Victoria Monét, BJ The Chicago Kid, Kiana Ledé, And More New R&B Because Everybody Needs Somebody
Everybody needs somebody, and you need these new R&B selects to help you figure out who your person is.
If you’re newly single and need someone to keep you warm at night, Victoria Monét’s JAGUAR II: Deluxe and Shaé Universe’s Love’s Letter Deluxe have you covered. Or maybe you need to cut ties from a bad situationship, Kiana Ledé and Nia Smith’s new singles were made for you. Need to summon some good ol’ loving? BJ The Chicago Kid can sing you through it.
Maybe the somebody you’re seeking is yourself. If that’s the case, we recommend Leon Bridges’ new album. If you just want to vibe, Lyfe Jennings, Teedra Moses, Durand Bernarr, Jordan Ward, Joony, No Guidnce, Teenear, and Lynda Dawn all blessed fans with musical offerings that will get you right.
Check them out below.
Victoria Monét – JAGUAR II: Deluxe
Sorry to the lions, but for us: jaguars rule the jungle and you have Victoria Monét to thank for that.
JAGUAR II: Deluxe embodies all of the elements that a deluxe should be. With 10 new songs including the hilariously mesmerizing “D**kAtNight,” the previously released “SOS (Sex On Sight)” featuring Usher, and the sultry “Don’t Sleep” with Thundercat, the Grammy-winning LP is completely brand new.
Victoria also samples Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin‘” and interpolates Anita Baker’s “Caught Up In The Rapture” on “1900s” and even reimagines Sade’s Love Is Stronger Than Pride.”
We’re not ready for Victoria to be done with her Jaguar chapter, but this deluxe is everything we hoped it’d be and then some.
BJ The Chicago Kid – Gravy (Deluxe)
Nearly a year after the release of BJ’s concept album, Gravy, the crooner returns with the deluxe edition.
Featuring a new live rendition of “Crazy Love” with Andra Day and a remix for “Never Change” now featuring Ledisi, the LP has a bit more twang to it and somehow has gotten better than before.
Speaking on working with Ledisi, BJ noted, “‘Never Change” was already special to me. So to have the one and only Ledisi join to further the feeling and the timelessness makes me even more happy. She’s one of my faves. It has made it all 10 times more special.”
Yeti Beats, who produced the album, added, “Adding the legendary voice of Ledisi on the remix of ‘Never Change’ put sugar on top of one of my favorite songs from Gravy.” Ledisi was equally thrilled to add a “woman’s perspective” to the hit record.
Kiana Ledé – “Space And P***y”/”Natural”
Kiana Ledé shocked the R&B world last week when she announced that she was dropping two new singles and that her third album, Cut Ties, was coming sooner than expected.
To preview the LP, the songbird gifted fans with “Natural” and “Space and P***y.”
“Natural” is the more sensual track that delves into an all-consuming intimacy and sexual yearning. Kiana explained, “[It] is a sensual song about the only person that gets to see the sexiest side of you. You will try anything with them because no matter what you do, it feels natural.”
“Space and P***y,” though, speaks to the frustrations from a non-mutually beneficial situationship. Despite the pain, she emphasizes her worth and declares that she’s more than just “space and p***y.”
Leon Bridges – Leon
Mark our words: Leon Bridges’ new eponymous album is one of the best R&B albums of the year. It’s lyrically and sonically emotive, pensive, earnest, and captivating. It needs to be consumed wholly and intentionally. Be an active listener when playing this one.
“I’ve been on a journey, the journey to this next record, since before I began making music,” Leon shared. “It took lots of time and hard work to get here. I had to get it right. This record comes from my chest. LB4 is a record about my roots. I’m taking y’all on a trip through the streets I know best, the things I hold dear & the memories of the people and place that shaped me. I wanted this record to sound like my memories and influences. Unmistakably, Leon.”
He also told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe why he named the LP after himself. “I’ve felt like I’ve always been a lone wolf in the industry, and, yes, my music is under the umbrella of R&B, but I always felt like I was never fully embraced in that community,” said Leon. “And so it was just the thought that Leon is the genre and as far as this whole album is like a window into who I am, and I’ve always been apprehensive about putting myself in that vulnerability in the songs.”
Leon is the crooner’s first full-length project since 2021’s Gold-Diggers Sound.
Shaé Universe – Love’s Letter (Deluxe)
Shaé Universe’s deluxe installment of her incredible album, Love’s Letter, is here. The now-16 track LP includes a “Summertime” remix from ESTA., a chilling acoustic flip of “LOML” featuring Joseph Solomon and Jace plus two additional remixes for “Oh, Wait…” with NAO and “Passenger Princess” with Aqyilah.
The initial album was inspired by Shaé’s true experiences with her now ex: “The relationship caused me to lean into all facets of love – the good and the bad. It was a heartfelt journey which translated perfectly throughout the story I cultivated with ‘Love’s Letter.’”
However, it was her Tiny Desk that breathed new life into the album. She gushed about all the collabs, “I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get my faves on board for this, which was also a beautiful reminder of the growth I’ve made as an artist.”
Nia Smith – “Little Red Car”
Nia Smith is such a force and she’s back with her new single, “Little Red Car.” It’s a tender, heart-wrenching ballad, produced by Fraser T. Smith and written by Ed Thomas, about the bittersweet feelings associated with the end of a situationship you wanted more from.
Nia expressed, “’Little Red Car’ was one of them songs I just NEEDED to write to allow myself to let go of a situation that was bittersweet to me. This song touches on both sides of the coin, the sweet memories and the bitter feelings. Let’s just say I think imma avoid guys with little red cars moving forward lmao.”
It comes on the heels of her single, “Personal,” and will appear on her debut EP, Give Up The Fear —out on Nov. 8.
Teenear – “Respect”
Teenear is once again demanding the respect she’s rightfully entitled to with the help of her new music video for “Respect.”
Stemming from her latest album, Never Met A Me, the singer pairs classic R&B with a pulsing bass as she sings, “Put some respect on it/ I did the work, put the check on it/ Yeah yeah/ Put some respect on it/ You know my worth, and that’s a definite.”
The visual showcases a look into Teenear’s day-to-day as she grinds to take her career to the next level.
Lynda Dawn – 11th Hour
We love some Lynda Dawn and her 11th Hour EP is finally here. The “deeply personal” project is full of storytelling set to enchanting melodies. It’s explorative, soothing, and nostalgic yet still refreshing. “Play Fair” is so dreamy whereas “Memories (Interlude)” is a soft groove.
When speaking on the EP, Lynda shared, “’11th Hour’ is a deeply personal project to me, reflecting my growth both musically and spiritually. It explores love, hope, and introspection, with each track telling a story. I wrote and produced all the songs, staying true to my musical roots while evolving my sound. This record is about embracing the tension between past and future, and serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams—even in the 11th Hour.”
Jordan Ward & Joony – JRNY
Two years after Jordan Ward and Joony shared their collab, “IDC,” the entrancing artists have released a joint EP. JRNY is made up of six songs that are described as a “must-listen” for R&B fans. Standouts include their effortless synergy on “Jealousy,” raw retrospection on “Homebody” and vibrant closer, “Burning Rubber.”
Lyfe Jennings – “Must Be Nice (A.O.U.)
Lyfe Jennings is celebrating the 20th anniversary of 268-192 with a new version of his hit single, “Must Be Nice (A.O.U.).” The acronym stands for “artist owned umbrella,” and not only is it his signature tagline, but it also is a way to support independent artists.
The release is accompanied by a new visual, directed by Lyfe. “Nobody sees your vision like you see your vision,” he explained when speaking on the music video and his other new creative endeavors. Following this drop will be “Tell Me (A.O.U),” slated for release on Oct. 18, and his next projects, The Coin: Heads R&B (Six Pack EP Volume 2) and The Coin: Tails Hip-Hop (Six Pack EP Volume 3).
Teedra Moses feat. Durand Bernarr – “Complex Simplicity”
Teedra Moses is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album and has shared a reimagined version of the titular track featuring vocal powerhouse, Durand Bernarr. It’s the first DSP drop from the commemorative edition of the LP that’s exclusively available on EVEN.
“Durand Bernarr is an amazing artist in personality, performance, on stage and on record, an amazing vocalist, arranger, and songwriter,” she shared in a statement. “On this particular record, it really helps that he’s my friend because the song ‘Complex Simplicity’ is truly one of the most personal, yet extremely celebratory, songs I’ve ever written. He came in and did what he does best, which added more color, texture, and good feelings to a record that already felt really good. It was a seamless fit.”
Bernarr added, “The fact that I had an opportunity to reimagine music that was the soundtrack to moments in my life is beyond imaginable, and I’m extremely grateful to have this moment. Plus, Teedra is my girl!” She exclusively told VIBE that new music will be coming in early 2025.
No Guidnce – “Around Me”
We often speak about how R&B is in great hands with the next generation of budding talent. But the UK singers still got something to say, and No Guidnce is part of that conversation.
The group has released their first single of 2024 following their 2023 EP, Is It A Crime?. Produced by Harv and co-written by him, KP, and Felisha King Harvey, “Around Me” is more laidback, heartfelt, and honest than prior records.
Of their new direction, the quartet explained in a statement, “Our new single ‘Around Me’ marks the beginning of a new era and sound for us. The song, created during a transformative writing process in LA, captures the loneliness of feeling like everyone around you is falling in love except you, while also expressing hope that love will eventually find you. This track represents a vulnerable new direction for us, and we’re excited to share more music in this vein soon.”
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