SZA Started Making Music ‘To Prove A Point’ To Someone, And You’ll Never Guess Who

Around this time last year, SZA joined the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast and shared (among many things) that she “100 percent did not think” she’d enjoy mainstream success. She also discussed the somewhat accidental start to her now-acclaimed music career in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, posted Wednesday, December 13.

“Some people choose music as a career, and they feel very certain about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, but I was never quite certain, and I really only did music to prove a point,” she said, beginning at the 26:19-mark. After Lowe asked her to whom that mentality was aimed at, she said. “When I started making music, it was to my ex-fiancé because he was paying for everything. My food, my clothes, where I lived, and he was eight years my senior, so I was so co-dependent.”

SZA continued:

“And he was so talented, and like, he’s a designer — so brilliant. His ex-girlfriends were all lawyers and businesswomen and artists that went to [Rhode Island School Of Design], and all these things, right? And you know, I’m a college dropout. I’m still bartending at the strip club, so it’s giving — like, I felt like a lacked value. So, when I started trying to make music, it was this thing that I didn’t have to try at but was randomly good at because I’ve always written poetry and always felt emotional.”

The most-nominated artist at the 2024 Grammys went on to explain how ostracized she felt from “the kids from my little suburban town,” her evolution toward how comfortable she feels within herself now, and how she doesn’t “have any more goals” because she’s already achieved more than she ever thought she would. She finished by touching on how she wants “healthy relationships” moving forward.

“My biggest priority now is being an emotionally regulated person with healthy relationships,” she said.

Watch the full interview above.

When Was SZA Married?

SZA Variety December 2023
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Last December, SZA released SOS, her highly anticipated sophomore album that wildly outperformed her expectations, spending 10 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She’s in the headlines this December as well.

This week, SZA teased Lana, which has been billed as the deluxe version of SOS. She also sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe to reflect on the past year.

Just over 26 minutes into the 52-minute conversation, SZA said something that caused fans to do a double-take. She explained that she “was never quite certain” about her viability as an artist, and she “really only did music to prove a point.” Lowe asked to who addressing in her early work. SZA said, “It was to my ex-fiancé because he was paying for everything. My food, my clothes, where I lived, and he was eight years my senior, so I was so co-dependent.”

Time out. Ex-fiancé? SZA keeps her private life private, so some people were surprised to hear that she had previously been engaged, though she also briefly mentioned him to Rolling Stone earlier this year.

“When we talk, she doesn’t divulge her ex-fiancé’s identity, though she describes him as a fashion designer who doesn’t post on social media,” Rolling Stone‘s Mankaprr Conteh wrote in October. “They became unengaged five or six years ago, she says, having been together for a total of 11 years and engaged for five. I do some quick maths and conclude that they must have started dating around the time she was in high school. ‘I was fresh from high school,’ she concurs.”

SZA hasn’t publicly offered up much detail about ex-fiancé — and it doesn’t seem like she plans to — but she damn sure wouldn’t tell us if she’s ever been married. Based on everything we do know, though, it would seem that she has never been married. She did give Conteh insight into her mindset toward relationships moving forward, as excerpted below:

“Having spent her youth ‘around a n***a, up under a n***a, trying to get up under a n***a, like, needing that constant validation, companionship, like scared to be by myself and sh*t,’ she’s now concerned she won’t settle into another relationship while she’s in her prime, as if when she’s older she won’t still be the incredible beauty she is now.

‘I feel like I have more to offer than the way I look and my energy, but it’s like, I’m human, that sh*t is all-encompassing,’ she reasons. ‘I want to stunt like me when I meet the person I envision me being with. I envision them falling in love with me the way I am. But I guess it’s like I have to release that idea. Maybe it’s because I don’t know if I’ll like the way I am later?’”

Who Is SZA’s Ex-Fiancé?

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In a new interview with Zane Lowe, SZA revealed that she first started making music to prove a point to her ex-fiancé. She’s talked about this mysterious individual before — at least, in print — but for many fans, the real surprise of this story was that SZA has an ex-fiancé (because nobody reads anymore, y’know?).

In the quote, she said, “Some people choose music as a career and they feel very certain about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it… I really only did music to prove a point… When I started making music, it was to my ex-fiancé, because he was paying for everything… I was a college dropout still bartending at the strip club, so I felt like I lacked value. So when I started trying to make music, it was this thing I didn’t have to try at, that I was randomly good at.”

So, who is SZA’s ex-fiancé? Well, she hasn’t revealed many details about him. In this interview, she says he was a “designer” and his ex-girlfriends were all lawyers, businesswomen, and artists. That doesn’t exactly narrow it down. Meanwhile, when she’s previously talked about him, as she did in a Rolling Stone feature earlier this year, she noted that he’s a Capricorn, which… again, tells us less than nothing (I’ll save my zodiac girlies rant for another article).

Rolling Stone also noted that the SOS song “Nobody Gets Me” is about this mysterious suitor, and says he proposed before she went on tour. However, per the line, “You was feelin’ empty, so you lеft me,” it seems that he couldn’t handle her newfound fame and broke things off. There aren’t any other identifiers in this song, but perhaps when the deluxe version of SOS, Lana, drops soon, SZA will reveal more.

SZA’s ‘Lana’ Deluxe Album: Everything To Know Including The Release Date, Tracklist & More

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SZA announced that the deluxe version of her album, SOS, will be titled Lana. Given the massive success of the record already, fans are excited to see what else she has in store.

“It’s outtakes and new stuff, too — I added a couple of songs,” SZA previously shared to Variety. “It’s like a whole new project. It’s called ‘Lana’ — my name but, it’s the first tattoo that I ever got, when I was 13. It was 10 bucks a letter and I only had 40, so that that became my nickname for no reason. ‘Lana’ is really just the B-side of SOS.”

Here’s everything to know about the extended release.

SZA’s Lana Release Date

SZA’s Lana deluxe album does not currently have an official release date. Her reps confirmed that it was still TBA as of Monday, according to the publication.

SZA’s Lana Tracklist

Right now, the tracklist for SZA’s Lana is still unknown too.

Features On SZA’s Lana

There are also no features at this moment for Lana — although that might change when the official tracklist gets revealed.

Singles From SZA’s Lana

SZA has yet to release any singles from the deluxe version. Her previous SOS singles included “Kill Bill,” “Good Days,” “I Hate U,” “Shirt,” “Snooze,” and “Nobody Gets Me.”

SZA’s Lana Album Artwork

Earlier this week, SZA put out three possible options for the cover art for Lana on social media. Complete with a Parental Advisory tag, one finds SZA in a pig pen and posing, one is her doing a cute pose in a white outfit on a chair, and the other is her outside in a leaf-themed outfit. Check out all three below.

SZA To Celebrate First Anniversary of ‘SOS’ With Deluxe Version, ‘LANA’

SZA

SZA, well-known for her hit album SOS, is celebrating the first anniversary of her successful release. In a surprising announcement, the talented R&B artist took to social media to reveal a highly-anticipated surprise. 

Happy Anniversary

SZA’s album SOS took the music industry by storm, and on Sunday, December 11, she marked its first anniversary with a heartfelt message on social media. The “Snooze,” singer wrote:

“Happy one-year Anniversary to an album that is actively changing my life more than a tweet can ever say. I love all of you .. we came so fucking far. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME HERE #CAMPFOREVER #SOSFOREVER.” 

Climbing The Charts

A month after SOS’s release, the album spent six weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Charts

Undoubtedly, SZA made history with her second highly-anticipated album, becoming the first woman with an R&B album to hold No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks in 30 years, since Janet Jackson’s 1993 hit album, Janet.

The “Kill Bill,” singer is no stranger to being at No. 1 on the charts, as she recently achieved this feat alongside rapper Drake. The two collaborated on the song “Slime You Out,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart when it was released on September 15, 2023.

‘LANA’

Adding to the excitement, the “Consideration” collaborator released three new photos on her social media platforms, capturing her in different settings. 

The enigmatic captions accompanying the photos simply read, “LANA.” While SZA has not provided a release date for the deluxe album, fans couldn’t contain their excitement and began speculating about what “LANA” could entail. 

Fans were quick to analyze the details in the photos, noticing that in one of them, SZA is pictured wearing a blue jersey with the number 15, sparking speculation.

One user named @szalishhh wrote, “do we think LANA is the deluxe or is it actually going to be a whole nother project? i went back and read SZA’s Variety interview and im starting to think it might be a whole new album.. Especially with this type of rollout for a DELUXE? It’s giving new project!” Fans are also speculating that the album may be released on December 15, as she was posed with the number 15 on her jersey as stated and shown before. 

Welcome To Gag City

In other news of notable album releases, rap icon Nicki Minaj recently unveiled her highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2. The Barbz have been in a frenzy as they lead the way to “Gag City.”

The post SZA To Celebrate First Anniversary of ‘SOS’ With Deluxe Version, ‘LANA’ appeared first on SOHH.com.

SZA Teases “Lana” Deluxe Album: What We Know

SZA is one of the hottest hip hop/R&B acts on the face of the Earth right now, with her 2022 album SOS continuing to bring in accolades and drive incredible sales. The deluxe edition of the album, titled Lana, is expected to drop in the near future, with the “Kill Bill” singer initially claiming the project was slated for a Fall 2023 release. While SZA has remained highly cryptic with the details of the upcoming project, there are a few key pieces of information that we have confirmed thus far.

SZA Has Shared Over Half A Dozen Possible Covers For The Project

SZA took to Instagram to share a series of images, each highlighted by a caption reading simply “LANA.” The images, which range from shots of the singer flanked by farm animals or camping out surrounded by nature, are a far cry from the cover image of SOS. On the SOS cover, SZA can be seen overlooking the crashing waves of a treacherous and choppy sea beneath her, from a vantage point atop a long diving board. The image invokes themes of solitude, loneliness, and misunderstanding, each representing central themes of the album’s content.

If these new cover variants exist to provide fans with an understanding of the themes present on Lana, the album will likely focus on concepts such as growth, fertility, and tapping into the natural spaces around oneself. One image in particular sees SZA standing in a lush green field, draped with vines and leaves in place of her usual flowing locks.

The Album Will Contain Brand New Music

Though Lana was first billed as a deluxe outing for SOS, it seems the project has grown into a full-length creation all its own. SZA recently explained that the album began as a simple compilation of B-sides but now contains a host of new music that she has worked on since the release of her last studio album over one year ago.

When she first discussed the project back in August, SZA referred to Lana as a 7-10 track outing, which would be less focused on being a cohesive body of work and geared more toward releasing songs that couldn’t find a home on the 23-track run of SOS. As she continued working on the project, it seemed as though SZA’s perspective on Lana had changed, with the singer telling Variety, “I can’t tell if now’s the time to be careless, or consistent” back in September.

The Album’s Title Carries A Special Significance

When SZA first announced Lana as a deluxe title for SOS, many fans wondered who or what the title could be referencing. Apparently, SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, has taken on Lana as something of an alter ego. According to the “Gone Girl” performer, this stems from a tattoo she got when she was 13. Apparently, some friends were providing tattoos for $10 per letter, and SZA had $40 to spend, resulting in her choosing Lana for no particular reason.

Beyond that, the tracklist, release date, and features for Lana have all remained unconfirmed, leaving fans with very little information to parse through. Of course, SZA’s latest photo dump of potential Lana covers seems to have signaled significant progress on the project, meaning a release could be just around the corner.

[Via]

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SZA Fans Think She Finally Revealed The ‘Lana’ Release Date With Her New Cover Art Photo Dump

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It’s been slightly over a year since SZA released her latest album, SOS, on December 9, 2022. For the past few months, SZA has been teasing a deluxe edition of the album, dubbed Lana (SZA’s full legal name is Solána Imani Rowe). There’s been no release date officially revealed yet, but now fans think SZA has covertly let the cat out of the bag.

In a series of social media posts, SZA shared what appears to be different cover art options for Lana, based on the fact that they’re all in a square aspect ratio, that they all have the parental advisory label on them, and that SZA captioned all the posts, “LANA.” Furthermore, a few of the photos feature SZA wearing a generic sports jersey with the number 15 on it, which has fans thinking the project will be released this Friday, December 15. SZA herself has yet to confirm the speculated release date.

A couple hours before those posts, SZA shared another one reflecting on SOS a year after its release. She wrote:

“a day late but Happy 1 year anniversary to an album that is ACTIVELY CHANGING MY LIFE .. like rn currently changing my life . I haven’t processed this year AT ALL cause it’s still happening .. this is beyond my wildest dreams . I never imagined we’d accomplish a fraction of the accolades that came from this .. it often doesn’t feel real and it’s funny cause I swore I’d know what to do if it ever happened [crying laughing emoji] turns out I I froze .. I know the perils of drinking the koolaid so I won’t dabble in that .. but I have to express the immense GRATITUDE I have for every person that made this possible . Every person that’s been apart of this journey. Thank you to GOD and to my incredible TEAM and My FAMILY . My ancestors . Thank you to every person that streamed this album ,came to a show , blasted it in traffic and connected w ANY part of me . To everyone that continues to believe in me and be patient w me as I figure it all out . your my driving force . I love you [heart hands emoji] [hearts emoji] #campforever #SOSFOREVER.”

After Their Missing ‘For All The Dogs’ Collab, Nicki Minaj And Drake Reunite On ‘Needle,’ Which Also Features A SZA Cameo

Nicki Minaj’s highly anticipated new album Pink Friday 2 has arrived as one of the final major releases of 2023. Given Minaj’s star power, she was able to pull some big-time collaborators into the fold for the project. That includes longtime associate Drake, who features on “Needle.”

The track also features a surprise cameo from SZA via a sampled voicemail that introduces the track. She says, “I mean, I don’t know if I like girls, I saw Sheila at Seraphin. Maybe we had too much tequila. Actually, yeah, we definitely had too much tequila ’cause I don’t know why I’m even playin’ on your phone right now. I’ma just block you, bye.”

Drake offers the song’s first verse and a catchy chorus, on which he sing-raps, “Pull up the Maybach and bend your leg back / Let’s engage that, don’t delay that / You’re like a needle, life’s a haystack / Friends they can leave us, you could stay back.”

This collaboration resolves the For All The Dogs situation: A link-up between the two was previously teased, but when Drake’s latest album dropped, Minaj was nowhere to be found on it. Now, though, they finally managed to make something happen before the year ended.

Listen to “Needle” above.

Pink Friday 2 is out now via Young Money/Republic Records. Find more information here.

Sexyy Red Opens Up On How “Rich Baby Daddy” Came To Be

Earlier this month, Sexyy Red dropped the deluxe version of her breakout album Hood Hottest Princess. The album was originally released earlier this year and served as her breakthrough moment. It dropped off the strength of “Pound Town 2” which featured Nicki Minaj and spawned even more hits like “SkeeYee” and “Hellcats SRTs.” The deluxe version added an entire 11 new songs which are stacked with big features. Chief Keef, 42 Dugg, G Herbo, Summer Walker, and Sukihana all appear on the new tracks from the deluxe edition.

Earlier this week Sexyy Red teamed up with Billboard to answer some fan questions on Threads. She discussed numerous tracks from her debut album and the deluxe edition. She also dove into some of the collaborations that resulted in those tracks. But Sexyy also had something to say about the making of one of her biggest songs to date “Rich Baby Daddy” with Drake and SZA. The song landed on Drake’s new album For All The Dogs and has already racked up more than 90 million streams. It’s also still hovering inside the top 30 of the Hot 100. When asked about how the track came together, Red kept it brief. “Me and Drake already was cool ever since he brought me on his tour. We talked about doing songs then he put SZA on it,” she explained. Check out all the questions she answered below.

Read More: Sexyy Red Called Herself The “Modern Day Boosie”

Sexyy Red Answers Fan Questions

Last week, Sexyy Red had an Instagram live that left fans particularly curious. In the live, she made references to the Illuminati and secret societies and claimed that she couldn’t get out of the music industry because she’s making too much money. While many think she was joking some took her at face value and tried to dissect what exactly she would be talking about.

The comments resulted in a few jokes made at Red’s expense by Nick Cannon on his podcast earlier this week. What do you think of Sexyy Red’s brief explanation of how she ended up on Drake’s song “Rich Baby Daddy?” Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Sexyy Red Delighted By A Bobblehead Of Herself In New Video

[Via]

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The Best R&B Albums Of 2023

Best R&B Albums Of 2023
Getty Image/Merle Cooper

There are two words that can describe R&B in 2023: recognition and elevation. The two worked hand in hand over the course of 12 months to place the genre in a brighter light compared to previous years. SZA is the epitome of this recognition as her sophomore album SOS and highlight songs like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze” had their presence felt on the charts throughout the year. It all played a role in a year that Spotify said produced a 25% stream increase of R&B music.

There are other notable and extremely talented contributors to this increase. There’s Victoria Monét and her dazzling Jaguar II album which is also home to the infectious “On My Mama,” a record that quickly became Monét’s most popular track. We also have Janelle Monáe’s splendid fifth album The Age Of Pleasure which made a joyous splash in the industry during this year’s summer months. Daniel Caesar, Sampha, and Jorja Smith made long-awaited returns with their respective albums, Never Enough, Lahai, and Falling Or Flying.

The veterans of R&B thrived in 2023, but so did the newcomers. Look no further than Leon Thomas III’s debut Electric Dusk, Fridayy’s delf-titled debut, and Khamari’s A Brief Nirvana. Artists new and old within the traditional, contemporary, and alternative R&B genres thrived in 2023 and helped bring the genre to a new level, and now, it’s time to celebrate their work.

Here are the 25 best R&B projects of 2023 in alphabetical order.

6lack — Since I Have A Lover

6lack since I have a lover cover art
LVRN/Interscope

It’s always beautiful to see musicians continuously find new ways to bring their artistry to life with each project they release. That’s undoubtedly been the case for 6lack who finally delivered his third album Since I Have A Lover. Unlike his previous two albums, 6lack combines pop references with his trademark alternative R&B for a body of work that is both freeing and diverse. Through success in love, 6lack finds himself to be a new man with a new outlook on life, all of which is detailed through records that display his loyalty (“Fatal Attraction”), patience (“B4L”), commitment (“Temporary”), and more. Whether he’s rapping or singing, 6lack gets his message across in an effortless and impressive manner. – Wongo Okon

Baby Rose — Through And Through

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Secretly Canadian

It’d been a little while since Baby Rose released a full-length project, but that period finally came to an end with her sophomore album Through And Through. The project is a refreshing addition to the musical landscape and Rose’s savory croons and heavy, soulful spirit guide the album that details the various fires she escaped her life. We meet a determined Baby Rose on Through And Through who isn’t afraid to put her hand out for a new foray into love (“Dance With Me” & “Love Bomb”), overcome heartbreak (“Stop The Bleeding”), and show that there are more sides to her than a hopeless romantic (“I Won’t Tell”). Through its 11 songs, Baby Rose offers an elegant and enchanting showcase of her undeniable talents with Though And Through. – W.O.

BJ The Chicago Kid — Gravy

BJ The Chicago Kid — 'Gravy'
RCA Records

There’s no conversation of modern-day soul music that can be had without mention of BJ The Chicago Kid. The singer has delivered impressive bodies of work for over a decade and that continues with his fourth album Gravy. Made in collaboration with producer Yeti Beats, Gravy soaks itself in 1970s soul with Al Green as its inspiration. With BJ The Chicago Kid in the driver’s seat, Gravy expands into a symphony of sweet trumpets and ear-pleasing strings that accompany his passionate vocals that rest like gravy over the production. Gravy stands in a room of its own among R&B in 2023, and with it, BJ The Chicago Kid continues his streak of top-notch albums – W.O.

Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life

Brent Faiyaz – 'Larger Than Life'
ISO Supremacy/UnitedMasters

Brent Faiyaz’s career has reached new heights after he dropped his second album Wasteland. A year removed from that project came Larger Than Life, which in short, is a celebratory toast to the good life. Faiyaz leans heavily into the perks of his stardom on the 14-track album while paying homage to his DMV home. This toast and moment of gratitude to those who came before him — Timbaland and Missy Elliott, for example — is just a piece of the pie on Larger Than Life. It’s also where up-and-coming DMV artists like Cruddy Murda, TTM Dawg, and Tommy Richman were given the floor to show their talents. Some artists get big and lose touch with how they got there. That’s not the case with Brent whose Larger Than Life is still in touch with his roots, himself, and his supporters. – W.O.

CARRTOONS — Saturday Night

Carrtoons 'Saturday Night'
Wichita

CARRTOONS was an artist that was entirely unknown to me when I hit play on their new project Saturday Night on a whim. One song — really, the first 20 seconds of that first song — was all it took for the New York producer’s funky, instrumental take on retrofuturistic R&B to burrow deep into my brain and take up residence. Saturday Night quickly gentrified parts of my brain that hadn’t been receptive to new music for at least a decade, in part thanks to guest appearances from underground vocalists like Reuben James, Topaz Jones, and Haile Supreme, but also because of the undeniable, endlessly danceable grooves from the producer themselves. – Aaron Williams

Chlöe — In Pieces

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Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records

There are many impressive aspects of Chlöe’s debut album In Pieces. First, is the fact that the singer even arrived at a point in her career to release. Her solo career was criticized for more reasons than it wasn’t, but none of that seemed to hinder the body of work that is In Pieces. Actually, it only strengthened it. The critiques and doubts became the backbone of the album which also detailed her recovery from heartbreak. Between the uptempo and bouncy “Body Do” and the captivating “Make It Look Easy,” Chlöe showcased her versatility, her writing, and her evolving vision on her debut album. Though the sky is the limit for her, Chlöe is well on her way to reaching it. – W.O.

Daniel Caesar — Never Enough

Daniel Caesar Never Enough
Republic

If there was any doubt that Daniel Caesar could replicate the glory days of his past, the Toronto singer put them all to rest with his euphoric third album Never Enough. It’s with this album that he took on a bigger producer role as he placed himself in a small town that’s hours outside of Toronto to make the beats that became the landscape of Never Enough. He grapples with wanting love (“Do You Like Me?”) and seeing that it’s run its course (“Let Me Go”) while finding time to shade those who believed they moved on from him to better (“Homiesexual”). Never Enough excellently captures the rollercoaster ride of love and the constant search for perfection, if that even exists. – W.O.

Dende – ’95 Civic

Dende – ''95 Civic'
CXR/Good Partners

Dende, if not a name you recognize, is a face you may have seen this year. This Houston earned himself a viral moment in 2023 with an impassioned performance of “Nightmares” complete with special effects that gave him bodily injuries as brutal as a car accident. Months later came his album ’95 Civic, which used a journey in the Honda vehicle to represent the rise and crushing fall of a relationship. Dende does an excellent job of portraying the devastation and eventual pain caused by this unexpected loss, and what comes from it is a project that’s emotionally vulnerable and captivating. A relationship’s end can be as unexpected and devastating as a car accident, especially when so much is invested into it. While what happens next remains to be seen, Dende’s story on ’95 Civic is beautiful enough to hear over and over again for the time being. – W.O.

Fridayy — Fridayy

Friday – 'Fridayy'
Lost In Melody, LLC/Def Jam Recordings

Much of the music world’s introduction to Philly singer Fridayy came through his bellowing hook on DJ Khaled’s “God Did” record with Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z. Though we received his debut project Lost In Melodyy in 2022, the singer’s debut self-titled album is the proper introduction. Fridayy arrives as a glorious and epic account of the faith he had in reaching this moment he dreamed of. Fridayy switches between his accounts of faith in God and faith in the relationships as much as he transitions in and out of traditional R&B, afrobeats, and contemporary R&B records. With Fridayy, the Philly singer proved that he’s worthy of everything he’s been blessed with, as well as your attention, going forward. – W.O.

Janelle Monáe — The Age Of Pleasure

Janelle Monae The Age Of Pleasure
Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records

Janelle Monáe is always worth the wait. The Age Of Pleasure is their fourth album, and their first in five years, and with this record, Monáe is on a higher spiritual plane than ever before. Indulging in hedonistic pleasures, Monáe revels in queer sensuality, embracing intimacy and touch on songs like “Lipstick Lover.” They also celebrate many a win on “Champagne Sh*t,” and embrace their own body as a work of art on the luxurious “Haute.” Through smooth transitions between tracks, The Age Of Pleasure paints a continuous portrait of opulence and sexual liberation within an unapologetically queer, genderfluid world created via Monáe’s multidimensional lens. – Alex Gonzalez

Jordan Ward — Forward

Jordan Ward -- Forward
ARTium/Interscope

Jordan Ward has long had the potential to crack through the underground ceiling and stand a bit closer to the mainstream world since he released “Lalaland” back in 2017. The success of that record pales in comparison to that of “White Crocs,” his breakout hit with Ryan Trey, but it does show how long the St. Louis native has been working on his craft. “White Crocs” would eventually find its home on his fourth project Forward which is by far Ward’s most polished work to date. If “White Crocs” isn’t your jam, then “IDC” with Joony, “311” with Gwenn Bunn,” “Sidekick” with Joyce Wrice, or one of the other 10 records will certainly provide something you like. That’s just how good and versatile Jordan Ward is. – W.O.

Jorja Smith — Fighting Or Flying

Jorja Smith -- Fighting Or Flying
FAMM

On her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Falling Or Flying, Jorja Smith soars. Categorically, the body of work is labeled R&B, but the sonics explored on Falling Or Flying are boundless. Singles “Little Things” and the title track are just samplers of how far the branches of the entire tracklist reach. Though the album was written solely as a healing exercise for Smith, somehow, fans come out on the opposite side as a better version of themselves, having experienced life through her eyes. – Flisadam Pointer

Kali Uchis — Red Moon In Venus

Kali Uchis Red Moon In Venus
Geffen

Kali Uchis’ third album Red Moon In Venus is without question her best album to date. Maybe it’s because she’s more in touch with herself than ever or maybe it’s because she’s more at peace than ever. The result of either, or maybe both of those observations, is a 15-track body of work that captures Uchis majestically and graceful float through elements of R&B and pop, while also tapping into her Spanish roots, to make what sounds like Uchis’ idea of paradise. Whether it’s “Fantasy” with Don Toliver, “Deserve Me” with Summer Walker, or solo efforts like “All Mine” and “Moonlight,” Kali Uchis’ Red Moon In Venus has plenty of music to get lost in and find your own paradise. – W.O.

Khamari – A Brief Nirvana

Khamari
Via the label

The lone newcomer on this list is singer Khamari, who delivered his debut project A Brief Nirvana to kick off the unofficial start to summer. The 11-track project is a sweet combination of nostalgia and a fresh breath from a new artist to the game, and his sampling of Al Green’s “Love And Happiness” on “On My Way” for an honest tale about loneliness is a perfect example of that. Even when through completely original compositions like “Doctor, My Eyes,” Khamari’s artistry shines through vivid lyricism that’s aided by emotive production. The Boston-born singer has earned comparisons to Frank Ocean and his A Brief Nirvana debut is a great start to hopefully one day reaching the status of the celebrated singer. – W.O.

Kiana Ledé — Grudges

Kiana Lede -- Grudges
The Heavy Group/Republic

Kiana Ledé returned as a woman frustrated with the recent occurrences in her love life for her second album Grudges. While some write about heartbreak from the perspective of pain, Ledé uses the 17 songs on Grudges as a venting session during the journey of recovery. Whether it singing “I don’t trust you and I don’t trust these hoes” on “Jealous,” grappling with an insufficient lover on “Focus” and “Damage,” or struggling to have hope with love on “Same Type,” Kiana Ledé tackles it all to make an album that every hopeful romantic can relate to thanks to honest songwriting, elegant production, and a voice that stands out in today’s R&B landscape. – W.O.

Leon Thomas — Electric Dusk

Leon Thomas -- Electric Dusk
Motown Records

Leon Thomas III is the mastermind behind some of music’s biggest hits, including SZA’s fan-favorite trackSnooze.” Now that he’s ready for the spotlight, others should be on high alert. On his debut studio album, Electric Dusk, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ longest-running drive-thru movie theater, Thomas puts all of the creative parts of himself that he’s lent out to other artists on full display. When his mentor and label head, Ty Dolla Sign, said that listening made him want to redo his own work, it wasn’t an exaggeration. Across the album, Thomas provides men with an emotionally safe space to display vulnerability, make mistakes, and grow within romantic relationships while trying to find a footing in their careers. Although the project might’ve been snubbed during the 2024 Grammy nominations, its impact will surely ripple throughout the genre for years to come. – F.P.

Mahalia — IRL

Mahalia — 'IRL'
Warner Music UK

Four years removed from her debut album, British singer Mahalia is back for round two with sophomore effort IRL (In Real Life). Its 13 tracks portray a woman, now 25 years old, who is more courageous and firm in her beliefs than ever. Though IRL may be a bit broad of a title, but its songs are anything but that. She avoids and calls out manipulation in love on records like “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and celebrates breaking free from a relationship that no longer serves her on “Wassup Wassup.” Mahalia isn’t always the tough girl she is on “Terms And Conditions,” as “Lose Lose” portrays, but in the end, all that matters is the mere attempt day in and day out to be that strong. IRL is empowering and motivating as it is vulnerable and honest, a mix we could use more of in music. – W.O.

Masego — Masego

masego album cover art 2023
Capitol

Masego’s magnum opus arrived more than a decade into his career and it’s fitting that it’s for his self-titled sophomore album. The project’s 14 songs are a masterful combination of the elements that make Masego an artist we’ve come to love. The tropical side of his discography comes alive through “Say You Want Me” while his jazz and funk roots are wrapped around records like “You Never Visit Me.” With Masego, the singer proves that the music will never be a concern for himself. Since day one, he’s impressed fans repeatedly with his talents, and now with his second album, Masego perfectly combined those talents for a body of work that couldn’t be more representative of himself. – W.O.

Phabo — Don’t Get Too Cozy

Phabo — 'Don't Get Too Cozy'
Phabo/Soulection

Before 2023, you’d have a hard time pointing out a bad song from Los Angeles singer Phabo and that’s still the case with just weeks left in the year. Don’t Get Too Cozy, the singer’s second project, lives within the pursuit of love as its title alludes to staying on your toes and never relaxing even when romance is found. What amounts from that is bulletproof confidence and a tunnel-visioned focus that Phabo not only presents through this album, but in his career as well. Calls for a woman to “Swing My Way” are followed by the discovery of an enthralling summer love on the other side of the country on “Stay.” The pursuit continues in the bedroom through “Luv Songs (Unruly)” and “Express Yourself,” and by the end of it all, there’s no doubt that the mission is successful. Don’t Get Too Cozy is equal parts charismatic and intimate, and a recipe that places Phabo in an appealing light. – W.O.

Raahiim — BUT IF iiM HONEST

Raahiim — 'But If I'm Honest'
Also Known Worldwide Inc

Of the many artists to come out of Toronto’s talented R&B landscape, Raahiim is one to take note of. His second project BUT IF iiM HONEST, which recently received the deluxe treatment, is the epitome of honesty and transparency — for better or for worse. His tender voice cascades over moody and timid production that delivers accounts of a real situation Raahiim faced — or was too afraid to face — in his life. Between questioning a partner’s sudden change in behavior on “Famous (Lost To LA),” detailing the flaws in a partner’s contribution to a relationship on “Friend Zone,” and struggling with the absence of love on “Lonely,” Raahiim lives up to the album title on BUT IF iiM HONEST and its the type of authenticity we can appreciate. – W.O.

Rory — I Thought It’d Be Different

Rory — 'I Thought It'd Be Different'
Avant Garden

If you ever needed proof that R&B is alive and well, aside from the numerous impressive solo albums that arrived in the genre this year, look no further than Rory’s compilation project I Thought It’d Be Different. The 13-track release takes some very talented names in the alternative and traditional R&B world — Ari Lennox, DRAM, Alex Isley, dvsn, Raahiim, Shantal May, Pink Sweat$, Sinead Harnett, and THEY., just to name a few — and pairs them together with knowledge of how each artist caters to another. What comes next are records that touch on romance, heartbreak, and the many other possibilities that exist between those two realms. Rory excellently steers the ship that is I Thought It’d Be Different, and what comes from it is a well-crafted body of work that shines a light on alternative R&B and delivers a sweet gift to those who love the genre. –W.O.

Sampha — Lahai

Sampha -- Lahai
Young

At long last, 2023 was the year that Sampha emerged from his humble abode to release his sophomore album Lahai, the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s Process. Where Process was drowned in feelings of loss and grief, Lahai finds Sampha on the other side of the wall, filled with hope, optimism, and acceptance. He grapples with time from start to finish on the album, but the most important takeaway with Sampha’s second album is that the London singer remains as good as ever, and arguably better, in the time that has passed since his debut. Evidence of that lives within “Only,” “Can’t Go Back,” “Spirit 2.0,” and much more. – W.O.

SZA — SOS

SZA SOS
TDE/RCA

Yes, this album came out in 2022, but with most of its success taking place in 2023 and the fact that it came after our 2022 lists, it’s only right that SZA’s SOS makes the cut here. Five years removed from her debut album, SZA returns to a world riddled with troubled waters that people from all over hoped to survive and swim out of. Through the album’s expansive 23 songs, SZA guides us on a journey of surviving life’s elements, the lessons learned along the way, and what it looks like to make it to shore. The ups and downs of life, growing pains, and artistic struggles are all present on this album, and it’s even more impressive that she made its 23 songs not feel like an absolute drag. It was a long time coming for SZA, but boy did she arrive. – W.O.

THEY. — Nu Moon

THEY. Nu Moon
AWAL

THEY. — the duo comprised of singer Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — entered a new era with the release of their third album Nü Moon. The project is the duo’s first independent album, and the freedom to create as one pleases that comes with this independence is hard to ignore through the project’s 14 songs. With Nü Moon, Drew and Dante give us another take of their trademark alternative R&B style and it’s one that seems to live under the night sky. With records like “In The Mood,” “Riptide,” and “Wait On Me” which features the incomparable Kacey Musgraves, THEY. present no sign of sunlight while proving that even in the darkest moments, love can still exist. Searching for it, having it, and losing it; it’s the theme of THEY’s Nü Moon which strikes as their best and most complete body of work to date. – W.O.

Victoria Monét — Jaguar II

Victoria Monet Jaguar II Album Cover 2023
RCA Records

After years of working behind the scenes as a songwriter of many pop hits, Victoria Monét finally got to shine on her own this year. This past summer saw Monét release her debut album, Jaguar II, on which her hitmaking prowess continues to hold up. While the album maintains its cohesiveness throughout its 11 tracks, nearly all of them can be a single — including the kiss-off “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Sh*t),” the surprisingly pleasant break-up ballad “Good Bye,” and of course, the dirty south tribute, “On My Mama.”A.G.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.