R&B's Newest Wave: It's Back and Better Than Ever

It's no question that R&B has always been in the cultural spotlight. From those catchy Alicia Keys hits that you can't help but sing in the shower to the nostalgic Beyoncé throwbacks from the '90s and 2000s. Now, in its new, resurfaced form, it's never been better.

The Significance of R&B

As we ring in the new year and mark a decade since one of the most memorable years that Generation Z had the opportunity to live through, it is important that we look past the fidget spinners and "King Kylie" makeup tutorials of it all and honor the abundance of music that rippled through our radio waves.

One notable genre that would resurface after its world-stopping reign throughout the 90s and go on to conquer the remaining half of the 2010s, R&B continues to captivate the global music scene with its unique essence and timelessness.

Take the Quiz: What’s Your Secret Superpower? This Quiz Will Reveal Which Singer Icon You Resemble

This fun quiz will unveil your unique qualities and reveal which music icon you resemble the most.

A New Era

In the age of social media, music spreads much quicker. Whether artist are using digital ads to promote their new album to a popular song attached to an Instagram story, I believe it is safe to say (with a hint of shame) that I have discovered 78% of my favorite songs of all time doom scrolling on the reels until I can't keep my eyelids open. The other 22% comes from successful Shazam attempts at Old Navy.

In wake of this, R&B is now reaching more audiences, especially younger audiences that might not have a grasp on their favored genres since they are exposed to so many each day. As it becomes more mainstream, more artists like Mariah the Scientist, Olivia Dean, and Leon Thomas (always Andre in my heart) will begin to see an uptick in their streams. Then, masterminds such as Kehlani, Summer Walker, and Corinne Bailey Rae will resurge and... BOOM! Suddenly, the sky is a little blue-r, the sun shines a little brighter, and the grass is a little greener.

Kehlani Claims her R&B Crown

Oakland-native Kehlani has single-handedly clinched a song of the year spot for 2025 when she released her song that is "Folded" mid-year. This single alone has broke so many records and milestones for the artist, landing her a first-time solo Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit (No. 7), No. 1 and longest-running song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and most importantly, has been played 6,285 times through my AirPods over the course of 4 months (which, in my mind, is like winning a Grammy).

What people aren't aware of, though, is that she has been 'that girl' for over a decade. Chances are, you've heard a song or two. If you haven't, give the songs "After Hours" or "Distraction" a listen. Might I add that she is featured on a plethora of elite discographies, including (but not limited to) Cardi B, Charlie Puth, Jhené Aiko, and Justin Bieber.

Olivia Dean

Close enough, welcome back Corinne Bailey Rae. I have never in my life seen an artist blow up so quickly with so many popular songs, "So Easy (To Fall In Love)", "A Couple Minutes", and "Man I Need" to name a few. She is the textbook definition of "the moment".

Although those songs listed aren't my favorite, "It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be" is a class-act. The raw emotion and vocal performance called for Morgan K. instant stamp of approval.

Leon Thomas

Take your time, what's the rush? Oh nothing, just 4th grade-me internally screaming because Andre Harris is making hits a decade and a half after sitting at a grand piano in Tori Vega's house and making some of the best music that came out of Nickelodeon's golden age of television. On a serious note, this is not the first time Thomas has basked in the spotlight. Taking after his role in Victorious , he is an award-winning writer and producer.

Thomas worked on various notable projects, including:

• Writing and producing for GIVĒON, Kehlani, and Toni Braxton
• Co-wrote "Snooze" by SZA, which won a Grammy for Best R&B Song
• Co-produced on Drake's Certified Lover Boy
• Co-produced on Ariana Grande's Yours Truly and produced some songs on Positions.

So, yeah. He's a freaking icon and we didn't even know it. Well, I've known it since him and Tori sang "Tell Me That You Love Me" on S1 Ep11, but that's a conversation for another day.

Mariah the Scientist

And we definetly can't leave out the woman of the hour. Newly-engaged Mariah the Scientist has had a whirlwhind of a year with her hit song "Burning Blue" creating a distinctive sound for herself , which she would use in her new album HEARTS SOLD SEPERATELY. I must say, "Is It A Crime" is such a beautiful song (and Kali Uchis couldn't have been a better feature!!)

Fun fact: Miss Mariah actually studied biology on a scholarship at St. Johns University, hence her creative stage name.

Final Thoughts (And Faves!)

Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by Hip-Hop and R&B, old and new. As I've branched out and explored different genres, nothing compares to the addictive melodies and smooth beats that those genres provide, so to see that R&B is making its comeback and newer artists are receiving their flowers makes my music heart so happy.

If I could, I would talk about every single one of my favorite songs, lyric-by-lyric, but I'll save you some time. Listen to my full R&B Spotify playlist here. You can thank me later after you acquire the best music taste known to man.

And yes, I am aware there are 1,500 Summer Walker songs on there. Mind your biz!