Bettye LaVette
Blackbirds
The R&B diva interprets songs associated with African-American female singers and makes them fresh and all her own.
Brandy
B7
Arriving eight years after her previous album, this welcome return is as sonically progressive as it is emotionally open.
Childish Gambino
3.15.2020
Mashing and melding sounds, textures, feelings, and trips into a weird, wild, and wonderful mess, this is the second classic Gambino album in a row.
Chloe x Halle
Ungodly Hour
Following up their Grammy-nominated debut, the harmonizing Bailey sisters take another step forward with some high-profile production assistance.
Cleo Sol
Rose in the Dark
Over a decade after her career got off to a modest start, the R&B singer/songwriter offers her exceptional first solo LP amid activity with Sault.
Dinner Party / Robert Glasper / Terrace Martin / 9th Wonder / Kamasi Washington
Dinner Party
Part of an influx of Martin's Sounds of Crenshaw label, this brief if fulfilling set has all the qualities the title implies.
Don Bryant
You Make Me Feel
The celebrated R&B songwriter lets love satisfy his soul on his second outstanding comeback album.
Eddie Chacon
Pleasure, Joy and Happiness
A pensive, soulful, and unexpected return from one-half of Charles & Eddie.
Free Nationals
Free Nationals
Anderson .Paak's funk-fluent backing band sets sail with the likes of Daniel Caesar and Syd, Westside Gunn and Conway, and the late Mac Miller.
James Hunter / The James Hunter Six
Nick of Time
With a new backing band, the British-born R&B singer adds rhumba and cha-cha to his aural stew of retro-soul, jump blues, and jukebox R&B.
Jessie Reyez
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US
The characteristically unfiltered, scattered, and engaging first album from the already platinum, two-time Juno winner.
Jhené Aiko
Chilombo
On her third LP, the singer seeks healing and inner peace with help from sound bowls and isn't above X-rated thoughts and vengeful threats.
Joji
Nectar
Bold sophomore LP that advances the underground alternative pop and R&B singer/songwriter to the big leagues.
K. Michelle
All Monsters Are Human
The candid singer/songwriter's first independent release is as sturdy and forthright as any of her preceding four albums for Atlantic.
Kehlani
It Was Good Until It Wasn't
Probing and considered lyricism colors the proper follow-up to the singer's 2017 debut album.
Kem
Love Always Wins
Almost exactly six years after he released his previous album, Kim Owens scuffs up and stretches out his sound with help from Derek "DOA" Allen.
Ledisi
The Wild Card
After a decade with Verve, the reliable 12-time Grammy nominee keeps moving forward with a solid first release for her new label.
Lianne La Havas
Lianne La Havas
The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter takes the reins for her third album and shouldn't let go.
Loren Oden / Adrian Younge
Adrian Younge Presents Loren Oden: My Heart, My Love
The singer, songwriter, and frequent co-star finally gets a chance to shine on his own with a set of ardent vintage soul.
Monophonics
It's Only Us
The veteran Bay Area band adds more Midwest flavoring to their sound, informed as ever by progressive early-'70s soul.
Mourning [A] BLKstar
The Cycle
The most distinctive work from the oppositional Cleveland collective, powered by three stirring vocalists and a two-person brass section.
Nick Hakim
Will This Make Me Good
More turbulent and fraught than his debut, these reflections on grim reality are nonetheless flavorful and tripped-out.
Queen Naija
missunderstood
A carefully crafted progression from the singer's self-titled EP, this affirms her place in a stylistic lineage of fervent R&B storytellers.
Sault
Untitled (Black Is)
The defiant and consoling third album from the wildly divergent soul-rooted collective.
Sault
Untitled (Rise)
A highly energized and angered set, the dynamic and enigmatic collective's fourth album in 16 months.
Steve Arrington
Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions
Still rolling with Stones Throw, the Dayton funk legend stretches out on his first album since 2013.
Teyana Taylor
The Album
Seemingly unrestricted and as definitive as the title implies, an engrossing work with an abundance of rich slow jams and an uplifting finish.
The HamilTones
1964
Alternately affirmative and defiant message music from the North Carolinian vocal trio.
The Weeknd
After Hours
Abel Tesfaye's Blood on the Tracks -- er, teeth -- is an emotionally resonant, sonically varied breakup album.
Thundercat
It Is What It Is
Shaken by the death of Mac Miller, Stephen Bruner nonetheless reaches a new peak with his fourth album.
Ty Dolla $ign
Featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Trailing another slew of collaborative hits, Tyrone Griffin's third LP is another fine display of his wordplay, harmonies, and astute production.
Victoria Monét
Jaguar
Not the Grammy-nominated songwriter's fifth EP, this "part one" of her debut album is an enticing and satisfying set of retro-modern R&B.
Vivian Green
Love Absolute
Working closely for a third time with Kwamé Holland, the singer handles jazz, reggae, soul-rooted R&B, and more with natural aptitude.
Xavier Omär
If You Feel
Sympathetic and artful R&B from a San Antonian with range encompassing descriptive bedroom songwriting and rich gospel harmonies.
