Sometimes good R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to all the great music so every week, we’ll be offering a digest of the hottest R&B jams fans of the genre should hear. Many great songs were released over the Thanksgiving holiday.
First up, R&B sister-group VanJess released a sun-kissed visual for their song “Another Level” off their debut album Silk Canvas and Kelly Rowland dropped off a trap-inspired single titled “Kelly.” Lastly, newcomer DaniLeigh has followed-up from the rising popularity of her blazing single “Lil Bebe” with a music video for her latest track “Blue Chips.”
VanJess — “Another Lover”
Straight off VanJess’ debut album Silk Canvas is the Kaytranada-produced jam “Another Lover.” The music video for “Another Lover” released this week taps into the sisters’ Nigerian roots and is an empowering visual filled with mesmerizing dance moves celebrating black women of all shades. Every beat is met with an expressive clap as Ivana and Jessica Nwokike’s distinct, yet graceful vocals command liberation from a man who insists on playing games. “But I’m not wishing on maybes / Those don’t turn into a thang / Oh yes I’m angry and in pain, but know what? / I could find another lover,” the hook cries out over hard-thumping bass. VanJess originally gained recognition on Youtube in 2011 after covering Drake’s “Headlines” and Frank Ocean’s “Thinking About You.” The sisters are now signed RCA’s Keep Cool imprint.
Kelly Rowland — “Kelly”
Over Thanksgiving weekend Kelly Rowland released a new, trap-infused single. Simply titled “Kelly,” the club banger has Ms. Rowland turning the humbleness down and turning the fancy talk up. “Kelly ain’t, Kelly ain’t got no chill / Kelly don’t really give a f*ck how you feel / Kelly ain’t humble no mo’, n—- / Kelly got a foot on your throat, n—-,” she sings. It’s the first fans have heard from Kelly since her 2013 album Talk A Good Game and she is reportedly working on the next one.
DaniLeigh — “Blue Chips”
23-year-old DaniLeigh takes a break from her hyped-up bop “Lil Bebe” and slows up the tempo with “Blue Chips.” Dani channels her inner mermaid for the blue-toned visual as she boastfully sings lyrics asserting her bossed-up position. “My whip look vader / Watch me flip my roof up / Boss up get my paper / Lil b*tch u won’t do somethin’ / B*tch I’m like some blue chips,” Dani brags underwater. The Def Jam star is getting ready to drop her new album The Plan on November 30 and is slated to launch her headlining Be Yourself tour in January.
Phony Ppl — “Way Too Far”
Brooklyn-based musical quintet Phony Ppl broke their three-year hiatus with their Mozaik project in October and this week they dropped a music video for the album’s illuminating track “Way Too Far.” Carried by the voice of Elbee Thrie, “Way Too Far” sings of maybe doing a bit too much for someone that the self is lost. The video features a rather bored looking girl sparking a joint and staring out at the nighttime moon, while Elbee sits in the crest of his apartment window singing to the beat. “I think I went way too far tryna please you /vI know I went way too hard tryna please you,” he sings to the snap of his fingers. “And sanctions come with the harsh truth / And you gon’ shoot your shot ’cause I armed you / But I’ll be honest always towards you / I think I went too far.” As the camera pans up his vibrant building, the evolving stories between the two apartment windows begin to transform and get super trippy until it reaches the sky and out into space.
Good Girl Feat. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — “I Can Be Yours”
The debut single from Los Angeles-based R&B group Good Girl, “I Can Be Yours” featuring New York City’s own A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is a seductive jam made just for cuffing season. Borrowing sonic elements from Truth Hurts’ 2002 single “Addictive” and lifting Total’s infectious hook from Mase‘s 1997 cut “Tell Me What You Want,” this track provides all the right danceable vibes. Good Girl’s lively music video is just as cute as the song, which demonstrates women who ain’t too proud to beg for a little pampering and loving.
Mahalia Feat. Kojey Radical — “One Night Only”
UK recording artists Mahalia and Kojey Radical jam out to intense, passion-filled lyrics of arbitrary love on “One Night Only.” The smooth cut is the opening track off Mahalia’s Seasons EP and is just as vulnerable as the other four songs on the project. The “One Night Only” vibe demands to be heard as a sparkling ode to judgment-free relations and drags out the pain of being left alone once it’s done.
Trey Songz — “Jill (Sumn Real)”
Jill Scott broke the internet with her air-fellatio performance to “Crown Royal” earlier this month and Trey Songz must have been feeling inspired after seeing it because he decided to flip the moment into song. The result is “Jill (Sumn Real)” produced by A-Wall, which lovingly samples Miss Jill Scott’s seductive 2000 track “He Loves Me.” All Trigga wants is for his lady to show him how much she loves him with her mouth — and that’s the only option. Though Jilly from Philly wasn’t into so many people sliding into her DMs, she did approve of Trey’s flip.
Jacquees — “Presidential”
Bubbling R&B singer Jacquees and Cash Money CEO Birdman dropped off their collaborative project Lost At Sea II and shared the music video for the opening track “Presidential,” this week. The visual is certainly a presidential view that takes place in a luxurious mansion sprawling with gorgeous women. The 24-year-old singer drowns the track with his signature ad-libs and beautifully echoes Birdman’s lyrics with his voice as he croons about his journey to level up.
