Heads instantly get to bopping when the first verse rings off: “That man is fine/ many find, yea/ so fine, that’s why he’s mine, yea.” There’s no one man that Bus waxes poetic about on this song—think of it as an ode to Black men, whom Bus believes are under-celebrated. Angela Johnson - Joy in the RainRaphael Saadiq - Something Keeps Calling MeRissi Palmer - Soul MessageRobert Glasper feat. - Stephanie Smith-Strickland, This year, I made more than a little time for BJ The Chicago Kid’s “Time Today.” Like collard greens simmering on the stove all day, or wine that’s been aged to perfection, this song doesn’t rush the process. Addiction, mental illness, the personal demons that come with the cost of home, family, and life. The visual, choreographed by Sean Bankhead, heavily reminded me of Aaliyah’s iconic video for “Are You That Somebody?” When you combine that with Destiny’s ethereal beauty and lou’s alternate dawning male perspective, “The Same 2.0” is a win-win situation. Dirty mackin’ anthems have existed in R&B since the genre’s creation. -S.S.S. Without a photograph, paintbrush or TV screen, Lennox vividly paints the picture of an erotic yet tender hookup. Though Solange later announced her separation from husband Alan Ferguson in a transparent Instagram post, she admitted to having no qualms with love, and “Jerrod” was a brief look into abstract intimacy. At only 28 years old, the Dreamville signee sings with the same kind of depth, passion, and conviction as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and any of the neo-soul greats. Although it’s still very sexy, the video leans heavily on the awkward and comedic talents of the young Instagram star as she attempts to secure a gig as one of Tank’s dancers. Aalegra manages to dreamily achieve pathos through escapism (and a classic Stevie Wonder record): "We can get away/ Palm trees, beach views/ Ordinary day/ All I wanna hear is Innervisions on replay." Since I started Rock and Blues Muse in December of 2016, I’ve discovered so much outstanding music (blues, blues-rock, rock music, Southern rock, roots music, and southern soul) and it keeps coming. The results were a great selection of essential songs for Soul Music lovers. “Change” brings listeners the spark that’s been missing from R&B for some time until recent years: radio-friendly collabs that process the chemistry of male-female duets. What began as an interlude on their debut album Silk Canvas beautifully metamorphosed into an effusive ‘90s R&B-tinged exploration of the dissolution of love. We follow her struggle with her relationship and ascending stardom until she finally leaves him behind and takes the concert stage. Merging her angelic melody with JID's soulful crooning created a bliss-like energy field, penetrating the hearts of anyone who's ever experienced a sandstorm. Peace to the OGs. Ella Mai - Don't Waste My TimeVintage Trouble - Do Me RightVivian Sessoms - PeopleVon B and D.L. phone number that was previously trademarked by Mike Jones. Starring as Tank’s leading lady is social media star B. Simone, whose rise to fame includes hilarious viral videos about needing a boyfriend and a stint on Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out. Moreover, Walker adds another ingredient of the Toronto behemoth’s winning recipe, interpolating Destiny’s Child’s 1999 classic “Say My Name” on the record’s bridge––a move also taken by Drake a few years prior (“Girls Love Beyonce”). The 2018 hit “You” samples Wu-Tang's timeless treasure "C.R.E.A.M." Not many artists have the capacity to be a storyteller with such honesty and vulnerability, but Mereba has certainly mastered the art. We hope you like it! You can’t go wrong with any of these. - J.G. When she starts with “said I’m your wife now,” her voice drips over a loungey jazz groove like wax from an aphrodisiac candle. - Jasmine Grant. Brown even revamps his original tune equipped with loopy runs: "So here we are all alone in this room/ Girl, you know what I came to do/ Know you got me on your radio playin' old school CB/ It's just me and you." Although her voice is soft, Justine Skye is able to assert her demands in a relationship. - D.S. (December 26, 2019) It is always fun at the end of each year to celebrate the best of that year. Like its Native American inspiration, “John Redcorn” relies on its ethereal sensibilities. Lalah Hathaway - So EmotionalMorgan James - I Don't Mind Waking UpNao Yoshioka - Got MeNygel Robinson - One More ChancePhonte feat. - J.T.W. 4 on the charts in March. 07:00. For VIBE's 2019 Best R&B Songs list, we decided to not only choose songs that deserve a spot on a baby-making playlist but also celebrate the artists who've kept the core of R&B intact in their own way. - Candace McDuffie. Its lyrical simplicity details how two lovers consider their ominous entanglement as merely fate: "Everybody's got opinions on our thing/ Say we're flying down a path with no ending/ And if I die before I wake/ Don't let me wake 'em from this dream. SiR is a hopeless romantic on the album’s second song, “John Redcorn,” as he croons “you don’t ever bring me good news, babe.” Despite this, SiR’s voice is velvety and stern, possessing a regal coolness and forthright vulnerability. Saadiq’s smooth and easy delivery belies the gravity of the lyrics: “My kids say I'll never come home again/ And I know they're right, at least tonight/ If I fail, my whole life goes to hell/ And it don't seem right, I need help tonight.”. Kwon Jin Ah - "Say You'll Be Mine"Mary J. Blige feat Nas - ThrivingMaysa - You Are Not AloneMichael Kiwanuka - You Ain't the ProblemMiles Davis feat. It spent nine weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 and peaked at No. With "Sandstorms," Mereba flawlessly tells the prolific tale of the emotional rollercoaster we all experience while going through a breakup. Jhene Aiko is at her best when she wades in the waters of nuance, enacting rigorous, complicated honesty about life and love’s perils. "Enough" is a chart-climbing testament to Fantasia's devotion to her craft. Any song that starts off proclaiming "Good God, these ni***as is crazy" is bound to be a hit. “Something Keeps Calling” introduced Jimmy Lee, Raphael Saadiq’s highly anticipated solo return after eight years of working on projects for Solange, Mary J Blige, and others following 2011’s Stone Rollin’. Richard Allinson. Where the Texas native shines, is adding a fresh flair to nods from the past, making him irresistible to the masses. We’re on the journey with him as the track unfolds in its own divine time...getting sexier by the moment. "Enough" is an ambitious R&B ballad that nobly combines old school harmonies with swelling melodies and it completely engulfs the listener. View full schedule. - C.M. Lalah Hathaway - EgoPJ Morton feat. She has no problem reporting from a void and knows that her melodic shades of melancholy—and rare moments of bliss—are just part of the human experience. A scroll through his Instagram stories on any given day will reveal him singing classics by 702, Monica, and you guessed it—Alicia Keys. Lyrically, earnestness and vulnerability take flight as Fantasia finds herself in the throes of a dynamic relationship that she knows won't last forever: "I could just live here in your arms, I don't wanna move/ 'Cause the way that you love me/ It makes me feel like I'm brand new." But this song is about the darker things that take hold of people and latch on. Following the release of a 2018 track that hinted at a breakup with ex-beau Big Sean, “Triggered” is a raw depiction of a woman in the throes of a crumbling relationship. - J.T.W. It’s one of the most refreshing blendings of vocal talent to come out of 2019. From the high-top haircut, to the windbreaker jackets, to the church choir baritone, the 21-year-old star has sparked uncanny familiarity—but that’s not the extent of his greatest strength. By employing her vocals as a percussive element, Summer Walker is continuing an approach led by the most dominating artist of the decade, Drake, whose influence on R&B has left the riffs and runs of yesteryear on the backburner. I’ve always considered myself more of a singer-songwriter so this time around, I’m really owning my R&B and soul roots,” he wrote. A true dirty mackin’ anthem has the ability to make you get lost in its sensual melody while reminding you that your man is trash. - D.S. Then you press “play” all over again. Best South African love songs 2019 Brand Nu, Inc./ Golden Child/ Entertainment One. More of the Songs You Love. Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. Ella Mai’s verse, which Mahalia shared in an interview with Genius, was a last-minute addition, echoes these sentiments, creating the impression that the imaginary lover in question could perhaps be two-timing them both. Picture yourself swaying in the arms of a lover to the pure lust radiating from this song and you hear, “My services belong to you/ Tonight, I just belong to you/ The signal's strong, we set the mood.” It’s just… sexy.