rolling r&b 2020

I think this would be a really good time for publications to properly cover r&b, not just because the genre is in particularly good health, but with the wider cultural conversations happening it would be a really good time to commit to covering work produced in a style that's still mostly associated with black voices

I'm aware how patronising and clunky and simplistic that statement reads but at the same time, I feel like we're talking about Black Lives Matter and empowerment and yet the coverage I see of contemporary r&b is so minimal

I agree it would be great (and, yes, “timely”) if a genre in which young Black women thrive were more celebrated!

it's so frustrating

I can't get over this EP - the first three tracks, especially, are just blazing. She's a major artist, you know? I'm so pleased, especially bc I never really connected w/Over It.

Summer Walker - My Affection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMCpQ0FxJIo

i'm late but i am also enjoying summer walker's ep

Voicemails was a masterpiece but I somehow missed a new Tink album even existed. Belated thanks to Maura for the link. Have now picked it up and it's pretty great.

Victoria Monét's Jaguar is out on Friday; Kaash Paige's album Teenage Fever next week... this is gonna be a great month for r&b.

...and while I'm here, another great recent single:

Savannah Cristina - F'd Up (feat. Flo Milli)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HXrzCvALJM

bonus (nice!) live version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLUvRA3ZbJ8

Victoria Monét's Jaguar is out on Friday

jonesing for this so much rn

in the meantime this is an absolute jam

Teedra Moses, Salaam Remi, D-Nice - Black Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QUDXlGuc00

9 songs, 25 min

👍🏼

"Moment" as Track #1 is such a choice

short excellent EPs are the answer

My only quibble (as a fan) is that I sometimes wish her lyrics were a little stronger - she's into corny puns & sex metaphors which are more silly than sexy (to me). There are some good lines, though ("We in your Porsche, but you coulda got it in a rental").

I'm also not sure why the two (great-sounding) "Interludes" weren't fleshed out into full songs(?)

the title track also demands an extended mix!

I wonder if there will be speculation around the identity of the woman in "Touch Me" ("based on a true story," says Victoria). the line about all the tattoos; the Porsche reference... u see where I'm going

i'm fine w/ her lyrics. mind you, i honestly rate Goapele's Milk & Honey lyrics and tone (and song) very highly, so

I'm also not sure why the two (great-sounding) "Interludes" weren't fleshed out into full songs(?)

that is otm. i would gladly have 9+ mins of the glouriously sizzling wmebfil

impressive collection of songs (and consistently striking instrumental work)

the title track also demands an extended mix!

definitely. "experience" too imo

Victoria Monet Jaguar got a good review in Pitchfork yesterday but a 7.1 score.

there's a quite nice video for the title track now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unniQzo65W8

i want to mix it with montell jordan's "get it on tonite" (or any other derivatives of the claudja barry tune it samples)

I don’t know about that video, lol

new neyo and jeremih is low key but nice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdiLrboD3f8

Love an all-male love duet

wasn’t able to really enjoy Jaguar at first because I had been expecting a sprawling album to get lost in, not an EP frontloaded with previously released singles and just three new tracks

tried again today, with just the new stuff and, yes, it is good...

...but it’s over before it begins - I still want that sprawling album to get lost in

guess I’ll have to play it on shuffle and hope the listening *experience* somehow balances out between the new and the familiar

just fleshing out those two interludes would have made such a difference

its replay value is something for the ages, tho

she revealed Jaguar is part 1 of 3 parts

a very good read: https://nypost.com/2020/08/07/victoria-monet-jaguar-interview-album-project/

^why does that entire piece use an accent grave instead of an accent aigu over the “e” in her name?

Usually there's no accent at all so both are disconcerting.

Hypercorrection is the word I was looking for.

Kaash Paige's album is out, and it's hot stuff!

https://respect-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/unnamed-2020-08-13T155350.834-scaled.jpg

she does use the accent aigu (or maybe it’s a family thing), presumably to guide English speakers into pronouncing her name right. She’s basically telling everyone “Aigu Like That (It’s Your Motherfucking Monét)”.

She should have gone with Mony! Moni! Monét! tho.

xp

Yeah, I didn’t realize the accent was in question. It’s “Monét” everywhere.

You guys check out Teenage Fever yet? The opening track alone is a total vibe:

Kaash Paige - London

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RdmAAn_3Bo

“Mrs. Lonely” is the other key track, you nerds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_W0Aa1_2nE

gave the kaash paige a listen yesterday and enjoyed it!

i'm still so obsessed with the chloe x halle album. their live-in-lockdown performances are...insane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLIGjz1SSwA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xrpgC9MXMk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ldt4ezz85o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxf0f27n-m4

^Some of those are great (better than the studio versions).

Btw, my little speculation about Victoria Monét’s “Touch Me” was apparently far off the mark:

It was the driver for me 🏆 https://t.co/vLJUpwscX9

— Victoria Monét (@VictoriaMonet) August 7, 2020

Victoria Monet Jaguar got a good review in Pitchfork yesterday but a 7.1 score.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, August 8, 2020 8:33 AM (one week ago)

Kaash Paige's new album is relegated to a half-dismissive item in Pitchfork's weekly rap column (which "covers songs, mixtapes, albums, Instagram freestyles, memes, dances, weird tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches our attention in the world of hip-hop").

Glad it "caught their attention," I guess. Maybe her next "weird tweet" will get more notice from them.

feeling the kaash paige - so langurous

loving the monét, only wish it was longer

I didn't realize that Tayla Parx put out a new track back in May ("Dance Alone") - it's nice, very lush ('70s/disco sounds seem to be big right now with her set):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaLDDPcGNKI

Ah, dear old Tayla Parx! One of the last live shows I saw pre-lockdown, just her and her guitar guy and her two cheerleader dancers on that coulourful trayla parq set. Very tight and fun show, and she was super charming.

The new song is okay, I guess.

breastcrawl, i really need to find out what you do/where you live; you're awfully cagey about it but you clearly work industry and i'm guessing in Europe?

How many times must a man say he’s Dutch
Before you will know him as such?
The answer my forks is for everyone to see
And no, I don’t work industry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjSG6z_13-Q

(fyi I saw Tayla on 3/3)

*updates xls*
and your maiden name?

fka twigs

suspicions confirmed

really feeling this one right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUKtgbO5Qpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUAxPG3GYi8

not seen this new Ciara mentioned anywhere round here

with bulgarian choir, yet