The 25 Best R&B Albums Of 2022

'CTRL (Deluxe)' - SZA

Prior to releasing her stellar follow-up, SOS, SZA officially broke her five-year hiatus since her monumental debut. TDE’s first lady re-released CTRL and added seven unreleased songs in celebration of its fifth. As soon as “Supermodel” comes on, it not only reminds us how CTRL laid the musical foundation for what we would hear on SOS, but the modern nostalgia for hearing such a compelling voice at her most polished at the time is everything. You may remember when VIBE listed CTRL as one of the “17 Albums Worth Carrying Into 2017.”

The original album still holds the same weight as it did in 2017 and helped lead the way for modern R&B’s female revolution, especially in its core sound. CTRL‘s new songs, however, are a welcomed treat as each further expounds on SZA’s lush, lo-fi, and moody sound. And her emotionally provoking pen balances its charismatically bold and no-frills approach through her trademark bad gal lyrics with a polished sheen as heard on classics like “Drew Barrymore” and her troublemaking anthem, “The Weekend”, which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 25 weeks.

“2AM,” her sultry take on PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Come And See Me” sung from a woman’s perspective, feels right up her alley. At the same time, “Tread Carefully,” “Awkward,” and “Percolator” are among the deluxe edition’s sexiest and brightest standouts as her siren-like melodies pull you in by the heart. — Mark Braboy

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'The Hurtbook' - Alex Vaughn

Following up her 2018 debut LP The Shift and 2022 EP, Voice Notes, the newest songbird of R&B powerhouse LVRN delivered an emotionally rich sophomore album in The Hurtbook. From its soft and layered production by the likes of Camper, DJ Money, and the legendary Rodney Jerkins to Vaughn’s captivating voice across songs like “Talkin” and the deliciously naughty “Demon Time,” the short, yet sweet offering is her most emotionally rich and impactful project yet. The classically trained songstress proves throughout the album why she’s a must-watch for the next generation of R&B singers.

The Hurtbook is a personal and amazing offering that serves as the perfect soundtrack to healing the deep, scornful heartbreak. Especially on the liberating “Keep That Energy” where she (rightfully) sings, “Don’t be trying to come to me/ Crying on my shoulder/ Really you did this to yourself/ Don’t be surprised now.” And despite the album’s moody nature that might not be your thing if you don’t want to be sad over that lost love, The Hurtbook is without a single skip and arguably has the highest replay value of any R&B album released thus far. – M.B.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'What I Didn't Tell You' - Coco Jones

The opening vocals by Coco Jones’ sultry silk serenade will make you immediately forget she’s one of the stars of Peacock’s hit remake show BelAir. Her depiction of Hillary Banks is new age cool, but her deep dive into a love that confuses the soul is also so these times as well. Reaching roller coaster vocal runs that rise to heathery bliss to octaves that hit the ocean’s floor, Coco shows range and reach that brings What I Didn’t Tell You’s hit single “ICU” to a guttural punch that settles in your heart.

The Def Jam artist somehow walks along with the 7 tracks that speak to love longing and love lost, yet she fills the themes with emotional highs and the twisting of love’s curves while adding rhythm to the blues. Production by London On The Track sets the perfect soundwave that interpolates SWV’s classic “Rain” ballad and showcases Jones’ dark liquor deep vocals on “Double Back.” She continues the cool and casual crusade with “No Chaser,” a simple ride that Jones makes her own with the tone of her voice.

A true breath of fresh air is Jones and her approach to R&B. Not overtly penetrating the sex troupes, not harking on the bitterness of love, but looking at the many angles of living in and overcoming hurt to lay in love’s arms is how she wants to bring you closer to her. This star is on the rise, and with What I Didn’t Tell You, she’s telling you just that. — Datwon Thomas

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Red Balloon' - Tank And The Bangas

Tank and the Bangas have truly come a long way (remember when they won NPR’s Tiny Desk contest?). Despite the inevitable change of band members over the years, the group—led by eclectic songbird Tarriona “Tank” Ball—returned and stayed true to its ear-perking sound with the radio-themed album, Red Balloon.

The 15-track LP feels like an ode to their home city, New Orleans; it’s filled with brassy melodies and rich harmonies peppered with playful moments fused with jazz, funk, Hip-Hop, and R&B. The HamilTones, NOLA’s own Trombone Shorty, Wayne Brady, and more also contributed to the project. But what’s most interesting about this album is Tank’s ability to touch on serious matters in her lyrics without painting gloom in the songs’ musical composition and production. Red Balloon touches on relatable topics like social media and technology’s negative effects (see “Mr. Bluebell”), mental health (hello, “Anxiety”), and the fragility of life (cue the Lalah Hathaway and Jacob Collier-assisted “Where Do We All Go”).

In true Tank fashion, she flexes her range in vocal expression and sprinkles soothing spoken word on “Easy Goes It,” a song about being helplessly love-struck. Her personality and rap skills shine on the twerk-inducing “Big,” featuring the queen of bounce, Big Freedia. The edginess of “Who’s In Charge” adds to the fun moments on the 44-minute album. And the horn-laden duet “Cafe Du Monde” delivers the romance with Jamison Ross as her whimsical vocals weave in and out of the verses and chorus. Red Balloon is a treasure chest of ear candy that stands firmly in its soulful eccentricities. — Christine Imarenezor

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Hypnos' - Ravyn Lenae

 In Greek Mythology, Hypnos is the God of sleep and used his powers to trick Zeus and help the Greeks win the Trojan war. Ravyn Lenae channels the powerful energy of the deity not to put listeners to sleep but transport them into her wildest dreams through song. With Hypnos, Ravyn Lenae ushers herself into a new era of her burgeoning career. 

“I just want people to really understand why it took me this long,” explained the 23-year-old singer to W Magazine. “It’s a project of growth.”

Released as her debut album, the Chicago singer issued the 16-track LP in May 2022. Hypnos highlights Ravyn Lenae’s delicate, soprano vocals and explores the realities of a young woman with realistic anxieties, blunt beliefs, and intimate desires. 

One standout moment on Hypons is “3D,” a collaborative effort with Smino where both singers’ signature high-pitch vocals deliver cheeky lyrics and “keep it light.” Additional highlights of the debut are “Xtasy,” “Venom,” “Mercury,” with Foushee, “Skin Tight” with Steve Lacy, and “M.I.A.” Mereba is also featured on the album. 

Hypnos finds Lenae refining her artistry, welcoming new fans with experimental sounds yet keeping day-one listeners satisfied with her psychedelic stamp on alternative R&B. — DeMicia Inman

Listen:  Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

‘Closer (Deluxe)’ – Kenyon Dixon

Kenyon Dixon’s Closer (Deluxe) album is a striking example of If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, done to wonderful effect. On the November rerelease of his ode to classic R&B album—Closer debuted at No. 4 on the US iTunes R&B chart—the singer depicts mature love pressure-tested with time, distance, and the effort necessary to make it work. 

With detailed and affecting lyricism, Dixon proves just how attuned he is to the most popular love languages across 16 tracks. The tenderness of physical touch through unhurried intimacy on “Marvin Gaye” and “On My Mind.” Words of affirmation in action on “ISLY,” with velvety, warm validations of love to his special someone. The innate desire for quality time on the lush ballad “Here,” where he and singer-songwriter Susan Carol bring out the best in each other. “Facetime’s a great time/ Texting’s a blessing/ But babe, I need a deeper connection,” they sing. 

There are some outliers to the love conversation. On “Get High, Get By,” an album standout, Dixon normalizes and romanticizes the vices Black folk must indulge in to elevate over daily traumas, still delivered with a voice that goes down as smooth as bourbon. But all in all, the Grammy-nominated crooner owns his sweet spot crafting songs you can’t help but melt deeper into; a soundbed for the love of your life. — Stacy-Ann Ellis

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Heart On My Sleeve' - Ella Mai

Ella Mai turned the terrible twos into a seismic sophomore shift with Heart On My Sleeve. The four years since her 2018 debut produced elevated songwriting, enhanced production, stronger delivery, and overall maturity. The UK songstress shows she has a knack for upbeat jams with the opener “Trying” before seeping into her feelings later on with the D’Mile-produced “Break My Heart.” 

The Grammy winner shows how deep one’s love can run, telling her partner “If I had to choose who could break my heart, baby, it would be you / Don’t know what you’re doing doin’ to me / Spendin’ my life with you only.” This record features impressive vocal crescendos and a pre-chorus, showing that the attention to detail on Heart On My Sleeve was multi-layered. 

Lucky Daye appears in the standout duet “A Mess,” a true display of the rollercoaster nature of love. “Know this might be a mess, but, yes / ‘Cause, for me, you’re the best / I don’t want nothin’ less / Can’t lie, I must confess / For me, you are the best / Know this might be a mess,” they riff in the chorus. 

Ella Mai isn’t the bright-eyed, “Boo’d Up” girl from four years ago. She’s grown up and is not afraid to shine a light on the darker sides of romance. — Armon Sadler

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Gemini Rights' - Steve Lacy

If Prince and Frank Ocean had a baby boy, it would be Steve Lacy. On the RCA signee’s sophomore album Gemini Rights, the two-time Grammy-nominated artist delivers a 10-track body of work that offers a more vulnerable side of the multidimensional artist.

In contrast to his 2019 debut album Apollo XXI, where songs such as  “Like Me” can serve as his bisexual “coming out” — Gemini Rights kicks off with “Static,” a song where Lacy declares that he’s actually, “Lookin’ for a bi**h ’cause I’m over boys.” 

A long way from making beats on his iPhone, the 24-year-old’s sound has both matured and improved. Lacy’s tone often makes it complex to place him in one genre, making him a wildcard in today’s R&B climate. Reminiscent of ‘80s funk mixed with a little bit of Rock and Soul, Lacy plays around with different instruments and cadences on many of the tracks. 

On “Mercury,” the beat’s quirkiness makes the song extra colorful as his voice sashays between effortless crooning and melodic rapping. Apropos of the album’s title, Steve is tapping into his inner Gemini musically — leaning into his sign’s reputation for mood-switching. 

Peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, Gemini Rights offers varietal feels for all types of listeners. Aside from charting singles, “Sunshine” and “Bad Habit,” sleepers like “Buttons” and the jazziness of “Amber” display Lacy’s vocal ability and playfulness with his craft. — Amber Corrine

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Three Dimensions Deep' - Amber Mark

Releasing an album at the top of any year is a bold call, but it’s one Amber Mark completed with grace. Eleven months later, Three Dimensions Deep is still in the “best R&B albums of the year” conversation. An artistic triumph, Mark delivers her backstory across a diverse seventeen-track project, bouncing from boom bap to Afrobeats, dance, trap, and even ‘80s power ballad R&B. 

On Three Dimensions Deep, Amber simultaneously wrestles with the loss of her mother—Mia Mark, who she lost in 2013—and the deterioration of an intimate relationship. The Tennessee-born singer creates a soundscape teeming with anthems, statements, and affirmative chants to uplift herself and others seeking reassurance. 

Her quest to heal begins with the triumphant intro, “One,” confronting the loss of her mom. She sings about wanting to make her mother proud and give her best despite her shortcomings. Next, Mark shifts her attention to men in the affirming anthem, “Most Men,” decrying those who fail to cherish women. She asserts that while most men are “trifling,” love does exist. On “Darkside,” the singer turns up the alternative R&B and thrusts the listener into the future with an atmospheric number praising a newfound love of self. 

Through terse songwriting, Amber’s multifarious album represents an ambitious yet ruminative spiritual awakening. “This album has so many sounds, cultures, and textures because it represents me and my life,” she told GRAMMY.com “I’m not what you expect me to be; I’m me.” — Marc Antonio Griffin

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL 

'Wanderlust' - Durand Bernarr

Durand Bernarr is such a layered star and a force to reckon with. His album, Wanderlust, is a delightful journey as he embarks on “multiple deep dives inward” and shares “identifying lessons learned from always being a student of life and self,” Bernarr explained in a statement. Please understand that the recent 2022 Soul Train Awards Soul Cypher participant is not new to this, but very true to this. Influenced (and somewhat raised) by Earth, Wind, & Fire, Little Richard, and Erykah Badu with elements of church, the Cleveland native incorporates such a groove into his music. His ostentatious, animated personality takes hold over every record including “Footprints” and “Lil Bit,” and is regarded as “gangsta musical theater.”

Though feeling like part of the family, Bernarr makes sure to draw the line in the sand with limit enforcers, “Boundaries Featuring Tired & Exhausted” and “H.I.” featuring Devin Tracy. The thing that sets Bernarr apart from other “overnight successes” is his effortless vocal range and superb production on Wanderlust. Take “Leveled”—it’s one of those records that’s so good you’ll catch an attitude. Bernarr, himself, compared his growth from DUR& to Wanderlust being “the Voodoo to its Brown Sugar.” We couldn’t have explained it better. — Mya Abraham

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

‘LEGEND’ - John Legend

John Legend flaunts his fluency in every love language on his eighth album LEGEND. Carrying enough material to score a rom-com, the EGOT winner soundtracks the highs and deep sighs of love with an 81-minute double LP that two-steps into funky territory and slow-dances with the heartfelt ballads he’s built his career on. 

On LEGEND — which debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart, a light and limber Legend leans into his strengths, gliding between soulful gems and contemporary pop bops like “All She Wanna Do” (Saweetie appears on the remix), the J.I.D.-assisted “Dope” and “Waterslide.” The piano-playing virtuoso caters to the grown folks and shows he’s still proficient in P.D.A. with the steamy treats “Rounds” and “Honey.” The second act toasts to everlasting love and flows like a musical memoir. On “I Don’t Love You Like I Used To,” Legend delivers lines fit for a devoted husband: “I don’t love you like I used to/ I love you so much more with every day.”

Legend curates an impressive guest list of plus-ones from rappers Rick Ross and Rapsody to R&B darlings Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi, and Jhené Aiko to name a few. OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder also co-executive produces. With LEGEND, the singer turns in a flavorful album that stays true to his name. — Adelle Platon

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Good Morning Gorgeous' - Mary J. Blige 

There has been a long-held myth that fans of Mary J. Blige aren’t interested in hearing the Yonkers-bred singer triumphantly overcome her demons on wax, that she can only truly engage her public with songs of strife, anger, and sadness. Indeed, much of the icon’s early catalog almost exclusively delved into her pain, with her hopes of finding a “Real Love” sprinkled in sporadically to avoid going completely over the edge. With Good Morning Gorgeous, Blige gives OG fans exactly what they want in her ever-evolving comfort with vulnerability while establishing that she’s moved beyond obsessing over relationships that didn’t serve her greatest self.  

A perfect follow-up to 2017’s Strength Of A Woman—which found the diva lamenting over her failed marriage to ex-husband/manager Kendu Issacs—Good Morning Gorgeous scores the sunrise after that dark night, as Blige allows herself to mine her pain without living in it.  The title track is a true affirmation that embodies self-love and acceptance, with lyrics—penned by the Grammy-winning H.E.R.—that relay her desire to finally see herself as the Queen she’s been since uncovering her gift many moons ago.  

Songs like “Love Will Never,” “Love Without The Heartbreak,” “Falling In Love” and “Enough” find the Yonkers, New York beauty reminiscing on her bad luck in romance, but without the vitriol of previous records meant to convey her frustration. Here, she allows herself to accept the reality of her past without gripping onto it for dear life, moving forward with both sincerity and swagger. 

In fact, several tracks are dripping in attitude, including the DJ Khaled-assisted “Amazing,” the drill-influenced “On Top” featuring Fivio Foreign, and the Dave East guest spot on “Rent Money.” The latter finds MJB diving into the financial messiness she endured thanks to her split from Issacs.  

Stand-out single “Here With Me” finds Mary grooving with Anderson .Paak while speaking her ideal partner into existence. The final track “Need Love,” sees the queen teaming up with Usher for a smooth duet,  where she admits to wishing she could “wake up in a cloud of love,” but is in “no rush” when it comes to finding the real thing.  

Blige’s phenomenal Good Morning Gorgeous Tour took over arenas from coast-to-coast, as she brought her love for music and her fans across the country. The record has also garnered Blige six 2023 Grammy nominations, making it her second most nominated album following 2005’s The Breakthrough. It also earned the deserving diva her first nomination for Album Of The Year, proving she can musically hold her own beyond her R&B roots. She’ll be going head-to-head with nine other heavy hitters, including Beyoncé, Adele, Lizzo—three artists she’s unquestionably influenced—as well as Bad Bunny, K. Dot, and Coldplay.  

There are several reasons she’s remained among the greats for over 30 years, and Good Morning Gorgeous is just the latest from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. — Jessica “Compton” Bennett

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL  

'Black Radio III (Supreme Edition)' - Robert Glasper

Those who came before us had John Coltrane and Duke Ellington and they are the reason Robert Glasper is able to run. People love to claim R&B is dead—it’s not—but neither is Jazz. Glasper is able to blend together Neo-Soul and Jazz with a sprinkle of Hip-Hop to formulate his magical Black Radio series. The initial crossover album earned him his first Grammy in 2013 for Best R&B Album, and over the years, the compilation series truly became his signature. 

With Black Radio III, specifically the Supreme Edition, Glasper bridges a generational gap with the inclusion of H.E.R., Gregory Porter, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ant Clemons, Lalah Hathaway, and Alex Isley. First released in Aug. 2020, “Better Than I Imagined,” was the perfect setup for the full LP. Rightfully winning a Grammy the following year, the soothing record was a homage to Black love and that possibility of romance we heard about in Love Jones. 

Somehow, Glasper makes this melting pot seem effortless to piece together. PJ Morton and India.Arie tug on heartstrings with “Forever,” while Mac Miller comes across as immortal on “Therapy Pt. 2” and Luke James praises his lady on “My Queen.” Yet, it was the reimagined “Voyage To Atlantis” where Isley redid her family’s timeless slow jam with the help of Bilal that fulfilled fans’ craving since the Marigold singer’s rise to prominence. Most albums get frowned upon for not being strictly cohesive, but Black Radio III is like monkey bread—a splendid treat everyone can pick apart for their own satisfaction. — M.A.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

‘Hello Poison’ – Arin Ray

Let Arin Ray tell it, it’s about time R&B got a little bit of bounce. The Cincinnati-born, LA-based singer started off 2022 with a welcomed sonic shift with his sophomore full-length LP Hello Poison, the long-awaited follow-up to his 2018 debut, Platinum Fire. For as much time as he spent away living and crafting the project, those four years with his head down proved fruitful. On the self-described pandemic album, Arin managed to carve out a lane for himself during an impressive year for R&B releases. 

Inspired by the life cycle of a recent relationship, Arin oscillates between sensual charisma and playful, casual loverboy vibes with ease, letting his breezy vocals and Michael Jackson-esque falsettos float across 15 tracks. Sonically, he navigates from top-down production like “Serious” and the Blxst-assisted breakaway single “Bad Idea,” to funkier cuts that seem to pull from Silk Sonic’s playbook (“This Is Nice”). Groove-inducing cuts like “Freak” are the kind of R&B you pluck a dance partner off the wall for, and once he’s gotten you limber, he doubles down on the sex appeal with bedroom slow burners like the slinky “What It Is” with Ari Lennox and heaving “Ms. Frustration” featuring VanJess.

Despite Hello Poison’s impressive guest list—additional features include Ty Dolla Sign, Terrace Martin, Childish Major, D Smoke, Rose Gold, and even Brandy’s coos hidden away on the back half of “Storm”—this is still his house. And he has the credits to prove it. The songwriter’s pen appears on every song and he handled production on all but two tracks, alongside handiwork from DJ Camper, Hitmaka, Carter Lang, Nascent, Th3ory, Troy Taylor, and others. While it has yet to dent the charts, Arin’s cohesive, largely skipless listen makes clear his maturation from X Factor competitor of yesteryear to trusty songwriter for Jason Derulo and Chris Brown to a solo artist who knows how to command his own spotlight. — S.A.E.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

'Age/Sex/Location' - Ari Lennox

Dial-up and hiding behind PC screens pretending to be anyone you wanted to be was the norm in the early 2000s. A simple “a/s/l?” was all anyone needed in order to decide if a total stranger was worthy of furthering hours-long conversations on AOL Instant Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger. 

Ari Lennox brought back those nostalgic feels with Age/Sex/Location — making it an undeniable R&B win for the year. Shortened to A/S/L, the acronym immediately makes one think of chat rooms, special characters, and farfetched usernames. 

On the Dreamville artist’s sophomore LP, Ari isn’t interested in meaningless hookups, small talk, or low-vibrational men. From start to finish, the album takes listeners on her journey to assertiveness, one quite different from her coming-of-age debut project Shea Butter Baby. These days, Ari is a mature 31-year-old weeding out the dead weight. She is stating exactly what she wants in a man and making him stand on her every word.

Songs like, “POF,” “Waste My Time” and “Pressure” are all great examples of Ari’s growth, not only in her vocal ability but in her own understanding of what she needs as a woman. On “Waste My Time,” she sings: “No d*ck makin’ me stupid/ No funny Valentine lovin’ from Cupid/ Need someone to get to it/ I see you beggin’ so there ain’t no choosin’.” 

In regards to the inspiration behind her second LP, Lennox told J. Cole: “Transitional space. I remember the countless times I was kicked out of dating apps because they didn’t think I was really myself, it reminded me of those ‘age/sex/location’ days where I actually wasn’t being myself in those chat rooms.”

She added, “No more tip-toeing. No more docile. Providing grace and compassion to myself. Blocking those that no longer serve me or just literally not responding.” 

A/S/L peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album earned her nominations for multiple awards this year, including six nominations at the 2022 BET Soul Train Awards. — A.C.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Candydrip' - Lucky Daye

As his first album to debut on Billboard’s 200 chart at No. 69, Candydrip is Lucky Daye’s most commercially successful work as a lead artist to date. The album also earned nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards in the categories for Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance, and placed D’Mile in the running for Producer of the Year. 

Candydrip finds the New Orleans musician oozing the sensual, sultry, sounds of R&B for his sophomore offering that proves Lucky Daye’s versatility as an artist. The album cover calls to the provocative artwork popularized by the Ohio Players and sets the tone for the sticky, sometimes sad, but ultimately seductive songs inside. Through the album’s 17 tracks, Lucky Daye delivers traditional R&B in theme and style but does not shy away from exploring a modernized sound with Hip-Hop, alternative R&B, Soul, and Funk-inspired tracks. 

“I wanted this to be about taste,” the 37-year-old singer explained to Rolling Stone. “Some people love the things that somebody else hates. You might get super-sweet, or you might get super-savory [sounds]. I’m just shooting for a new creative angle to approach music.”

Standout songs include “Over” which samples Musiq Soulchild’s 2022 record “Halfcrazy,” and serves as the album’s lead single. The song finds the Grammy Award-winning singer frustrated with an on-again-off-again romance where he sings “You keep calling me back/I’m just tryna gеt closure.”

Additional highlights include “Guess” which features a sample of Usher’s “U Don’t Have To Call,” “Fu**in’ Sound,” “God Body” featuring Smino, “Cherry Forest,” and “Deserve.” Although the aforementioned tracks stand out, Candydrip exists in the expanding discography of Lucky Daye as an expertly sequenced full body of work that does not require any skips, only playbacks. — D.I. 

Listen:  Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Yam Grier' - Zyah Belle

Yam Grier places Zyah Belle on VIBE’s top R&B albums list for the second consecutive year, following her 2021 seven-track EP Who’s Listening Anyway. This time around, she is even more focused than before. Yam Grier brings Zyah Belle to a new point in her career and promises a bright future on her own terms.

Channeling the energy of legendary sex-symbol actress Pam Grier, the steadily-rising talent Belle issued Yam Grier as her debut album and solidified her voice as a self-assured singer with the ability to look inward and discover more of her own sexy and thorough substance. Through the album, the California native serves as a voice for the multifaceted, millennial women, specifically Black women, who prioritize self-care and preservation. For the girls whose fierceness is sometimes cloaked in softness and vulnerability.

“The persona behind Yam Grier is all inspired by women that are forces to be reckoned with, whether that be women in my personal life — my mom, my aunties,” Belle explained to RatedR&B. “It’s just the extra zhuzh that Black women have. You can’t recreate it. It’s the original. It’s the blueprint.”

Zyah Belle showcases her range as both a singer and songwriter on Yam Grier. Lyrically, she is able to explore complicated themes with ease. The stanzas read as personal journal entries, inviting an intimate listening experience that allows a safe space for listeners to relax, relate and release. 

With 14 tracks, Belle expands her territory into Neo Soul, Hip-Hop, and both traditional and modern R&B sounds and influences. Standout tracks include the infectious and carefree “DND,” an upbeat, energizing song produced by Hollywood Cole, Sam Barsh, and Jordan Brooks. Additionally, “Back To Back” featuring Jordan Hawkins, “Goofy” featuring Tempest and AJ Claire, “Spiritual Bath” and “Closure” are some of the album’s many highlights. — D.I.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'blue water road' - Kehlani

Kehlani’s third studio album, blue water road, is a raw, transformative musing that speaks to their fluid journey of healing and intentional peace as they allow fans into their world on their terms in an ethereal and translucent way. Their prowess is how they draw listeners in a sort-of “gather-’round and listen up” way without needing to actually reveal intimate details.

Starting with “little story,” the vulnerable string-ridden ballad fully embodies being soft in love. The Blxst-assisted strip club jam, “any given sunday” went berserk with the crowd during this year’s blue water road trip 28-city tour, almost as much as “wish i never.” Radiating confidence with a sting of regret, the brilliantly flipped sample of Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story” was the best “f**k off” response to the preceding song, “shooter interlude,” as Kehlani melodically raps, “I never let ’em win ‘less I say so/And I don’t show my cards, but I play though.” Though she faults herself for getting played, this is more of a reinforcing stumble, not a fall.

Of course, the hopeful romantic had her heart on full display on tracks like “up at night,” and “melt.” The Justin Bieber-aided tune cements how a good lover earns a permanent spot in the front of mind, while the latter ballad highlights all the heavenly elements of falling in love.

Lest we forget, Kehlani’s sensual side is heard on “tangerine” and “get me started.” The songbird is no stranger to masking her sexual desires behind sweet factors like honey. Overall, blue water road pulls from the youthful freedom of their 2014 debut mixtape, Cloud 19, the heart-wrenching honesty of 2015’s You Should Be Here, the sensual bliss of 2017’s SweetSexySavage, the reflective hope of 2019’s While We Wait and basks in the light from the dark complexities of 2020’s It Was Good Until It Wasn’t—marking their “largest and most permanent shift” in life. — M.A.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'BEFORE WE GO (DEEPER)' - India Shawn

One thing about India Shawn, she gon’ articulate the intricacies of a relationship with precision. In the thick of a blazing summer season, Shawn dropped off the continuation of her 2021 EP BEFORE WE GO, entitled BEFORE WE GO (DEEPER). 

The fourteen-song project features India nestled perfectly over crisp production crafted by Grammy award-winning producer D’Mile. Shawn and D’Mile’s established chemistry and “healthy creative environment” ushers the singer’s artistry to new heights. She explained the feeling when working with D. “Magic,” Shawn told VIBE. “The chemistry was so great. [He’s] the only producer who I can say every idea that he makes, I want to do. And I always will always sing his praises. He’s just a good person, and that inspires me. He’s ushering in a new season for just the people with integrity and especially [for] men in the industry. I feel so safe working with him.”

The result is a trek through the remarkable terrain of a modern relationship, highlighting its rigid valleys and peaks. On “Cali Love (REMIX),” the LA songbird kicks off the project with rising New Orleans singer Ambré, longing for a West Coast romance. As she works on herself, chasing dreams of a “big break,” she ponders why falling in love is so difficult in the City of Angels.

“Too Sweet,” featuring Unknown Mortal Orchestra, samples the New Zealand band’s track, “A God Called Hubris,” and flips it into a playful number, with a smitten India flirtatiously crooning about her boo’s sex appeal. “Exchange,” one of VIBE’s Best R&B Songs of the year, continues the artist’s dive into eroticism. Intimacy reigns supreme throughout her passionate performance; she details her desire to make good on their rocky relationship through the one thing the couple does well. Slowly, Shawn bares her soul with buttery textured cadences to match the song’s steady tempo and devotion to sexuality. Offering romance, desire, love, and lovelessness, India Shawn’s latest expertly captures the ups and downs of a budding relationship. — M.A.G.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL 

'Heaux Tales, Mo' Tales: The Deluxe' - Jazmine Sullivan

A year after Jazmine Sullivan shared her Grammy-winning LP, Heaux Tales, she released its extended version. Rightfully so, Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales earned top 10 spots on VIBE’s Best R&B Albums lists, consecutively. 

With the inclusion of Rep. Maxine Waters’ viral declaration about “reclaiming my time” paired with confessions from Issa Rae and Sullivan themselves, listeners gained context behind more villain origin stories. Each new coupling induced altering sets of emotions. “Issa’s Tale” into “Tragic” screams I-don’t-give-a-f**k. A petty, noteworthy read is strung together as Sullivan sings, “Pacify you but I’m paying the cost/ Now I’m done pretending that ya getting me off when your when your d**k is tragic.”

From the male gaze, “A Breaux’s Tale” is their worst nightmare considering most can’t handle a woman who couldn’t care less about putting her wants and needs first. “Roster” is a far more ruthless evident sequel to “Pick Up Your Feelings” with Sullivan singing in a soft tone, “So don’t catch feelings/ We don’t even need ’em/ I’m not stopping in my prime/ You just gotta fall in line” as though she whispers toxic sweet-nothings to the temporary object of her affection.

The talk-yo-s**t attitude from “Mona’s Tale” segueing into “BPW” reiterates the album’s earlier statement that “the p***y is ours” as if declaring, “I want you to remember how good this p***y is/ I want to f**k your head up” wasn’t enough. “Hurt Me So Good” is the song cry Heaux Tales needed. It’s a cathartic liberation with a need to serve a destructive partner with their walking papers. With “Selfish” trailing behind like a 2-1 combo with its halting intro, the anthem closes out Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe—the album that speaks to all heauxs wherever you are in your journey. — M.A.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Marigold' - Alex Isley And Jack Dine

As a descendant of the great Isley Brothers, there could be pressure to live up to the family legacy. Fortunately for us, Alex Isley doesn’t ever appear to be rattled by her last name. Instead, she channels it—into a beautifully written, composed, produced, and performed album: Marigold. The joint LP features Jack Dine on the boards, and the two succeed at crafting a blissful expedition through Isley’s mind.

Continuing the momentum of 2019’s Wilton EP, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter presents a meditation on inner peace and what it feels like to fall in love for the first time on the redemptive “Love Again.” “Been looking for answers, some kinda sign,” Isley’s airy vocals sing. “A deeper meaning but not much to find/Except the sun in my face and it feels right/Had gotten used to the silence of the night.” The introspective cut sets the tone for “Under the Moon,” which finds Isley facing her insecurities, vowing to quit second-guessing her impulses, and seeing love through to completion. The duo taps Robert Glasper’s jazz mastery for the track “Still Wonder,” a mid-tempo ode to a previous flame. Following the theme of what could have been, a piano adds a layer of rich mesmerizing notes, creating a stunning bridge when Glasper appears towards the latter half of the track.

Isley’s project ends with the gorgeously composed “105.” The four-minute composition is a euphoric introspection, a compelling moment where the songstress is most self-aware. Atop a lovely acoustic guitar performance, Alex grapples with discarding her emotional baggage and facing the truth that joy, love, and solace have always been inside her. Marigold is the embodiment of a bed of flowers in full bloom, a field of tangerine-tinged buds glowing in the sun.

Isley doesn’t need to worry about her family’s legacy. Her brief LP is all the proof that the New Jersey-born crooner is primed for longevity. “I think it’s great to have the notoriety and the recognition for sure. But ultimately, I’m after longevity. I just want to do this for as long as humanly possible for a living,” she told VIBE. 

“The industry fame and everything — that comes and goes, but ultimately I love the art and the process of creating, and I love sharing and connecting with people who listen.” — M.A.G.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL 

'Untidy Soul' - Samm Henshaw

You know that moment when you discover an artist for the first time and you know you need to tell the world? That’s how it feels with Samm Henshaw. The British-Nigerian crooner made VIBE’s Best R&B Songs of 2021 list with his dreamy single, “Grow,” and kicked off 2022 with his debut album, Untidy Soul. 

The introspective conglomerative has elements of jazz, soul, and gospel that makes you want to fall in love with yourself, someone else, and your surroundings—good, bad, or otherwise—all at once. When first speaking on the album, Henshaw revealed the album is about finding the beauty in being a scatterbrain. The animated intro guides one into the dazzling, trumpet-laced “Thoughts And Prayers” and prior releases, the aforementioned “Grow” and the comical albeit romantic “Chicken Wings.” 

You’re then lured into the elusive “Mr. Introvert” as Henshaw sings his favorite line, “She likes to call me Mr. Introvert/I say I only save my words for her” before drifting away to a realistic honeymoon phase, basking in a sea of love and imperfections. “I’m no angel (If it’s me) Got no halo/Ain’t no saint, but you’re an answer to my prayers […] We fail love, then we face it/Then back to the basics, brand new,” he sings.

If it’s one thing Henshaw is going to do, it’s write a love song. “Loved By You” feels familiar to laying on your partner’s chest and listening to their heartbeat or tracing the lines of their hands before your fingers interlace. It puts apprehensions to rest, easing right into the intimate comfort of the Tobe Nwigwe-assisted “Take Time.” Though the subject matter stems from Henshaw’s actual breakup, the beautiful tragedy makes the record a different type of love song. However, like any great love story with all its winding turns and romantic nuances, Untidy Soul ends with Henshaw navigating his emotions that lead him to sweet joy—the culmination of a personal journey into maturation and awakening rooted in agape. —M.A.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

‘Girls Night Out’ – Babyface

The master learns from his students throughout Girls Night Out, a project full of soulful tunes conducted by one of the most multifaceted maestros of our time. Laced with soulful tracks from Kehlani, Ella Mai, and Queen Najia, Girls Night Out brings out the best of every songstress with Babyface taking on a supportive role with rich vocals and his legendary pen. Birthed from his infamous Verzuz battle with Teddy Riley, Babyface credits the Instagram platform and the youth for providing the intention to humbly share his talents with the Tik-Tok generation. “I went to Walgreens and as I was in there, this younger girl says, ‘Are you Babyface?’” recalled the 11-time Grammy winner to the Associated Press. “[She says,] I didn’t listen to you before, but I watched Verzuz and I really liked a lot of the things. And so, I’m a fan now.’”

“This was the perfect way to still be able to reach them without being stuck in the ‘90s or giving just what my core audience usually would like, which doesn’t go as far today,” he also shared with You Know I Got Soul. “The landscape has changed. If you can, you can change with that landscape.” Part of the changing landscape included switching up his collaborative style. While it would be easy to compare the production stylings of this album to the 1995 Waiting To Exhale soundtrack featuring songs penned for Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, and Brandy, Babyface wrote alongside Sevyn Streeter, Baby Tate, and Ari Lennox to get a feel of their respected creative process. The outcome is a transcendent journey into his catalog with samples (“Whip Appeal,” “Soon As I Get Home” and “Can We Talk” to name a few) intertwined in various takes on today’s takes on situationships, self-love, and the beauty in having a great time with the baddies.  

There are moments in Girls Night Out where Babyface morphs into the sultry voice of reason for album standouts like “Whatever” with Tink and “Simple” with Coco Jones. On the latter, it’s the advice around vulnerability while falling in love that pulls the heartstrings. “Don’t try to be smart, playin’ your cards,” they sing in unison. “Put ’em all on the table/ Maybe ’cause that’s how God made it/ He’s got his ways, but you got your ways, too.”

But he also takes a step back and learns a thing or two from the splashy “Liquor,” with Ari Lennox, and the dancehall-centric “One Good Thing” with Amaarre. Lennox’s vocals are simply irresistible, including her demands for a top-shelf gentleman. “No rocks, no blend, straight up, just you,” she belts. “I need one hundred from my man, he can’t be eighty-proof.”

Girls Night Out isn’t just an album for the ladies or R&B lovers; it serves as a masterclass in collaboration with a legend who continues to wow us decade after decade. — Desire Thompson

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Broken Hearts Club' - Syd

Over a decade later, Syd makes being a seminal artist of the 2010s look effortless. Setting the sonic groundwork for a legion of Black alternative artistry, the Odd Future alum/leading lady of The Internet uses her alchemy to turn influence into collaboration and loss into triumph. 

Never resting on the God’s-honest truth that her airy, high pitch is intoxicating on its own, the singer/songwriter/producer puts her full prowess to use to traverse a breakup on Broken Hearts Club. She abandons fairness in favor of a war for love on the album’s opening “CYBAH,” meshing with Lucky Daye’s velvety essence over ‘80s-pop synths. The two revel in the dissonance of a taboo that illustrates the title’s acronym: “Could you break a heart?/ If I asked you? If you had to?” At the onset, love is rocky ground.

Syd’s genius meets another match along the way with Smino, a fellow contortionist, on “Right Track.” From a vantage point where hopes are high, the pair slide over uptempo Spanish guitar riffs to encapsulate the rare moment when “things go right.” Voyaging from optimism to straight-up sex, the 30-year-old triple-threat displays her talent for crafting audible body language with “Control,” “No Way,” and “Getting Late.” As the climax brings clarity, a duet with Kehlani finds both ladies wanting to be staked and claimed. Riding the come-down of unmet needs, Syd drudges through grief toward self-love and acceptance, a journey that culminates in victory on “Missing Out:” “Hope you’re finding what you need/ Or what you seek/’Cause now I’m free/And maybe in another life/ You’d be mine mine mine/ But you’re missing out.”
Laced with contributions from Rodney Jerkins, Troy Taylor, and fellow decade-long pacesetter Steve Lacy, Broken Hearts Club is tangible evidence that the whole “R&B is dead” conversation must have given Syd a hearty laugh. — Iyana Robertson

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

'Watch The Sun' - PJ Morton

PJ Morton took all of his musical variants to make the greatest sonic gumbo with Watch The Sun. Morton’s eighth independent album and its accompanying deluxe edition is an audible, beautiful, reflective love letter to one’s self while conquering the struggles within life and relationships. It’s vulnerable, poetic, joyous, melancholic, earnestly selfish, and endearing. With “Love’s Disease (Just Can’t Get Enough),” the album begins with a statement: “I can’t promise it’s gon’ be easy/It’s gon’ be a journey/But as sure as the sun sets and rises again, so will you/Just watch the sun.” 

Have you ever watched a sunrise or sunset in its full glory? It operates on its own clock and regardless of the weather, rising and setting day after day is guaranteed. That sentiment coupled with the soul-stirring production gives listeners a chance to sit with the music, as Morton did while piecing together this puzzle of his own making. After losing the initial foundation of Watch The Sun, he stepped back, slowed down, and lived life.

The proud husband and father needed to sit in the woes of navigating a relationship during a pandemic to write the heart-wrenching, Grammy-nominated record, “Please Don’t Walk Away.” Additionally, “The Better Benediction” and the album, overall, earned Grammy nominations for Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best R&B Album, respectively. 

The genre-bending hybrid issued an enticing self-care anthem with “My Peace” featuring vocal siren JoJo, but its other features take the LP to soaring heights. Having Alex Isley and Jill Scott join forces on “Still Believe” is pure genius. Scott’s narration paired with Isley’s airy vocals has us yearning for a full EP while we ponder who else would be able to get Stevie Wonder and Nas on the same track. 

Listeners are also able to catch a groove with the El DeBarge-assisted “On My Way,” which is needed after the harrowing ballad, “Lil’ Too Heavy.” The point is that whether you need a quick escape or something to remind you that you aren’t fighting battles in isolation, Watch The Sun offers solace and then some. It’s as soothing as camomile tea with a hint of creamed honey and as direct as tough love. The bonus is that if you really just wanted to sit with the instrumentals, they’re easily accessible for when words aren’t enough. — M.A.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL