Spotify has launched the second chapter of its CLASSICS program with “The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the Streaming Era,” covering the period from 2015 to the present day.
During the 2010s, R&B evolved, merging with various musical styles such as hip-hop, pop, Afrobeats, and indie, revitalizing the genre’s identity.
Curated by Spotify’s U.S. editorial team and Carl Chery, Head of Urban Music, the list encompasses the diverse spectrum of R&B, reflecting its quality, impact, replay value, influence, and cultural significance.
Among the featured hits are Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s “Best Part,” Beyoncé’s “Cuff It,” Jazmine Sullivan’s “Pick Up Your Feelings,” Childish Gambino’s “Redbone,” SZA’s “Good Days,” and more.
The selection is a snapshot of R&B’s evolution and contribution to the music landscape during the streaming era, highlighting its resilience and innovation in capturing the essence of contemporary culture.
You can hear the full playlist below and learn more about the selections here.
Maxwell has announced the dates for his upcoming tour of North America, where Jazmine Sullivan will join him. October London will also open on the R&B legend’s The Serenade Tour. The three R&B singers will play arenas across the country this coming Fall. Further, the tour kicks off on September 14 in Hollywood, Florida, and will conclude in Inglewood, California, at the Kia Forum. Maxwell and Jazmine Sullivan previously toured with one another back in 2008. That same year, Sullivan released her debut album, Fearless. She last toured in promotion of her latest EP, 2021’s Heaux Tales, which later saw a deluxe release.
Moreover, Maxwell previously toured the United States in 2022 in support of his long-awaited sixth studio album, NIGHT, the third installment of a trilogy that has yet to be released. The R&B legend played his most recent string of shows last month as a part of his Urban Hang Cruise. The Serenade Tour is certainly a stacked lineup for R&B fans. As we anticipate his upcoming shows, here are seven songs that we need to hear at Maxwell’s 2024 tour.
“Sumthin’ Sumthin’”
As a legacy act, Maxwell’s day one fans are going to want to hear him perform songs from his classic debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite. On the Night Tour, he started his set with “Sumthin’ Sumthin’.” The song will instantly set the mood for the live show with its infectious groove, starting the performance on a high note. Being one of Maxwell’s biggest hits, “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” is a necessity for fans to hear at The Serenade Tour.
“Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)”
Performing “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” is almost guaranteed at any Maxwell show. Easily his biggest hit, the classic R&B song is essential for diehard fans and casual listeners. The track’s swinging rhythm makes for one of Maxwell’s most danceable tracks that will encourage audience members to stand up from their seats and move to the beat. The opening falsetto melody that opens Maxwell’s first verse is instantly recognizable, prompting fans to attempt to sing along. “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” will likely make for a great encore and is an absolute must for a Maxwell performance.
“Dancewitme”
“Dancewitme” is one of Maxwell’s grooviest tracks, perfect for a live performance. Another highlight from Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, it would be a missed opportunity not to hear it on his upcoming tour. The gentle falsetto on the chorus is seductive, fitting for his suave and charismatic R&B persona. With a title like “Dancewitme,” the upbeat song urges a crowd to join Maxwell in moving along to the irresistible instrumental. One could even expect a bass solo to bring an extra component to the live show.
“Get to Know Ya”
“Get to Know Ya,” the opening track from Maxwell’s third album, 2001’s Now, is one of his funkiest tracks. The slapping bassline, along with the tight drum grooves, ensure warm audience reception. Also, fans will want to hear songs from each era of Maxwell’s discography, and Now’s lead single will be an anticipated song in the setlist. Much of his catalog feels like their intimate jam session, and hearing “Get to Know Ya” with a live band will bring new life into the song.
“Lifetime”
Maxwell’s upbeat grooves are important, but fans are also going to want to hear his classic ballads. One slow jam that needs to be incorporated into the setlist is “Lifetime.” Another major hit in his catalog, the song is practically made for singing along. Perhaps more than any other Maxwell song, the warm loving nature of “Lifetime” warrants some unified crowd participation. As a slower song, it will also allow him to address the audience and engage with fans.
“Bad Habits”
Aside from his earlier classics, Maxwell tends to perform numerous songs from 2009’s BLACKsummers’night, the first album in the trilogy. One of his most vocally and instrumentally gorgeous songs, “Bad Habits,” is an essential song for the Serenade Tour’s setlist, especially for his core fanbase. It will certainly satisfy fans of the BLACKsummers’night era. As a longer freeform song, “Bad Habits” lends itself to some live embellishments from Maxwell, his band, and his backup singers. There is plenty of opportunity for falsetto, belting, and solos from the drum, guitar, and trumpet players.
“Pretty Wings”
The Grammy-winning lead single from BLACKsummers’night is crucial for fans to hear on Maxwell’s upcoming tour. “Pretty Wings” is one of his signature songs and is one of his most recognizable slow jams. His tender vocal performance over the downbeat percussion provides the right moment for fans to sway and sing along. It will create an intimate moment between Maxwell and his audience. “Pretty Wings” might not be an encore, but it would allow for a heartfelt moment for his arena crowd. Among his extensive discography, few Maxwell songs embody the idea of The Serenade Tour better than “Pretty Wings.”
2024 is going to be a fine time for romance. After Usher’s Past Present Future tour kicking off in August, Maxwell is picking up the torch in autumn to keep R&B fans swooning with his Serenade tour, which kicks off in September in Hollywood, Florida, and runs through October, ending at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. He’ll be joined by Jazmine Sullivan, who accompanied him on his Maxwell 08 tour 16 years ago, and rising star October London, who’s begun making a name for himself with his throwback soul debut album, The Rebirth Of Marvin.
Tickets for The Serenade Tour will go on sale on Friday, March 29 at 10AM local time via musze.com. See below for the tour dates.
09/14 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
09/15 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/17 — Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
09/20 — Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
09/21 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
09/24 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/25 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
09/27 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
09/28 — Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at the BJCC
09/29 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/01 — Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
10/03 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/04 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
10/06 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/09 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/10 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/11 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/13 — St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
10/16 — Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
10/18 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/19 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
10/20 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/23 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
10/25 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
10/26 — Las Vegas, NV @ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
10/27 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
The upcoming Honeyland Festival in Sugar Land, TX, has sparked comparisons to the notorious Fyre Festival scandal of 2017. With a star-studded lineup featuring Mary J. Blige, Miguel, Summer Walker, Tems, and more, the festival holds high expectations. ‘It’s Giving Fyre Festival’ As anticipation builds, festival-goers question the event’s organization and transparency, raising concerns reminiscent […]
Tonight’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony has honored a truly stacked list of musical legends for 2023. During the show, Chaka Khan received a heartfelt tribute as one of the inductees. Other musicians like HER, Sia, Common, and Jazmine Sullivan welcomed her with the award.
Sullivan led Chaka Khan’s induction speech — giving kind words to one of her biggest inspirations. “That voice, as raw as it is sweet, as sensual as it is soulful, has guided us through good times and bad, through meet-ups and breakups, through desire and despair, through hard times and higher love,” Sullivan said, according to Rolling Stone. “Chaka’s voice will never get lost among her peers or fade in the background, her tone stands alone. Everything about Chaka is fire.”
She also shared a story about how Khan was there for Sullivan’s mother when she went into remission for cancer.
From there, HER, Sia, and Common all appeared at different times to perform a blend of Khan’s songs. Common did “I Feel For You,” and HER played stuff from Khan’s time in Rufus with “Ain’t Nobody” and “Sweet Thing.” Sia closed out the medley with “I’m Every Woman,” according to the publication.
Check out a video from Chaka Khan’s induction tribute here.
In a surprising turn of events, Teyana Taylor is set to take the stage as the headlining performer for Afropunk, replacing the previously announced Jazmine Sullivan. The announcement was made by Sullivan herself in a heartfelt Instagram story post on August 17. Jazmine Sullivan Passes The Baton While expressing her disappointment at being unable to […]
The music world is mourning the loss of Jazmine Sullivan’s beloved mother, Pam Joi Sullivan. On Saturday, July 22, Pam tragically lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer, leaving a legacy of love, strength, and inspiration. Jazmine Sullivan Shares Heartbreaking News Jazmine Sullivan shared the heartbreaking news with her fans through an emotional Instagram post […]
H.E.R. and Live Nation Urban have exciting news as they announce the highly anticipated return of the Lights On Festival on Sept. 16 and 17.
Now in its third installment, the festival is set to take place at the renowned Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, moving to the festival grounds for the first time after two consecutive sold-out editions in 2019 and 2021. Pre-sales for the event will commence on Thursday, June 29 at 12 pm PT, ending at 10 pm PT, with the general on-sale launching on Friday, June 30 at 12 pm PT.
This year’s festival boasts an impressive lineup, with GRAMMY® Award-winning R&B sensation Jazmine Sullivan headlining the first night on September 16. The festival will conclude with a special H.E.R. & Friends set on September 17. The diverse roster also includes talented artists like Don Toliver, Alina Baraz, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Doechii, DVSN, and many more.
“I’m so excited ‘Lights On Fest’ will be making its return,” H.E.R. says, “It’s my favorite way to wind down the summer by having two days filled with great R&B music. I am so proud to reveal the extraordinary talent we have on the bill this year and can’t wait for everyone to see what’s to come!”
Since its debut in 2019, H.E.R.’s Lights On Festival has made history as the first female-owned and curated festival in decades. Being a Bay Area native herself, H.E.R. aims to celebrate a genre-rich lineup of artists from her hometown and beyond. In addition to outstanding musical performances, the festival also features attractions such as a film screening tent, live art installations, an R&B Museum, a Guitar Lounge, and an expansive arcade.
HER‘s Lights On Festival, which she launched in her native Bay Area in 2021 with co-headliner Erykah Badu before expanding to Brooklyn with Maxwell, is coming back for another round of soulful performances this September in Mountain View, California. This time, she’ll be accompanied as co-headliner by Jazmine Sullivan, with support from PartyNextDoor, Don Toliver, Alina Baraz, Toosii, Smino, and Syd, in addition to many more breakout artists in hip-hop and R&B.
The Lights On Fest is billed for the weekend of September 16-17 at Shoreline Festival Grounds in Mountain View. The presale for tickets begins this Thursday, June 28, at 12 pm, while the general sale begins on Friday at 12. You can get more information at LightsOnFest.com.
While some fans thought HER was in danger of becoming oversaturated, what with her numerous Grammys, Oscars, and Emmys — she’s only a Tony Award away from an EGOT — she has kept a low profile early this year after declaring that she wanted “people to get to know the person behind [the HER persona]” — a process that drew plenty of positive attention. Making a comeback with her well-received festival will help with that, as will her upcoming role in the musical remake of The Color Purple dropping later this year.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Music director and artist Adam Blackstone surprised his fans with the release of his debut album, Legacy, in 2022. The album showcases a fusion of jazz and pop, a departure from his familiar roles in the Super Bowl, R&B, and hip-hop scenes. Blackstone explains that returning to his jazz and gospel roots pleasantly surprised some […]
