This week in R&B, we’re blooming, dancing, and emphasizing all from the planet of Jupiter— and you have NAO to thank for that.
She isn’t alone on the updated list that is new R&B, though. Leven Kali‘s hiatus is over. Durand Bernarr is snatching us by our baby hair. GIGI is calling out those who’ve fumbled her while rising act Deleon.Nox is putting on for his city.
Tiffany Evans campaigns to be the next president of R&B as Coco Jones gives us a taste of her debut album and BJRNCK reminds us that we’re still all fam in the clurb.
Drive off into the sunset with Bren Joy and more of the top new R&B that’s in our rotation.
Durand Bernarr – BLOOM
Durand Bernarr’s third album, BLOOM, is a funk-infused, intimate tribute to love and community in every form.
For Durand, “‘BLOOM’ is me in full color—raw, sentimental, and completely unfiltered. My parents made sure I knew my voice mattered, and that foundation shaped not just who I am, but the music I create.”
He shared that the LP is about “growth—discovering love beyond romance, cultivating self-acceptance, and thriving in the spaces that allow us to bloom” and also described it as “laughter, anxiety, frustration, triumph [and] all the things that make us human.” Durand noted that the heart of the album stems from what Phyllis Hyman, Luther Vandross, Maxwell, Chanté Moore, and Missy Elliott gifted the world.
From the powerful opener on “Generous” to the accountable “PSST!” and the victorious roar heard on “THAT!” with T-Pain, the album is fearless and compelling—once again placing Durand on an untouchable pedestal.
NAO – Jupiter
From Saturn to Jupiter, we’re clearly living in NAO’s orbit.
Her new album centers around “pure optimism, growth and abundance” as heard on records like the declarative “Wildflowers,” the soulful “Elevate,” and the coming-of-age focus track, “30 Something.”
Nao noted, “’Jupiter’ is the sister album to ‘Saturn.’ Where ‘Saturn’ was about tough lessons and growth, ‘Jupiter’ is about coming through the other side. It’s an album of hope, joy, and trust, of embracing expansion after struggle, of letting go and stepping into something greater. This music is a reflection of that freedom, a soundtrack for the moment when you realize the universe was always working in your favor.”
Leven Kali – “Are U Still”
Leven Kali is back and arguably, this is the drop we’ve been looking forward to the most.
“Are U Still” is his first solo release since 2022 and his debut for Def Jam.
The funky, vibrant record is utterly hypnotizing as Leven vies for the attention of the one who has his heart. “Baby come down from there/ Baby come talk to me are you still in love like/ I am,” he sings on the chorus.
Rightfully teased as an appetizer before the main course, we couldn’t be more thrilled that this unique talent has ended his hiatus.
Coco Jones – “Taste”
Coco Jones’ newest single, “Taste,” is an R&B flip on Britney Spears’ “Toxic.”
Despite sparking mixed reviews among fans, the Stargate and Jasper Harris’ production is fitting for Coco. It’s sexy and infectious and truthfully, the visual helps drive the song’s message forward. Get your panties out of that bunch and unwind.
The record will appear on her long-awaited debut album, Why Not More?, set for release on April 25.
Tiffany Evans – “Would You”
Tiffany Evans is set to restore that feeling that R&B once gave us. From bridges to slow burns with a slight hint of nostalgia, her new single, “Would You,” has her vocals front and center and storytelling trailing not far behind.
The bedroom ballad is one we expect to hear in rotation at every R&B event in the foreseeable future.
While she’s campaigning to be the president of R&B, we’re also demanding for her new album to be coming soon. Ball’s in your court, Ms. Evans.
I Am Roze – Social Commentary
Whatever I Am Roze is selling, give me 14 right now. This soul-stirring talent released their new EP, Social Commentary, and we can’t get enough.
For Roze, they shared, “A change for me came whilst creating the project and I hope it can create change within you. May hardened hearts be softened and may the voiceless find an ally in me.”
rom their captivating rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” to the soothing nature of “Peace In The Dark,” we need more and we need it now.
Chxrry22 – “Just Like Me”
Chxrry22’s first release of 2025, “Just Like Me,” is an upbeat groove that oozes charisma and charm as she sings about meeting her match.
She cheekily teases on the hook, “I like to keep a clean white tee, but I like to do my dirt lowkey/ He think that I don’t know I’m not the only one/ You know I like ’em just like me.”
It’s irresistible and fun—something that needs to return to R&B’s forefront.
Bren Joy – SUNSET BLACK
Bren Joy’s debut album is finally here and we’re obsessed. SUNSET BLACK is described by the crooner as his “love letter to alternative R&B” that really sets him apart from anyone else.
Over his three-year hiatus, he set forth to find the “perfect sound” and wound up “losing the plot,” and created something that can’t be mimicked while healing him in ways beyond his own imagination.
Bren explained, “‘SUNSET BLACK’ is an oxymoron—a blend of genres and contradictions. It’s a reflection of my hometown, my culture, and the art that shaped me.” With influences ranging from folk to jazz and Amapiano, this immersive listening experience is so enthralling that all you’ll do is get lost in the music.
BJRNCK – “Club”
In a world that has many on edge, BJRNCK is reminding us that letting loose at the club is an essential element to maintaining out sanity.
Less about the actual club and more about the need for something real, “Club” analyzes the feeling of wanting someone who makes you feel like you’re in your own bubble while around others. Described as a mood-setter while someone is en route to see their lover, it’s one of those last night, pre-foreplay anthems.
This single marks the first look into BJRNCK’s upcoming project.
GIGI – “Fumbled Me”
GIGI has dropped her second single, “Fumbled Me,” from her forthcoming EP, Waves Of It. While her debut single was her take on 2000s R&B, this time, she goes deep within herself to reflect on heartbreak and disappointment.
“The inspiration behind ‘Fumbled Me’ is simply truth-telling,” GIGI notes. “It’s a story of love gone wrong, something almost everyone can relate to. Creating this with other like-minded creatives was incredible, as we shared bits and pieces of our own experiences to craft something so vulnerable and honest.”
Described as the “sound of love slipping through careless fingers,” the tune showcases the range of GIGI’s talent—leaving listeners on the edge of their seats awaiting the full project.
Deleon.Nox – Toxic
We discovered San Diego’s own Deleon.Nox while at the L.A. stop of Leon Thomas’ MUTT tour and were blown away. Since then, he’s released his newest project, Toxic, and is reminding us of Marques Houston and Donell Jones.
Of the six-track EP, Nox tells VIBE, “This project was was made with intention of bringing back R&B to my city in a way that feel like a breath of fresh air. Instead of just grabbing Hip-Hop or trap beats and singing over them, I really tried to make something that incorporates all the musicianship that I’ve learned from the greats that I find myself around and constantly inspired by.”
No skips here; just play it straight through and then on repeat.
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