15 New R&B Releases: Chlöe, Masego, Danielle Ponder, Baby Rose and More

Rated R&B is bringing you the most essential releases this week. From the traditional R&B that purists love to the boundary-pushing sounds of the alt-R&B scene, this new music roundup keeps its pulse on the essence of R&B. Dive into it below.

Chlöe & Timbaland – Resurrection [mixtape]

Chlöe and Timbaland’s joint project, Resurrection, may be a mixtape, but it has the storytelling, production, and sheen of an album. From the opening track, “Talking Dirty,” to the stellar closer, “Jittery,” Resurrection makes for a skipless listen. [Read more about Chlöe and Timbaland’sResurrection]

Masego – “Breathe”

On “Breathe,” Masego grapples with the weight of grief while trying to maintain the pressures of his demanding music career. The vulnerable track is yet another reminder that artists are human—who experience the same emotions as everyone else—yet we often look at them to serve us at the expense of their own well-being.

Danielle Ponder – “Power”

Danielle Ponder’s “Power” is a beautiful, spiritual celebration of Blackness. “In Dakar, I found a brightness in the eyes of the people and an absence of heaviness in their songs. Here, power and leadership all came in the color Black and I began to piece together the source of my own,” Ponder explained.

Baby Rose – “Let Me Go”

Sometimes you have to love someone from a distance. On “Let Me Go,” Baby Rose’s resonant, soulful voice expresses her desire to be free of a love that no longer serves her. She isn’t slamming the door shut, though, suggesting they can continue things on a platonic basis. “Let Me Go” is the third single from her upcoming album, YEARNALISM, out July 10 via Secretly Canadian.

Ama – AMA [album]

Ama, formerly known as Ama Lou, is no longer hiding behind cryptic lyrics. Her self-titled sophomore album, out via Brent Faiyaz’s ISO Supremacy, is her most realized project to date. The London-raised singer-songwriter doesn’t shy away from expressing her most authentic self. The album includes features from Faiyaz and Bryson Tiller, plus other standouts such as “So…” and “Friend Zone.” [Read our exclusive interview with Ama.]

Chris Brown – BROWN (The Chocolate Edition) [album]

Before Chris Brown embarks on his co-headlining R&B Tour with Usher, the R&B star drops BROWN (The Chocolate Edition), an expanded version of his 12th album that contains 10 bonus tracks. The new batch of songs includes features from Wizkid, Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga.

Glenn Lewis – Overture [album]

After 13 years, Glenn Lewis has returned with his third album, Overture, via his independent label Reimagery Inc. [Read more about Glenn Lewis’ new album]

PJ Morton – Saturday Night / Sunday Morning [album]

PJ Morton is giving the best of both worlds with Saturday Night / Sunday Morning, his double album that’s half R&B and half gospel.

The Colleagues – Sincerely Yours: Songs in the Key of Love [album]

Production duo The Colleagues is bringing summertime romance with their new collaborative album, Sincerely Yours: Songs in the Key of Love. The 11-track set features appearances from Slim of 112, Raheem DeVaughn, Kevin Ross, October London, Vedo and more.

Eric Bellinger – “Fatherhood”

Eric Bellinger has a new anthem for dads around the world with his new track “Fatherhood.” The Antonio Dixon and Khris Riddick-Tynes production is from his upcoming self-titled album, which arrives Aug. 21 via Tamla Records.

Arin Ray – “Sweet Thang”

Arin Ray can’t stop gushing over his woman on his new single “Sweet Thang.” It’s the first taste from his upcoming EP, LIMBO.

Jamal Roberts – “Girl Dad”

Jamal Roberts may be the American Idol season 23 winner, but no title tops fatherhood. His new single, “Girl Dad,” is a heartfelt ode to his daughters that honors his love for them and the selfless love he’s learned through being a parent. “I wanted this song to celebrate every little moment, from painting nails and picking out bows to one day walking them down the aisle,” said Roberts. “I hope every dad who hears this record feels seen, and every daughter feels just how deeply loved she is.”

Dawn Richard, Durand Bernarr – “Baby, Can We?”

Dawn Richard and Durand Bernarr link up for “Baby, Can We?” produced by Katalyst Collective. It’s Richard’s second single from her upcoming album that will arrive on Merge Records. Regarding the track, she shares, “At its heart, ‘baby, can we?’ is about being open enough to embrace possibility.”

Ne-Yo – “That’s What I’m Thinking”

Ne-Yo’s latest track “That’s What I’m Thinking” tells the bittersweet tale of two lovers drifting a part. On the Chuck Harmony production, Ne-Yo acknowledges the growing space between him and his partner but is willing to work together to repair it. “That’s What I’m Thinking” is lifted from Ne-Yo’s upcoming country-inspired albumHighway 79,arriving July 10.

Chrisette Michele – “Flower Mamma”

Chrisette Michele’s “Flower Mamma” is fully planted in her healed self. She shared on social media: “I just spent a year with my inner child. I let her say what ever she needed to say. I let her write whatever she needed to write. Then I accepted the role as her mother Flower Mamma – For every grown woman who just learned how to protect herself.”

PJ – “To the Ones”

PJ’s new song “To the Ones” is an open letter to a former lover, signed, sealed and delivered without a return address. “It’s a hymn for him,” she tells Rated R&B. “A toast to the relationships, the f—k boys, the narcissists, the situationships, the boyfriends, and even the husbands we survived. It’s inspired by the pain of knowing I had to move on from somebody who was causing me consistent pain over and over.” She adds, “Everybody has that one that kept breaking your heart, and you just kept taking it. And then one day it hit me, ‘I’m the one that got away. If I had stayed, ain’t no telling where I would be.’ Here’s to the ones that got away.”

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