Kehlani and Lucky Daye are looking to weasel their way into some relationships hanging in the balance on “When He’s Not There”. This a brand-new single from the Oakland, California R&B/pop act and it’s here in rapid succession. It’s following up on their fourth studio album CRASH, perhaps the artist’s most ambitious and diverse tracklist to date. The project had soundscapes from the likes of R&B, pop, alternative, country, Afropop, and more. However, it seems that Kehlani is not done dropping albums, because “When He’s Not There” is kicking off roll out number two.
It’s leading the way for a sequel to her 2019, nine-song mixtape, While We Wait. If you need help remembering, it features the hit song with Ty Dolla $ign, “Nights Like This”. While We Wait 2 was essentially announced today and we already have a lot of details on it. It will feature a beefier set of songs with 14 and it will be out on Wednesday, August 28. Mid-week releases aren’t very common, but we can make an excuse for Kehlani. As we mentioned at the top, “When He’s Not There” is a pretty sly track, as both powerful singers try to play homewrecker when they can. This is now the second time them and Lucky Daye have collaborated.
Does he sleep on your side of the bed while our memories play in your head? Have you changed my name in your text? Not yet, no Girl, we still hidin’ in LA here and it’s feelin’ like hide and seek (Yeah) Know you’re missin’ your favorite seat (Your favorite seat, yeah, you so close to me) Turn off the lights keep one and leave your backdoor open I’m dive in half purgin’ when I’m ridin’ into your ocean
Chxrry22 is somebody you’re going to want to keep in your peripheral because she is “Poppin Out” in a big way. That happens to be the title of her newest single, or you can refer to it as “(Mistakes)”. The 27-year-old R&B singer is a XO Records signee and if you weren’t aware, that is The Weeknd’s label. He has been championing her work since 2022 when she put out her first EP/project, The Other Side. On that offering, Chxrry22 was looking to convey a “duality” that we all share. “The Other Side is about coming to terms with duality – we all have two sides. We can be both the villain and the victim in some story, and this is me owning that”.
However, in the case of “Poppin Out (Mistakes)”, Chxrry22 is certainly being portrayed as the victim. On this record, she’s going through a breakup. However, she gives herself a pep talk on the pre-chorus. “Cryin’ over n****s ain’t allowed / Being a heart broke b**** is outta style“. She then comes up with the perfect idea, and that’s to have a reckless night out. “You know my city ain’t seen me in a while / Ain’t hate me then, you gon’ really hate me now“. The melodies and chorus are true winners and the catch you attention right away. It’s already becoming a trend on social media, and it feels like Chxrry22 is going to be in the ears of a lot more people moving forward. Check out “Poppin Out (Mistakes)” with the audio link below.
Déjà vu, I can tell you how this ends I’ma turn you out but you ain’t seein me again Ain’t no wedding bands, these is rocks on my hands Throwin’ all your ones and then I’m leaving with friends On the 401 doing 105 Black card Barbies outside
Russ is keeping his pen sharp by returning with “If This Is It”. With how often he drops, it’s hard to find some new angle to talk about with this guy. However, what we can say is that he’s extremely dedicated to delivering time and time again for his fans. It’s proven through his weekly weekend releases like this one right here. This time around Russ is essentially detailing a tug-of-war type of relationship on “if This Is It”. “If this is it let me know / I don’t wanna see you go”, he begins on the chorus.“Do you want me, baby, yes or no? / What’s the plan? What’s the play? / ‘Cause I can’t walk away“. Then, in his verses, he continues the painful and panicked tone and storyline.
“Let me find out, she’s in Waikiki / Let me chill / She wouldn’t play me“. Later, Russ admits takes some responsibility for the situation they are now in. “You know I f***ing love you / I just don’t know what happening / I know we both struggle opening up“. This track is one of the reasons why he’s been able to succeed for such a long time. The number of tones he can go to is endless, and these relatable storytelling tracks is just one of the ones he has at his disposal. Give “If This Is It” by Russ a try with the YouTube link below.
Court-side, get a VIP tour Whoever said money doеsn’t buy happiness Must’ve nevеr given a bad b**** Dior But they were on to something ‘Cause I feel like I’ve given everything But it was just all for nothing
NoCap isn’t your typical rapper from the south. His delivery is definitely one of the aspects in his repertoire that sticks out the most. His drawn-out melodies and rap/singing style differentiate him from the rest of the pack of your standard trap MCs. Instrumentally speaking, he’s also quite unique. Guitars are a major piece to the puzzle, as well as piano keys, lowkey hi-hats and softer drums. He definitely works in some soul influence into his approach, too. All of these elements we just mentioned pop up on Before I Disappear Again, the sophomore LP from NoCap.
This project has been highly anticipated by his fanbase, and rightfully so. NoCap has put out some of his most successful and replayed singles ahead of this 23-song set. “Baby Drake” and “Yacht Party” are currently totaling over 2.3 million streams. Also teasing this project was the August 2 record, “Maliboo”. Also giving Before I Disappear Again some street cred so to speak are the features. French Montana, Quavo, his native contemporary, Rylo Rodriguez, as well as SoFaygo and his stylistic twin (in some respects), Sleepy Hallow, also land here. See what this project can do for you with the links below.
Kwazii is someone who we have been shedding some light on as of recent. The artist hails from just up north in great country of Canada and he has the ability to sing and rap. In some respects, he takes some cues from the likes of his more popular contemporaries from his hometown such as Drake, Tory Lanez, and PARTYNEXTDOOR. He really is a dual threat that is looking to make some noise with each release, and to be honest, he’s doing just that. His last three singles, all of which are promoting his forthcoming mixtape, I Was Perfect To Someone, are pulling in good numbers. In fact, all of them hold the top three spots in his top 10 popular releases on his Spotify.
As for Kwazii’s newest track, it’s called “Full Circle”. It’s clear that he is going to be focusing on themes of relationships and their complexities. The focus of “Full Circle” sees Kwazii painfully and annoyingly deal with a woman who’s constantly playing games and gaslighting him. He’s trying to put in the effort to fix their problems, however, she’s not willing to do the same. “You normalizing the things I just can’t do / You stubborn got me praying tryna break through / I tried a thousand ways nothing changed you“. You can check out the new track with the link below. As for when I Was Perfect To Someone will be out, you’ll have to wait until September 20.
Moments I tend to forget I’m told are nights to remember You always creep in my head I catch that scent of vanilla They tryna keep me in check I make a check when I еnter
Ravyn Lenae is showing that she’s willing to take chances on her sophomore album Bird’s Eye. This is her follow-up to her 2022 debut HYPNOS, and one that’s been led by some pretty great promotional tracks. The 25-year-old hypnotist from Chicago got the rollout started back in early May with her “Love Me Not / Love Is Blind” twofer offering up starkly different takes on R&B. One would say that it was great indication that Ravyn was working on trying new sounds. Then, about a month later, she would return with first-time collaborator Ty Dolla $ign on “Dream Girl”, a slick and dreamy cut about allowing yourself to fall for someone.
Finally, we would get “One Wish” with Childish Gambino, arguably the best and easily the most vulnerable track on the record. Here, Ravyn wrestles with her complicated relationship with her father. “Called me on my birthday / I thought you’d be on your way, oh / Candles burned down to the cake / Still not seeing your face… I can’t forgеt you / And I can’t hate you / No matter how hard I try“. On top of these, there’s still an even more vast soundscape to be had across Bird’s Eye. The closing “Days” presents a country/acoustic vibe to wind down to on the summer nights. “Candy” delivers more a smooth and wavy reggae vibe. Furthermore, we get hints of some early 2000s late 90’s R&B on “From Scratch”, especially instrumentally. Ravyn’s beats, writing, and vocals make for a more than memorable listen in the R&B genre this year.
The lead up to Chloe Bailey’s new album Trouble In Paradise has been one of pessimism on the listeners’ side. One of half of the Atlanta R&B duo Chloe x Halle was being bombarded with flop predictions due to what critics feel was not enough promotion. However, the 26-year-old songstress has been taking the doubts in stride and with confidence, something that this album has plenty of. This follows up her debut from just over a year ago, In Pieces. Just looking at each of the projects on tracklists alone, you can see that Chloe feels she can work alongside some more established names in her field. Those include Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, and Anderson .Paak.
We’d say that Chloe does more than enough to hold her own on these collaborations from Trouble In Paradise. What also is showing confidence in her skills are the production choices. This 16-song set features many subsets of R&B such as contemporary, Afrobeats, and pop. What also sets this LP apart from its predecessor are Chloe’s dynamic and showstopping vocal performances. The range she puts on display is quite amazing and great examples of this include “Same Lingerie”, “Rose”, “Might As Well”, and the intro, “All I Got (Free Falling)”. Chloe told the haters she feels she can never flop because she’s making music she loves. That is apparent here and we would say it’s more so than ever before.
It felt like L.A. was about to explode into an R&B party when Chris Brown’s 11:11 tour hit the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, August 6. As the second-to-last stop on the tour, anticipation filled the air over what Chris Brown might have up his sleeves. For the last two months, social media has been filled with hype-worthy and viral moments from the tour, whether it’s the iconic meet-and-greet photos or some of the stunts he pulled on stage.
From the moment fans gathered inside the area, the energy was high. Breakthrough R&B artists Maeta and Muni Long warmed the crowd up as the opening acts. Following their performance, Chris Brown emerged and delivered a set that satisfied his fans, both old and new. With a setlist consisting of over 40 songs over two hours, Chris Brown certainly delivered on all fronts. He leaped into the classic hits that turned him into a star, as well as recent songs that we’ve had on consistent rotation.
Adam Pantozzi / Andrew D. Bernstein Associates Photography, Inc.
Around the 9 p.m. mark of the night, the lights dimmed and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch when the LED screen behind the stage began its countdown. As the final seconds ticked away, the arena was plunged into darkness. Then, a single, dramatic beam of light illuminated Chris Brown on a raised platform. As the platform descended, he opened with “Angel Numbers / Ten Toes.” Fire and sparks erupted around the stage, and cheers roared throughout the stadium. The audience was clearly captivated from the get-go and all eyes were on Chris to see what was next.
The concert was thoughtfully segmented into four thematic acts: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Each element was specifically crafted to highlight different aspects and songs of Brown’s catalog. This created a cohesive visual experience that left fans guessing which songs would appear in each act. The screen behind the stage projected stunning and immersive visuals that complemented the theme.
The first act, “Fire,” ignited the night with high-energy tracks and fiery visuals. With the crowd—mostly women—screaming their hearts out and backup dancers giving it their all, the energy could quite literally be described as explosive. During this set, he performed songs such as “Heat,” “Party,” “New Flame,” “Ayo,” “Summer Too Hot,” and more.
As the concert transitioned into the “Water” act, the energy shifted to something more fluid and moody. The visuals consisted of underwater scenes that contrasted with the fiery visuals of the previous act. He leaned into the more sultry records in his catalog during the “Water” act, including “Liquor,” “Privacy,” “Wrist,” “Wet The Bed,” “Take You Down,” and “Under The Influence.” During this part of the evening, he was suspended mid-air on a floating platform.
Chris and his dancers delivered tight choreography on the circular platform, impressing the audience with his highly sensual moves. In between these acts, DJ Fresh kept the crowd energized with a mix of party classics and some of Chris Brown’s deeper cuts, keeping the crowd moving from start to finish.
Accompanying the third act, “Air,” was atmospheric, ethereal visuals and records like “Press Me,” “She Ain’t You,” “No Air,” and “Don’t Judge Me.” This part of the show saw Breezy continuing to hover over the crowd as he was suspended mid-air. Though the majority of the show saw the crowd dancing along to his infectious hits, this set offered the audience a chance to catch their breath before the finale.
Chris concluded with the “Earth” act, which grounded the night with a return to more of his upbeat tracks. For this section, where the visuals became more earth and organic, he reserved some of his biggest hits to date. Songs like “No Guidance,” “Call Me Every Day,” “Sensational,” and “Loyal,” lit the arena up before he concluded with “Grass Ain’t Greener.” For roughly two hours, Chris Brown worked like a machine, maintaining high energy levels without missing a single beat of choreography.
The final act succinctly captured the evolution of his career, paying homage to his roots and celebrating his longevity with recent hits. During the final moments on stage, he took a bow and brought his two daughters, Royalty and Lovely, on stage. The 11:11 tour’s LA stop was undoubtedly a testament to Brown’s artistry, longevity, charisma, and sheer talent. For those fortunate enough to attend, it was a night to remember.
Jhene Aiko possesses some of the most effortlessly soothing and stunning vocal chops of anyone in the R&B/soul genre. Sadly, though, the Los Angeles, California native has not been gracing us with her talents that much over the last few years. Her last studio album, Chilombo, dropped all the way back in 2020. However, if you want, you can count the rerelease of her 2011 debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s) in 2021. Or you could mention the fact that she put together a sleeping soundtrack for babies in 2022. As far as singles go, Aiko has more to offer in that department. In fact, her most recent is “Sun/Son” from January. This has us more and more hopeful that she is nearing a new album. Also helping that is this new Jhene Aiko single, “guidance”.
It comes in the midst of The Magic Hour Tour, with openers including Coi Leray, Tink, Umi, and Kiana Lede. Jhene Aiko is approximately halfway through, as today she will be performing in her hometown. She will wrap things up on August 22 in Columbus, Ohio, so maybe around then a new LP will be upon us. In the meantime, what does “guidance” have to offer. To be honest, it delivers and then some. On this 3:36-long record, Jhene is feeling free after finding the courage to move on from a relationship that is weighing on her. The track’s instrumental is so captivating that she decided to give fans a piano version, just like how she did with “Sun/Son”. Be sure to give each version a spin with the links below.
And you’re not enough for you It’s nobody’s fault, it’s nobody’s loss Just had a lot to learn You were the match that lit up my path To show me what bridge to burn
Whether you don’t know or are unwilling to admit, Muni Long is pretty quietly becoming a force in today’s R&B landscape. The Vero Beach, Florida singer’s career premiered in 2020, but the last 10 months have been extremely vital to her virality. It seems like the song that really changed the trajectory for her is “Made For Me”. The irresistible chorus, paired with her soaring vocals, are both aspects of this single to behold. However, she is no one hit wonder by any stretch. “Hrs & Hrs”, as well as one of her most recent releases, “Make Me Forget” are doing some serious work, too. However, the success of these records is just the beginning of something much larger. Muni Long is back once more with a major announcement, along with this new single, “Ruined Me”.
Just a few days ago, the 35-year-old star shared a short teaser to this eventual release via social media. In the clip, you can see Muni at a photoshoot, possibly for the cover art of her forthcoming album, Revenge. She would reveal the title and its release date in the accompanying caption, “I’ll get my #REVENGE on 8.30”. A lot of fans are extremely amped for what’s to come, and so are we. “Ruined Me” is another stunning display of Muni’s vocal chops, as she painful details her mindset following a break-up she clearly did not foresee. While you wait for the LP, spin “Ruined Me” with the YouTube link below.
I won’t pretend I was perfect Like I don’t deserve Some of this hurt, I’ve been hurtin’ I swear, it’s the worst Who? Whoever might try to love me next Is gon’ have a time
