Best R&B Albums of 2024

Best R&B Albums of 2024

10. Cut Ties / Kiana Lede I'm sick of telling people to listen to Kiana Lede her labels def about to drop her lol smh when I tell you this girl has sooo many great songs and lowkey Kiana Lede is one of those girls secretly singing 90% of the females in the industry down. This project isn't as good as "Grudges" or her masterpiece "Kiki" and honestlyyyy I wanted to put Bryson Tiller, Leon Bridges, or Tems here BUT- we're going Kiana sorry idc. this album is still gorgeous even if many songs sound the same.

09. Sincere / Khalid Is anyone following Khalid's messy gay breakup?? A) I always knew he was gay and i'm glad he got outed HAHA horrible thing to say but he's fine , no, its the way his ex looks so hot and toxic/messy go look it up B) This album is really good. I've always really enjoyed Khalid. I've also always been fascinated how he's gotten people to take him seriously as a vocalist mumbling inaudibly within 3 intervals below middle C... and yet it sounds so sexy like?? He's great to me. 08. 3 / Ella Mai Um its a 3 song EP (for her 30th bday? lol) buttttt its 3 songs i listen to everydaaay multiple times a day? and tbh I just love Ella Mai. just one of those voices and songbirds whos always giving a catchy repetetive hook.. something about the combo that makes her that makes her music feel instantly timeless and accessible. She's also one of my favorite artists to watch live performances of on youtube. Some people just really make the absolute most of their talent and skill level. Like Ella Mai can forsure sing.. but she's far more limited vocally/range wise than a lot of the big powerhouse girls and yet.. she gives this certain swag, quiet confidence, mic technique on stage that just really sells everything we're looking to buy re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU6ISEfi8uo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpPuu7BTvsw I'm also obsessed with the insane Cinderella story way she was plucked from obscurity by DJ Mustard and instantly slated to sell on a mainstream level.. that tone is just something you can't force or strive for - ella mai was born to sing as a recording artist and I love that inherent kind of star quality that just kind of exists in some people.

07. Baby Making / Jacques Dude I loveee Jacques this should probably be higher but this mixtape should have been longer?? You either love or hate the sound of Jacques, I find his voice and phrasing so satisfying and uniquely impressive. Jacque's best babymaking is actually "Feel it" but don't worry there's 3 songs on here i'm definetly rotating into the sex playlist now that It appears I'm in a relationship and have to touch someone regularly god what a chore - playlists make it more fun and performative tho hehe. 06. Coming Home / Usher I feel like no one my age actually listens to new Usher music but there's so many good songs on this album look Usher really is my generation's goat and for damn good reason. A lot of this album feels more Pop/Sam Smith vibes ?? than his usual sound but i'm into it and as a whole is balanced with so many like Classic Usher sounding Bops - Good Good, A Town Girl, Luckiest Man. 05. For the Boy in Me / Dylan Sinclair

This is such a vibe I love his voice so much. "Lemon Trees" !! "Crew > Boo"!! "Slo Mo" "Narcissist"! <3 I always start one of those and tend to just let the rest play while I work or something. Yeah there's a lottt of progressive rnb albums from independent artists that all sound like they're attempting whatever vibey alt-rnb sound this album is (successfully) achieving... but yeah, his was the one that did this the best for me. I swear Dylan Sinclair's vocal tone is what I swear mine sounds like when I'm in the shower lmao no I hope his career really takes off and he gets a big push from a bigger label and a top 40 bop or something. The man is butter to me. 04. Revenge / Muni Long Ugh I love Muni Long! A lot of people, like, don't I realize lol... this isn't as perfect and timeless as Public Displays of Affection but man one thing Muni Long is going to do is write a great song with a great hook and give youuu vocal beast who clearly smokes?? Right? Muni Long WORKS dude its always like SING PRISCILLA like giving us crisp runs and singing that sounds like EFFORT (in a good way) but coming from super dehydrated, exhausted, raspy vocal chords. She'll have nodes by the third album and guess what.. that's okay.. that was the assignment. The live recording of "Made for Me" she dropped from her soul train performance will probably top my Apple Music Replay top 5? Lowkey the best song off this album is "Superpowers" lmao its honestly so corny but like so clever and satisfying and the adlib stacking goes so hard for me. "Make Me Forget" is so fucking good. I love and really relate to "Type Questions" "30s" "Waste No Time" right now. "Ruined Me" really grew on me lately too. "Type Questions" "Make Me Forget" "30s" e03. Winter Diary 5 - Tink 03. Winter Diary 5 / Tink If Tink's music doesn't resonate with you, it's probably for the best, go be happy- I became obsessed with Tink like instantly after a breakup of life ruining proportions and most my fam abandoned me and I was like physically attacking Big Chicks regulars and tinder dates via trauma response that made all my friends like tip toe around me.... WHAT who said that no, I'm laughing when I say this -because its so funny how life can switch an in instant and suddenly all you listen to is Eminem's Recovery and like Tink winterdiary EPs sksks. No, this album is actually less depressing and triggering than several previous works.. It's not in my top 3-4 projects of hers but man Tink just has one of those voices and suuch a poignant point of view that's consistently powerful. "Huh" "Songs About You" "Playa" "Charged Up" "Grip Tight" "Insane" there aren't any duds tbh Iisten to this straight thru for 45 minute when i'm sad often lol. 02. While We Wait II / Kehlani I love Kehlani so much and I'm definitely one of those fans she complains about who doesn't want to hear her sing anything but "It Was Good Until It Wasn't" lol. I'm all for her experimenting with her sound and tbh Crash is growing on me.. I'm not revisiting Blue Water Road.. especially now that she's gifted us this perfect EP in addition to all her earlier stuff that I'm obsessed with. It's the same exact sound as the first While We Wait except that one's more romantic and wholesome and this one's more mature and for babymaking. "When He's not There" "S.I.N.G.L.E." "Know better" "Border" "8 Remix with Flo" "Ballin'" ugh!

01. Mutt / Leon Thomas Greatest new discovery of the year for me. So this dude wrote "Snooze" for SZA and a lot of other rnb songs I enjoy from the last few years. He also was one of the leads from the Nickelodeon show "Victorious"?? Yeah, nearly every song on this album is great and repeat worthy. My favorite is provably "Yes, it Is" bc it's my favorite to sing. Tbh my bias for absolute favoritisim usually lends itself to singers who sing in comfortable keys for me to sing along to lol re Summer Walker, Billie's first album, this guy, Tems, lol. It's funny- a lot of the cool girl vocalists sing hella low and all the it-boy-vocalists are still like mezzo sopranos (hardly even being hyperbolic) I can't even belieeeeve how high like 100percent of The Weeknd and Bruno Mars songs sit.. But anyway, no it's so refreshing to hear a rich, silky baritone sing R&b love songs that feel.. particularly contemporary? Like much moreso than a John Legend album for example (who i love lol this almost feels like a dated, Boomer opinion). "Yes it Is" "Far Fetched" "Mutt" "Answer Your Phone" "Vibes Don't Lie" "I Do" "I Used To" everyday