R&B music experienced a resurgence this summer with quality offerings from Tone Stith, 6lack, Ella Mai, and Ye Ali, among others.
August marks ending of the year’s hottest season, as well as the fizzling of heated summer flings, befitting of the plethora of R&B music released this summer. The resurgence of authentic R&B is apparent with crème de la crème offerings straight out of the emerging R&B scene, including cuts from Tone Stith, 6lack, Ella Mai, and Ye Ali, among others.
Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning singer Ty Dolla Sign is playing a great role in the movement by quietly lending his wonderful songwriting and vocal talents to almost the entire hip-hop industry this year. There’s an obvious thirst for good R&B music, so no more crying about when or if R&B will make a comeback because it’s already here. All one has to do is pay attention and listen.
Here are ten of the best R&B songs to wrap up summer.
Last summer Drake had Tone Stith’s name buzzing after re-posting an impressive cover of the burgeoning R&B singer crooning the More Life cut, “ Madiba Riddim .” And, it’s no wonder — Tone Stith’s career is guided by YEMG’s Jas Prince — the same man who discovered Drake and convinced Lil Wayne to sign him to Young Money Entertainment. Aside from the really big co-sign Drake endowed upon Tone, the 23-year-old is extremely talented. He can sing, play instruments, produce, dance, and write really good songs, including Chris Brown’s 2015 platinum hit record “Liquor.” It only makes sense for the Jersey-bred talent to work with the equally talented Ty Dolla Sign, who has been popping up on many artists’ records this year, including Post Malone, Kanye West, Teyana Taylor, Drake, Buddy, 6lack, and YG.
On “Take It There,” listeners get a taste of Tone’s sweet, soothing voice complemented by Ty’s gritty and soulful vocals over the song’s sultry production, which is provided by Tone himself in conjunction with longtime producers The PRBLMSLVRS.
Ahead of 6lack’s oncoming release of East Atlanta Love Letter on September 14, the LoveRenaissance-signed artist appeases fans waiting for his forthcoming album with the purifying “Nonchalant,” produced by Stwo & LUCIANBLOMKAMP. East Atlanta Love Letter will be the follow-up to 6lack’s 2016 debut album Free Black, and his first solo appearance after his feature on Khalid’s “OTW” with Ty Dolla Sign. As mellow and chill as “Nonchalant” is, the song aggressively sounds the alarm for his love of music and the fact that he’ll always make music for his fans no matter how tired he may get.
“I’m so f*cking tired, somehow I still find the time/ To care a little more about my rhymes / To care a little more about my peers / To think a little less about my fears / To care a little more about your ears,” 6lack sincerely expresses on the track.
It’s not clear if “Nonchalant” will live on his upcoming album release, but it will be another song the “PRBLMS” singer will be able to perform on his upcoming North American tour this fall, which has Tierra Whack, Summer Walker, They, and Boogie as supporting acts on select dates.
Ella Mai is having an incredible moment in 2018 following the explosive popularity of “Boo’d Up,” a year after its release. And with that comes another vibe helmed by the London native titled “Trip,” which is similarly blessed by the beat-making magic of DJ Mustard. “Trip” is both cathartic and candid. Mai becomes self-aware about possibly doing a bit too much in her relationship when words and actions sometimes can go misinterpreted due to insecurities.
“Sometimes we misinterpret, sometimes we misunderstand, sometimes we make mistakes,” she says in a clip about the song. “It doesn’t always make sense at the time… but awareness is key… ‘Trip’ … my bad for tripping on you.” The vulnerability of Ella Mai’s music seems to be her forte, which makes connecting to her music too easy.
The British R&B singer’s recently just wrapped up her completely sold out “Boo’d Up Tour” in Seattle, August 28.
Keeping in the spirit of the sexy, sensual R&B tune is Ye Ali with “T-Shirt Interlude” featuring TYuS, produced by Jordan Manswell. Ali begs his lover to put his t-shirt on with his sultry vocals and promises to love her right all night. “T-Shirt Interlude” is the perfect song to add to any made-for-the-bedroom playlists as it maintains a few classic elements of R&B: slow, sensual, love-making. Expect nothing less from the R&B heartthrob who has been on his music grind for years and from the sound of it, may start receiving the shine he deserves very soon. His song “ Oceans ” was even sampled on Swae Lee’s Sremmlife 3 jam, “ Offshore ” featuring Young Thug.
Ye Ali is currently working on his long-awaited project TRAPHOUSEJODECI2. Although the follow-up to Ali’s previous EP of the same name doesn’t have a release date yet, it will certainly be worth the wait.
