It’s New Music Friday, which means Rated R&B is bringing you the most essential releases. From the traditional R&B that purists love to the boundary-pushing sounds of the alt-R&B scene, this week’s roundup keeps its pulse on the essence of R&B. Dive into it below. Stream all of this week’s picks and more on the RATED R&B Playlist
Ella Mai — Do You Still Love Me? (album)
Ella Mai’s third album, Do You Still Love Me? is a 14-track collection of songs made for the lovers and yearners. Executive produced by Mustard, the album includes the singles “Little Things” and “100,” as well as standouts like “Somebody’s Son” and “Bonus.” Mai recorded the project while pregnant and postpartum. She told Hunger Magazine, “I was in a vulnerable place and I was like, ‘Let’s just make stuff that feels good.’ That was really my intention. That’s also why I love the project so much — because it just feels like a safe space to me, even though it’s vulnerable.”
MarcLo — “Interest”
There are some people in life we may feel we owe the world to — and for good reason. MarcLo’s “Interest” is fixed at that compounding rate of gratitude. Regarding the track, he tells Rated R&B, “When a person has given you so much that you can never repay them, when they talk you off a cliff over and over and make your heart feel brand new, they at least deserve a song. ‘Interest’ is my thank you to the one who has saved my life in so many ways.”
Mack Keane — “Ordinary Feelings”
Mack Keane can’t get enough of a lover on “Ordinary Feelings,” the second single from his upcoming album. “Let’s just stay together, one more day / Make it forever,” he croons over vibrant instrumentation. “This song started out just keys/vocals. Grateful to all the musicians that helped turn this record into what it is,” he shared.
Sasha Keable — Act II (deluxe EP)
Sasha Keable’s Act II EP is an extension of 2025’s Act Right, with five new tracks, including the previously shared “Tai Chi” and “Tell Me What You Want.” “I really wanted to give you guys some more of the story so here it is,” she said.
Gwen Bunn — “Extra Mile”
Singer and producer Gwen Bunn is back with “Extra Mile,” her first solo release in four years. Regarding the breezy track, Bunn notes, “The inspiration behind ‘Extra Mile’ came from me wanting something up-tempo to dance to and feel good. Sometimes you just need some music to get you up and running to get through your day.”
Jaymin — Sweet Nothings (EP)
Alt-R&B newcomer Jaymin unwraps his debut EP, Sweet Nothings. The 22-minute set is a synthesis of ‘90s R&B production and the Seattle native’s pitched-up vocals. “The project explores love, relationships, and desire while embracing vulnerability as strength,” Jaymin explains. Standouts include “Something Real,” “All I Have” and “No Sikes, No Tradesies.”
RAAHiiM — PRAY FOR ME (album)
Toronto native RAAHiiM’s new album PRAY FOR ME completes the album trilogy that began with 2020’s ii KNEW BETTER, followed by 2023’s BUT IF iiM HONEST. The 12-track set includes the singles “Just Like Me,” “Wiickedest” featuring BEAM and “Slide4U (Hating)” with Karri. On “96 Camry,” he yearns for a love as devoted as his father’s for his vintage car.
Candiace — “If Only…”
On Candiace’s new single “If Only…,” the reality star/singer confronts an unfaithful lover after gathering damning evidence. “If only you knew, how much I knew,” Candiace sings on the track, which interpolates Patti LaBelle’s “If Only You Knew.” “Lyrically, this song really tells the story of where I’ve been in love and relationships, the lessons, the heartbreak, and the growth,” Candiace tells Rated R&B. “The Patti LaBelle interpolation was the perfect icing on the cake because it brings that timeless soul energy that I grew up loving.”
Yuna — “Believer”
Malaysian R&B singer Yuna seeks an enduring love on her new single “Believer.” “I want to go deeper / Deeper / In your mind and soul / I want a believer / Believing in something / To make us last a lifetime,” she sings. “Believer” follows 2025’s “If You Don’t Love Me.”
Kareen Lomax — ijan (EP)
Progressive R&B singer Kareen Lomax’s new EP ijan arrives five years after her Hard Feelings project. Around that time, started working on music for ijan. “I wrote most of this in 2021,” she notes. The EP includes “Remedy” and “Apartment,” as well as the standout “Somewhere in the World,” where she grieves the loss of family. “I lost my sister out in NYC / Daddy down in Tennessee,” she sings. Of the closing track, Lomax shared, “This is my favorite song. If you could, listen gently.. for me, for yourself, and for the ones not here to hear it.”
Bryant Barnes — “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
Alt-R&B singer Bryant Barnes covers pop-rock band Crowded House’s 1986 classic “Don’t Dream It’s Over” for the GOAT Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The soundtrack will release Feb. 13 in tandem with the film. It marks Barnes’ first offering since dropping his debut album, Solace, in fall 2025.
Stream all of this week’s picks and more on the RATED R&B Playlist
