New R&B Releases RD: March 2024 (Due April 30th)

[SHOOTER]

Girl, I'll wham you in your Camry
Then wham you on your bedsheets
That's a double whammy (WHAM)!





17. DRAM - "WHAM!" (94 Points)
Written by: Shelley Massenburg-Smith
Produced by: DRAM, HERO and Spiff Sinatra

HamedM1 💔 : 7
SHOOTER : 8
singingrulebritannia : 10

newpower : 12
Kelly's 10th Fan : 12
Ty : 12
BB🌕 : 13
wrip : 13

Soulsista : 16
bat1990 : 17
.indulgecountry : 19
kimberly : 20
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 20

DRAM is a Virgina-based musician who first broke out with his viral hit "Cha Cha" in 2015 (which Drake may or may not have "stolen" for "Hotline Bling"). That was followed by his mainstream smash, "Broccoli" feat. Lil Yachty, in 2016, a slew of more singles plus a debut album, a name change to Shelley FKA Dram and a second album, and back to DRAM ahead of the release of "WHAM!" and his third (and first independent) album, What Had Happened Was..., released in November.

[HamedM1 💔]

Robbed

[SHOOTER]

See, yeah, now you're annoying me
Passive aggression you're showing me
Point the blame while you throwing all your shade
Come say it to my face...





16. CANDIACE x Trina - "INSECURE" (104 Points)
Written by: Candiace Dillard-Bassett, Anesha Birchett Moody, Nyerere Davidson and Katrina Taylor
Produced by: Donald "haZEL" Sales, Chris O. Grayson II and Kateeb Muhammad

.indulgecountry : 6
bat1990 : 10
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 10

HamedM1 💔 : 11
Soulsista : 11
Ty : 11
SHOOTER : 13
Kelly's 10th Fan : 13
BB🌕 : 14
kimberly : 14

newpower : 17
singingrulebritannia : 19
wrip : 20

You may recognize CANDIACE as either one of the castmates of The Real Housewives of Potomac (she joined season 3) or as Miss United States 2013. She also served a tenure in the White House offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs under President Obama. In her spare time, she honed her craft as an R&B singer/songwriter, signing with MNRK Records (formerly eOne) in 2020 and releasing her debut album, Deep Space, in 2021. INSECURE is taken from the deluxe edition of that album which was released last month.

[SHOOTER]

New R&B: November 2022 (Top-15)

Adonis (Adi Oasis feat. KIRBY)
Bag of You (Mahalia)
Bout Mine (Mariah the Scientist)
Can't Get Over You (Yuna)
LOOKING OUT FOR YOU (TIA RAY)

Love Ship (I.KHAN)
OH! (Aqyila)
ON 10 (DESTIN CONRAD)
Obsession (Eric Bellinger feat. Muni Long)
On the Run (Kelela)

POP! (Adanna Duru)
Reach for It (Leela James)
Say You Want Me (Masego)
Today (Q)
try. (Phony Ppl feat. JoJo)

The December 2022 list will be published sometime tonight.

[kimberly]

got rid of my 14, 16, 18-20.

good start. this month's set wasn't my favorite 🫣 that Christmas drought really hit early this year huh? 

[SHOOTER]

Jan 9, 2023 23:07:08 GMT -5 kimberly said:

got rid of my 14, 16, 18-20.

good start. this month's set wasn't my favorite 🫣 that Christmas drought really hit early this year huh? 

I think SZA the only thing saving December...

[HamedM1 💔]

December 2022, oh right the SOS rankdown?
Good way to celebrate considering today is its one month anniversary!

[wrip]

I’m cool with these results so far! I’m gonna be honest, Insecure was like really rough lol. It just felt messy in production and had too much going on, so that’s why it was my 20.

DRAM’s song could’ve been a tad bit higher but I’m not terribly upset. This month was kind of weak compared to so many other months lol

[SHOOTER]

---

Rank 1-18 (Due February 5th)
Escapism (RAYE x 070 Shake)
Lost Me (iyla x Benny the Butcher)
Money Everywhere (RSVP)
Not Mine (Rileyy Lanez)
People (Libianca)
Pressure (RINI)
Santorini (Christian Kuria)
BNB (Eric Bellinger)
How Many (Ryan Destiny)
Kill Bill (SZA)
Love Language (SZA)
Breaking Point (Leon Thomas)
Gorilla (Little Simz)
You Never Visit Me (Masego)
Honest (Whitney Houston x Lucky Daye)
Losing You (FLO)
Tell Me It's Over (Jacquees x Summer Walker x 6LACK)
Like Her Too (Mario)

---

Playlist Runtime: 1 Hour, 6 Minutes


Apple Music Playlist

YouTube Playlist

Listen. The Xmas drought was real and playlists were light so I took a couple few suggestions I got and added them in here on top of the pure R&B "jams" you've come to expect (and if I forgot something, why you ain't remind me then!?). Note this is an anomaly, not the new norm; R&B will always come first in this series.

And since I need to prepare reveals for the 2022 Adult R&B Year-End Rankdown (that I'm sure ALL of you who haven't submitted yet are working on ), you got just about a month to work on this one as well. Enjoy!

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Lovers to the Front!}anthony11554 yuh yuh bat1990 BB🌕 Beno Linnethia Monique boysilver400 Private Dancer castleoblivion26 cedric CF15 George g8erboi LBTrocks Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast DistrictTwelve Glove Slap Ling-Ling Crimsonio Disco🌶️📖 Fancy fearlessarrow Exclusive filthy gabe Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God GP newpower hydraflare Sambalada 𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤 CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry @jadenlefranks jamesflame Leo ✔ Juanca Zeebz Kanenrá:ke jtd Thee Stallion kimberly 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 lyhom shootingstar16 #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman MoD Mylo13 💜 Caviar netti Nick P owenlovesmusic Kelly's 10th Fan RobbyFlorida samo🦕 sergejdordij rnb @pma2015 Soulsista spitfire stallie tallen2001 Au$tin tinawina toomuchboy Trilogy twigs Ty B-Boy walt91 Wave. mako willapted33 wrip wyckyd YotamTS Zach

[kimberly]

Jan 9, 2023 23:18:21 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

Jan 9, 2023 23:07:08 GMT -5 kimberly said:

got rid of my 14, 16, 18-20.

good start. this month's set wasn't my favorite 🫣 that Christmas drought really hit early this year huh? 

I think SZA the only thing saving December... :cold:

you’re such a scheming liar! this list doesn’t look half bad!

[SHOOTER]

Jan 10, 2023 0:25:38 GMT -5 kimberly said:

Jan 9, 2023 23:18:21 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

I think SZA the only thing saving December...

you’re such a scheming liar! this list doesn’t look half bad!

Gotta keep y'all on your toes!

[SHOOTER]

It seems like, all of the seconds feel like minutes
All of the hours feel like days, don't be too long
And don't take it wrong, it's an obsession...





15. Eric Bellinger feat. Muni Long - "Obsession (Remix)" (112 Points)
Written by: Eric Bellinger, Christian Ward, Chrishan Dotson and Priscilla Renea
Produced by: Hitmaka, Rocky Beatz and Mark Antonio Hudson

.indulgecountry : 4
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 7
Kelly's 10th Fan : 10

kimberly : 11
bat1990 : 12
HamedM1 💔 : 13
singingrulebritannia : 14
Soulsista : 14
newpower : 15
SHOOTER : 15
Ty : 15
wrip : 15

BB🌕 : 16

Eric Bellinger is a singer/songwriter/producer from Los Angeles, CA that has spent the last 13 years writing and producing hits for the likes of Usher (Lemme See), Chris Brown (New Flame) and Justin Bieber (Right Here) while simultaneously releasing over 30 projects of his own to date. The Obsession (Remix), featuring Muni Long, is one of several singles he dropped last year; no word yet on when project #34 will be released.

[SHOOTER]

If you have a black Kia and you blocking somebody's driveway
Plеase move it or it will be towed!





14. Destin Conrad - "ON 10" (117 Points)
Written by: Destin Conrad, Kyla Moscovich, Jack Rochon and Bijan Amir
Produced by: Jack Ro and Bijan Amir

Kelly's 10th Fan : 4
HamedM1 💔 : 5
bat1990 : 6
newpower : 10

BB🌕 : 11
singingrulebritannia : 11
SHOOTER : 12
wrip : 12
kimberly : 15

Ty : 16
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 17
Soulsista : 17
.indulgecountry : 20

Destin Conrad is a social media influencer (and one of Kehlani's besties) who pivoted into a recording career with the 2021 release of his debut EP COLORWAY. ON 10 is the opening track to his sophomore EP, SATIN, out now.

[Ty]

I'm not feeling these Muni Long features...😑

[SHOOTER]

When you find love
It's crystal clear
You should know when it's real
It's elementary, my dear...





13. I.Khan - "Love Ship" (118 Points)
Written by: Kannon "Caviar" Cross
Produced by: Kannon "Caviar" Cross

🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 2
.indulgecountry : 5
Soulsista : 6
singingrulebritannia : 9

SHOOTER : 11
BB🌕 : 12
bat1990 : 13
Ty : 13

wrip : 14
newpower : 16
kimberly : 17
Kelly's 10th Fan : 17
HamedM1 💔 : 20

I.Khan is the stage name of Indira Khan, the only daughter of music legend Chaka Khan. She's spent decades working in the industry alongside her mother as a background vocalist while also working with the likes of Rufus, Johnny Gill, Paula Abdul and touring internationally as part of the Daughters of Soul Revue. Love Ship is the second release under her new stage name and a taste of her debut project coming this year.

[SHOOTER]

Blockin' my call, don't tempt me
Promise I won't let you forget me
I remind you every time
You a vibe but you done lost your fuckin' mind...





12. Mariah the Scientist - "Bout Mine" (127 Points)
Written by: Mariah Buckles
Produced by: WondaGurl

HamedM1 💔 : 2
wrip : 3
singingrulebritannia : 5
newpower : 9
kimberly : 9
BB🌕 : 10

.indulgecountry : 11
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 13
bat1990 : 15
Kelly's 10th Fan : 15

SHOOTER : 17
Soulsista : 18
Ty : 19

Mariah the Scientist is a singer/songwriter from Atlanta who privately practiced singing while in high school; it wasn't until she went to college in New York that her friends found out about her musical passion and encouraged her to start a SoundCloud. Her first project, 2018's To Die For, put her on the radar of Canadian artist T*ry L*nez, who reached out to work with her, and helped her make some industry connections. Those connections led to a deal with RCA, where she released three projects, ahead of Bout Mine, her first release last year as an independent artist.

[SHOOTER]

If I say you're the one, the moon to my sun
I'd be lying to your face now
I gave you my heart, yeah, I was in it at the start
But I just don't feel the same now...





11. TIA RAY - "LOOKING OUT FOR YOU" (131 Points)
Written by: Debbie Aramide, Khris Riddick-Tynes and Leon Thomas
Produced by: The Rascals

.indulgecountry : 1
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 6
Ty : 6
SHOOTER : 7
HamedM1 💔 : 8
kimberly : 10
Soulsista : 10

bat1990 : 11
Kelly's 10th Fan : 14
singingrulebritannia : 15

wrip : 16
BB🌕 : 18
newpower : 20

TIA RAY is a Chinese singer-songwriter from Hunan who rose to prominence in 2012 when she competed on the inaugural season of The Voice of China, making it to the playoffs. Over the last decade, she's released five albums to date; in 2018, she achieved her biggest hit to date with Be Apart, which earned over 10m downloads and 1b streams, making it the 7th best-selling digital single globally of 2018. LOOKING OUT FOR YOU is taken from her latest album TRIP.

[SHOOTER]

New R&B: November 2022 (Top-10)

Adonis (Adi Oasis feat. KIRBY)

Bag of You (Mahalia)

Can't Get Over You (Yuna)

OH! (Aqyila)

On the Run (Kelela)

POP! (Adanna Duru)

Reach for It (Leela James)

Say You Want Me (Masego)

Today (Q)

try. (Phony Ppl feat. JoJo)

[Ty]

At least Tia Ray is ahead of Mariah the Scientist! Love her new EP especially "Mongolian Girl".

[kimberly]

my Top 8 is still all in! + my 12 and 13. hurray.

[bat1990]

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 14, 19

One of these songs is not like the others...

[SHOOTER]

7-Eleven for Excedrin, ooh
So many questions and I'm pressin' you
Only made one wrong turn back to her; how's your head now?
7-Eleven for Excedrin, ooh...





10. Aqyila - "OH!" (134 Points)
Written by: Teahira Duff, DuWayne John Phinisey and Trey Campbell
Produced by: Phinisey

BB🌕 : 2
kimberly : 2
Kelly's 10th Fan : 3
SHOOTER : 6
bat1990 : 7
Ty : 7
wrip : 10

.indulgecountry : 14
Soulsista : 15

HamedM1 💔 : 16
newpower : 18
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 19
singingrulebritannia : 20

Aqyila is a singer/songwriter from Toronto who went pandemic viral in 2020 with her self-released single Vibe for Me (Bob for Me). The global reach of the song helped her secure a deal with Sony Music Canada along with a 2021 JUNO nomination for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year; in 2022, she was one of four artists to win the SOCAN Viral Song Award. "OH!" was her second single released ahead of her debut album expected sometime this year.

[Ty]

This is really cute. One of the few songs from this month's list that actually made me stop what I was doing to check out the song title and artist name.

[singingrulebritannia]

Goodbye! I could not stand the beat or the way her vocals were processed.

[SHOOTER]

Jan 11, 2023 22:08:26 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Goodbye! I could not stand the beat or the way her vocals were processed.

[HamedM1 💔]

Jan 11, 2023 22:08:26 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Goodbye! I could not stand the beat or the way her vocals were processed.

Yeaaaaah the mixing was ass

[Ty]

The mixing was fine to me but I can see why people aren't a big fan of the beat.

Also, I'm kinda surprised no one has pointed out how much she sounds like Alessia Cara.

[SHOOTER]

Not a beauty in the world you ever seen like this
Tell me do you wanna watch me move my waist like this?
Got the sweat drippin' off of my chest like this
Make it bounce, and a jump, and a rock like this...





9. Adanna Duru - "POP!" (137 Points)
Written by: Adanna Duru
Produced by: Blue Rondo

newpower : 2
wrip : 5
BB🌕 : 7
Soulsista : 7
bat1990 : 8
Kelly's 10th Fan : 9
HamedM1 💔 : 10

.indulgecountry : 12
kimberly : 12
singingrulebritannia : 13

SHOOTER : 16
Ty : 17
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 : 18

Adanna Duru is a Nigerian singer/songwriter from Orange County that may be recognized from her appearance on Season 3 of The Voice (Team Adam) or her appearance on Season 14 of American Idol (where she finished 10th). However, she's probably best known for her TikTok vocal impersonations (racking up over half-a-billion impressions worldwide) which turned her into a viral sensation and led to a partnership with MNRK Records (formerly eOne). POP! is the second release from her debut EP, The Nappy Hour, Vol. 1, coming this year.

[Ty]

I can't unhear the similarity with "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY" in this. The chorus is also atrocious.

edit: AND I didn't realize she's the girl with all the hilarious "white clubs be like" videos!

[singingrulebritannia]

Finally the song titles will stop shouting at us