r&b was spectacular and diverse in 2018

R&B stars of 2018 / amped illustration

Popular misconceptions about R&B has seen certain people reduce the genre to 'baby making music' or the conclusion that 'R&B is dead'. In truth, it is clear R&B is not the force it once was. R&B songs and artists are being wrongly or intentionally labelled and marketed as 'Pop'.

Regardless, 2018 saw budding artists push the boundaries, delivering on subjects other than love, accompanied by masterful production. The sheer diversity of some of the songs out this year means it’s not as easy to simply fit a song into one genre. Nowadays, different elements of different genres are being implemented creatively, resulting in a period of unique identities.

In 2018, it can be really tough to keep up with new music being released every week. It has become really easy to miss music and there may not be enough time to digest certain songs or albums before your attention is diverted to new releases. Being keen on music discovery, i try to keep up with new music or artists. Focusing mostly on emerging acts, I curated a playlist of really great songs that can be loosely classified as R&B.

One clear theme this year is artists throwing it back to past times. Artists such as Ravyn Lenae, Amber Mark, Gavin Turek, Ari Lennox , Leon Bridges, The Internet, Raveena and more. There was honest and relatable songwriting and delivery from Mahalia, Kiah Victoria, Kiana Ledé and Elliot.

We got albums from the distinct big voices of Nao, Seinabo Sey and Duendita and got a bit more sultry Electro-R&B from Ayelle, Alina Baraz & Alayna.

Outstanding multi-instrumentalists with soulful energy like Cautious Clay, Masego, Kelsey Lu, JMSN. The Canadian scene is booming, represented by MorMor, Charlotte Day Wilson, Mcevoy, Harrison Brome and Always Never.

2018 saw Hip-Hop infused R&B from SiR, Kevin George and Wiinston.

Frank Ocean's only song this year is the best cover of Moon River to date. His influence on a generation is clear to see with the emergence of Dijon & Choker.

Overall, it is pretty clear that this is an era of R&B that is all-encompassing with promising and expressive artistes at the helm.

Look out for gems and new artistes to follow.

Listen to disparate R&B (2018) on Apple Music or Spotify