One of the new kings of streaming, 21-year-old Florida singer and rapper Rod Wave is fully capitalizing on his rapid rise to prominence and has released what is now his third studio album in just under a year and a half. While his earlier works saw him placing a heavy focus on emotional storytelling, often … Continue reading Rod Wave – SoulFly
R&B Reviews
Giveon – When It’s All Said And Done … Take Time
California R&B artist Giveon is just another massive benefactor of the all-powerful Drake stimulus, rising rapidly to prominence after the then-unknown was featured on a single from the 6 God’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes early last year. Now with a Grammy nomination under his belt, he has combined his first two EPs into a full-length … Continue reading Giveon – When It’s All Said And Done … Take Time
Various Artists – Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
This might be a music blog, but we’re deep into Oscar season – and a star-studded soundtrack from one of the year’s frontrunning films has broken into the public consciousness in a big way. Curated by all-star hip-hop producer Hit-Boy, a wide array of rap and R&B’s young rising stars and absolute legends come together … Continue reading Various Artists – Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
20-year-old singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks has been attracting critical attention in her home country of the UK for a couple years now, and she’s managed to bring that energy across the Atlantic just in time for her debut studio album. With a deeply soulful sound drawing influences from funk and jazz yet recorded in … Continue reading Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
ZAYN – Nobody Is Listening
Perhaps returning with a title that’s a little too on the nose, the most elusive former member of OneDirection’s third studio album is here. Famously averse to the public eye and seemingly perfectly fine with not achieving the same level of success as some of his other former bandmates, ZAYN has been busy living an … Continue reading ZAYN – Nobody Is Listening
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Back for the first time since 2015’s Reality Show album, esteemed R&B vocalist Jazmine Sullivan has returned with what is essentially a concept EP. Featuring eight tracks that stir up a wide range of important discussions regarding society’s attitude towards women owning their sexuality and the emotional implications of walking that complicated tightrope between displaying … Continue reading Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Ariana Grande – positions
Well, that “break” that she said she needed didn’t last very long. One of pop music’s most prolific and influential figures has returned once again with her third album in just over two years, following up a pair of highly personal albums that catapulted her into an entirely new level of superstardom and critical acclaim. … Continue reading Ariana Grande – positions
Omar Apollo – Apolonio
Genre-defying singer and guitarist Omar Apollo has recently been making waves and growing his profile through collaborations with people like Kenny Beats and Joji, so now would be the perfect time to unleash his debut album. While Apollo’s artistry has never truly shone through on his collaborations, often sounding a bit like an off-brand Frank … Continue reading Omar Apollo – Apolonio
Trey Songz – Back Home
With the lacklustre Tremaine The Album three years ago, it was clear that a veteran like Trey Songz was rapidly becoming out of place with the direction R&B was moving. With his latest release Back Home, instead of better learning how to adapt to modern trends, Songz took things the other way entirely and leaned … Continue reading Trey Songz – Back Home
Joji – Nectar
After completely shedding his former career as YouTube-based absurdist shock comedian and breaking through with the lo-fi Ballads 1 in 2018, 88Rising figurehead Joji has returned with a sophomore album that more than evades the curse. Nectar essentially takes the ideas Joji began exploring with his debut and improves just about everything about them, building … Continue reading Joji – Nectar
