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Jan 3, 2024 · A list of the best R&B songs from the past two decades, featuring Beyonce, Frank Ocean, Mariah Carey, and more. Explore the diverse styles, influences, and artists that shaped the genre in the 21st century.
- 4 min
- Rolling Stone
Listen to the best contemporary R&B songs in 2024 on Spotify and YouTube above. Songs from Sza, Summer Walker, Snoh Aalegra, Ari Lennox, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Frank Ocean and more. Check out more of our playlists of the best contemporary R&B, Soul, Neo-Jazz and Hip Hop Soul here.
- Rihanna, "Lift Me Up" After a five-year absence from the charts, Rihanna reappeared by way of this beautiful ballad from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
- Tems, "Free Mind" The Tems bandwagon hit capacity in 2022, courtesy of her scorching features (Future’s “Wait 4 U” and Beyonce’s “Move”). Beyond her impressive assists, however, it was her not-so-hidden solo gem, “Free Mind,” that launched her into stardom.
- Chris Brown, "Under The Influence" Chris Brown turns the tempo down several notches for his courtship of a love interest, but his desires turn hazy after sipping on some syrup.
- SZA, "Shirt" Also front and center among 2022’s long-anticipated returns was R&B cult favorite SZA, who soulfully details the desperation surrounding a toxic love on “Shirt.”
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R&B Playlist 2024 - Today’s TOP R&B Hits (New RnB Songs Playlist) · Playlist · 40 songs · 9.9K likes
- "Hate Our Love" - Queen Naija And Big Sean. Queen Naija’s “Hate Our Love” featuring Big Sean is a vulnerable song for the hopeless romantics. Evoking feelings of resilience in an overly-criticized relationship, Queen and Sean wear their hearts on their sleeves in real-life and on wax— making the raw lyrics of “Hate Our Love” even more relatable to fans.
- “I’m Baby” - Ambré Feat. Jvck James. On “I’m Baby,” Ambré and Jvck James explore a new sense of sensuality and vulnerability in a steamy romance. Featured on her 2022 offering, 3000 is one of the EP’s eight songs the New Orleans musician released in June.
- “Surprise” - Chlöe. Incessant policing of the Black female form has attempted to derail Chloe Bailey for nearly two years. Still, she continues to defy the limitations of that prejudice—gloriously wielding her body-ody-ody and its desires.
- "ALL MINE" - Brent Faiyaz. Brent Faiyaz is known for his nostalgic tone that reminds us of the ’90s R&B soul from Jon B or Donell Jones. Although his vocal ability is less of a spectacle than most of today’s crooners, it was practically made for a slow jam.
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.
This is the space for all that’s new in R&B. Crossover ballads, modern hybrids, fresh sounds that call back to the past—if it’s got that vibe, you’ll find it here. Selections are updated regularly, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.
