go of all that noise, to reconnect with what makes us human, and to find unity in the things that bring us together instead of our differences.”
“HEARTBREAK” follows its moodier predecessor, “WAVES.”
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Kent Jamz – ‘fear’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Epic Records Kent Jamz has ended his three-year hiatus with a riveting R&B-lead reintroduction titled fear.
“This EP taught me there’s no one way to work. I used to feel pressure to finish songs in one sitting, but now I know I can let a song breathe and come back to it. I can be efficient when I need to be, and free when I need to be. Beyond grateful to all of the creatives that helped me bring this art to life in a time of evolution & growth for me,” Kent noted in a statement.
The entire EP oozes patience, growth, yearning, and desire creating a sonic refresher that fits right into the current pocket of R&B.
fear marks Kent’s first solo project since his 2022 debut, Fanclub.
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Jordyn Simone – ‘NO DEMO LEFT UNHEARD VOL. 2’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Jordyn Simone Viral sensation Jordyn Simone has released her long-awaited EP, No Demo Left Unheard, Vol. 2.
She jokingly described it as her “3piece spicy lemon pepper project” that’s all about the process as opposed to perfectionism.
Of the release, she shared on Instagram, “I used to think everything had to be perfect before I shared it. But honestly? Perfection was just me hiding. If it wasn’t flawless, I didn’t have to risk being seen, or judged, or falling flat on my face. What I’ve learned is this: you cannot fail when you’re pursuing what you’re called to. Yeah, it’s vulnerable. Yeah, it’s uncomfortable. Borderline embarrassing lol, but I’d rather take the risk of trying over the regret of wondering what if. That’s the heart of NO DEMO LEFT UNHEARD—it’s about showing the process, not just perfection. The real magic is in the becoming.”
Enjoy the grooviness of “butterflies,” the softness of “say u luv me,” and the desirable confessional that is “tmwtd.”
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Amirah – “brain”
Image Credit: Breyona Holt Amirah returns with “brain,” the second look into her sophomore EP, all the things i didn’t say.
While the lead single, “i can’t” juggled with the woes of young love, “brain” is a tune of surrender with a sultry melody. “You got one job/ Make me not want to leave you alone/ Take me back when I want some more,” she sings.
For those eager to hear Amirah’s next drop, it differs from 2024’s Wish It Wasn’t You both sonically and lyrically as she explores and experiments. The aforementioned debut EP was described as “innocent yet insightful,” but all the things i didn’t say is more assertive and audacious in all the best ways.
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Kaash Paige – ‘2 Late To Be Toxic’
Image Credit: Jacob Norman Kaash Paige has released her most vulnerable project to date.
2 Late To Be Toxic marks the official return of the sentimental rawness fans grew to love when she first hit the scene. As she delves into themes of “heartbreak, temptation, growth, and everything that exists in between,” listeners feel every lyric and melody.
“This isn’t just an album about healing. It’s about surviving the in-between-the part where you’re spiraling, chasing thrills, and haunted by the ‘what if.’ There’s no resolution. It’s just real,” Kaash explained.
From the emotional “GOD SAVE ME” and the reflective nature of “What Happened 2 Us” to the soundtrack of escapism on “MAKE LUV” and the “unfiltered emotional purge” on “Kaash’s Thoughts,” the album goes from asking questions to gaining clarity on relationships, but most importantly, self when it comes to battling insecurities and pushing past the former need to chase toxicity. With this, she boldly reclaims her voice and her truth.
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GIGI – ‘Between Us’
Image Credit: Courtesy of GIGI GIGI is truly one of those artists you don’t want to sleep on. With her second EP, Between Us, the Detroit-bred songbird effortlessly blends the nostalgia of 2000s R&B with a daring yet sexy and raw contemporary flair.
Through records like “Make Up,” “Exception,” and “Let Me Know,” the project feels like it was written for those lovers who know exactly who they are and what they want— even in the “highs, lows, and complicated middle spaces of love.”
“This EP feels like my diary,” said GIGI in a statement. “Every song comes from a moment in my past love journeys… the good, the painful, and everything in between. Writing these songs was my way of processing those experiences, and now sharing them feels like letting the world read a part of my story.”
The EP was produced by Tricky Stewart, OG Parker & Romano, GRY, and Bizness Boi cementing her place as a R&B starlet on the rise.
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Ty Dolla $ign, Tory Lanez – “Show Me Love”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Atlantic Records Ahead of Ty Dolla $ign‘s new album, TYCOON, he dropped his new single, “SHOW ME LOVE” with controversial artist, Tory Lanez.
Lanez recorded his verse while in prison and Dolla praised his “brother” over the new music. Produced by Hitmaka and SkipOnDaBeat, the uptempo record aligns with that signature sound from Dolla.
The collab comes on the heels of “SMILE BODY PRETTY FACE” featuring Kodak Black and YG and the proclaimed “summer smash,” “ALL IN.” This November marks the 10-year anniversary of his critically acclaimed debut studio album, Free TC.
His fourth solo LP arrives on Oct. 17.
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Moonchild, Astyn Turr – “Ride The Wave”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Moonchild In honor of World Mental Health Day, alt-R&B trio Moonchild partnered with Astyn Turr to release their soothing new offering, “Ride The Wave.” It’s the second single off their forthcoming album and comes on the heels of “Not Sorry” featuring Jill Scott and Rapsody.
“Ride The Wave” is described as a “deeply human meditation on mental health — an acknowledgment of pain, healing, and the grace it takes to keep moving forward.” It also exudes the need for grace and surrender.
Moonchild explained, “‘Ride The Wave’ is about accepting that emotions — even the hard ones — are part of being alive. It’s about giving yourself permission to feel it all and still move through it. We wanted it to feel like a breath — a small act of self-kindness in song form and Astyn Turr brought a beautiful softness to it. We released it on World Mental Health Day as a reminder that healing isn’t linear — it comes in waves, and all you can do is ride them.”
The album is set for a 2026 release.
