Hip-hop may have become the Nielsen Music-declared most dominant music genre, but let’s not overlook the strides R&B (including all its many sub-genres and cousin genres) have taken on the airwaves and within the culture in this year alone.
While persistent naysayers keep peddling the tired argument that “R&B is dead,” the most recent news cycle has proven the exact opposite, as talks of a supposed King of R&B dominated discussions both on- and offline. Jacquees’ lofty declaration notwithstanding, there’s no denying that there are ample songs swimming around the ‘Net from talented vocalists killing it within the genre.
For those looking to satiate rhythm and blues earworms—and in no particular order—VIBE compiled a list of the 15 bonafide R&B songs of 2018 (or at least ones that fall within the genre’s orbit) that pulled us into our feelings each and every time we pressed play.
READ MORE: Let Jacquees Tell It, He’s The Jodeci Of This R&B Game