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- Kareem Gantt
- Bryson Tiller. 315 votes. Emerging with a fresh sound in the early 2020s, Bryson Tiller quickly captivated fans with his fusion of moody R&B and energetic hip-hop.
- SZA. 361 votes. SZA's dreamy voice and poetic lyricism have enchanted listeners since her debut, garnering her widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
- Jhené Aiko. 302 votes. Boasting ethereal vocals and a penchant for exploring complex themes, Jhené Aiko has established herself as a true visionary in the world of R&B.
- Summer Walker. 285 votes. Summer Walker emerged on the scene with an undeniable magnetism and soulful voice that instantly resonated with fans. Her debut album, Over It, became a commercial success, catapulting her to the forefront of the R&B genre.
Find Famous Contemporary R&B Artists and Musicians on AllMusic. Contemporary R&B developed after years of urban R&B. Like urban, contemporary R&B is slickly produced, but many of the musicians -- Maxwell, D'Angelo, Terence Trent D'Arby -- are obsessed with bringing the grit, spirit, and ambitiousness of classic soul (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding) back to contemporary soul and R&B.
- Michael Jackson. A dynamic force as the pre-teen frontman of chart-topping family group The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson moonwalked his way into solo superstardom.
- Stevie Wonder. Over the course of his five-decade career, Steveland Morris has often been dubbed the eighth wonder of the world. Blind since birth but blessed with natural gifts as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Stevie Wonder is one of the few artists able to successfully transition from teen to adult stardom.
- Smokey Robinson. With his piercing green eyes, sweet falsetto and prolific pen, William “Smokey” Robinson has kept females swooning since the ‘60s when he and his group The Miracles helped put Motown on the map with such love-charged hits as “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Ooo Baby Baby.”
- Ray Charles. Nicknamed “The Genius” for his skills as a singer, songwriter, musician and composer, Ray Charles set off a firestorm in 1955. That’s when he scored his first No. 1 single, “I’ve Got a Woman” — and simultaneously pioneered the soul genre with his game-changing combination of R&B, gospel and blues.
- New R&B Artists to Watch 2024
- New R&B Artists to Watch 2023
- New R&B Artists to Watch 2022
Naomi Sharon
Genres: Mellow Alternative R&B Top Tracks: Definition of Love, Regardless Spotify | Instagram This Dutch-Caribbean singer released her debut album Obsidianlast year. It feels spiritual and vulnerable, as if she’s trying to reach a place of restoration. We are along for the ride, reminded of Nigerian-British singer Sade in the process. Recently, Naomi Sharon has joined Drake’s OVO label as their latest R&B solo artist. With a string of excellent releases, we’re excited for what’s to come from...
Ego Ella May
Genres: Jazz-infused R&B Top Tracks: Undone, Underwater Spotify | Instagram This award-winning contemporary jazz and R&B artist has already made quite a name for herself. Ego Ella May’s sound is reflective and tranquil. So, if you’re in need of soothing, you know where to go. Her latest EP FIELDNOTES PT IIIwas released late 2023, where she has also co-produced three out of four songs. You can find Ego Ella May performing at Ronnie Scotts and Brick Lane Jazz Festival in the coming months.
Jordan Ward
Genres: Indie R&B Top Tracks: Cherimoya, 311 Spotify | Instagram You might have caught the dancer turn R&B artist on his Tiny Desk last October. He opened up his set with his track ‘Lil Baby Crush’ whilst the piano softly played SWV’s Rain before the opening lyrics “She look like 90’s R&B, Her friends like SWV” – the scene is set and we’re hooked! 2023 saw Jordan Ward make a splash with his breakout album, FORWARD. 2024 is set to be the year where he solidifies his mark on R&B and music at la...
FLO
Genres: Contemporary R&B, Pop R&B Top Tracks: Summertime, Not My Job Spotify | Instagram We stan FLO and were one of the first to call them out as R&B artists to watch. Made up of Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas and Renée Downer, FLO formed in 2019. Their melodious harmonies and sweet personalities are reminiscent of our fave 90s and 2000s R&B girl groups who linger sweetly in our memories. FLO have already made it onto TV screens with the legendary Jools Holland show in the UK and Jimmy Kimme...
Tendai
Genres:Alternative R&B Top Tracks: Pressure, Time in Our Lives Spotify | Instagram Tendai, a Canning Town local, is a genre-bending R&B artist on iconic UK rapper Stormzy’s 0207DefJam. He is specific with the signifiers in his videos and carefully selects the lyrics that’ll create the perfect movie in the heads of his listeners. Dark purple is how he describes his music, a colour often associated with wealth and wisdom. Tendai can’t be put in a box. His work features a variety of sounds, from...
Ojerime
Genres:Alternative R&B, Electronic R&B Top Tracks: Nothing, Give it Up to Me Spotify | Instagram South Londoner, Ojerime has been a gem of the British R&B scene for a minute. 5 projects in, Ojerime is truly in her own sonic lane. Ojerime’s sound is heavily influenced by ’90s R&B, yet is refreshingly experimental. Tinges of Hip Hop, tinges of electronic music and more can be heard. With Ojerime’s signature dulcet tones and layered harmonies guiding the way. Lyrically, Ojerime is a story teller...
We’re going to be honest, making projections for the future feels to be a dangerous sport at the moment. But our love for R&B, Soul, Neo-Jazz and everything in-between compels us to compile a list of the soulful vocals that make us shiver and the riffs that have us tapping our feet. Plus the Hip Hop Soul artists that move us with their quick-witted...
Feb 1, 2023 · Currently, "SOS" still sits atop the Billboard 200 chart, where it's remained at No. 1 since its release. Needless to say, SZA beat the sophomore curse and has proved why she's considered one of ...
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Jan 3, 2024 · For many decades, going as far back as the 1940s, artists from the world of R&B couldn’t really claim mainstream success until they’d crossed over to Top 40 radio and the pop charts. This ...
1. Channel Orange – Frank Ocean (2012) Frank Ocean is certainly one of the most influential artists in contemporary R&B. His 2012 album, Channel Orange is widely regarded as a masterpiece of modern R&B. Channel Orange followed his seminal EP, Nostalgia, Ultra.
