The 30 greatest R&B songs of the 2020s

When a sample is used just right, it makes a listening session with a song even sweeter. That was the case when H.E.R. sampled Herb Albert’s 1987 song “Making Love in the Rain” on her 2020 single “Damage.” On the track, H.E.R. highlights how much she gives herself in a relationship but also wants to make sure that she doesn’t get taken advantage of.

Six years after releasing her previous album, Reality Show, Jazmine Sullivan returned in 2021 with her critically-acclaimed EP Heaux Tales, which featured her hit song “Pick Up Your Feelings.” On the track, Sullivan describes catching an ex-lover cheating on her, but what really always stands out is Sullivan’s astronomical vocal layers. While the song may be a breakup anthem, Sullivan’s vocals bring out the emotions for any listener.

Sometimes, music fans want to hear a song that can boost their confidence; that’s exactly what Victoria Monét did in 2023 when she released her hit single “On My Mama.” Co-produced and co-written by frequent collaborator D’Mile, the song uses a sample of Chalie Boy’s 2009 hit “I Look Good,” in which Monet describes her looks and confidence. 

How many artists can say they sampled a classic R&B track and also decided to feature said artist on their version? Summer Walker can, and she teamed up with Usher on her 2020 single “Come Thru,” which samples the crooner’s 1997 hit “You Make Me Wanna…” On the track, the two describe how much they want to step out on their current relationships.

In 2021, Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars decided to join forces and form the superduo known as Silk Sonic. They decided to channel their love for ‘70s soul music on their debut single, “Leave the Door Open.” Fans loved the song so much that it swept four Grammy Award categories, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. 

Three years after releasing his debut album Painted, Lucky Daye returned with his sophomore album Candydrip. The album’s lead single, “Over,” was produced by D’Mile and used a sample of Musiq Soulchild’s 2002 hit song “Halfcrazy.” On the track, Daye describes the nuances of an on-again, off-again relationship. 

Sometimes, when listeners hear a duet, they can immediately tell how the artists’ voices are meant to be a beautiful pairing. Such is the case when Alex Isley teamed up with Masego and her frequent collaborator, Jack Dine, on their hit single, “Good & Plenty.” On the track, the two describe how they have enough love to please their partner. 

After a five-year hiatus since their previous album, Janelle Monáe returned in 2023 with The Age of Pleasure. On the second single, “Lipstick Lover,” Monáe details how much they enjoy the physical touch of a lover and want to get even more intimate with them.

One of the most consistent things about Kenyon Dixon is that he’s always an advocate for R&B music, and he’s going to make sure his fans appreciate it just as much as he does. In 2023, he teamed up with R&B veteran RL on the hit single “2000s R&B,” and it sounds like it could’ve been released during the early 2000s, indeed. On the smooth slow jam, he describes dealing with the aftermath of heartbreak. 

Ari Lennox teamed up with R&B legends Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri on her 2021 single, “Pressure.” Lennox draws sound inspiration from the Motown era as she describes how a potential lover needs to apply pressure to keep her attention. 

Ella Mai had huge success with her self-titled debut album in 2018; she then returned in 2022 with her sophomore album, Heart on My Sleeve. On her single “This Is,” Mai samples the Shalamr hit song “This Is For the Lover in You,” as she details her feelings on loving a partner for the rest of her life. 

Muni Long spent a lot of her career as a songwriter for other artists, but her breakthrough as an artist came in 2021 when she released her own hit song “Hrs & Hrs.” The smooth ballad finds Long describing how she feels she met the love of her life, and she wants to make sure she spends as much time as she can with them. 

Leon Thomas may have released his song “Mutt” in the summer of 2024, but it took about six months for the song to crack the Billboard Hot 100. Thanks to becoming a popular song across social media, as well as Thomas performing on a number of platforms including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NPR’s Tiny Desk, “Mutt” has easily become a favorite among Thomas’ fans.

Tinashe wants to know if someone can match her sexual prowess on her hit 2024 single “Nasty.” As she sings in the first verse, “Is somebody gonna match my nasty? / I got stamina, they say I'm an athlete / Is somebody gonna match my freak? / Need somebody with a good technique.”

Sister duo Chloe x Halle made sure to elevate their song content on their sophomore album, Ungodly Hour. Their second single, “Do It,” was produced by Scott Storch and co-written by Victoria Monét; just those two names alone sound like a recipe for success. They use the track to describe how they get ready and have a good time with their crew. 

For listeners who hope for a better tomorrow, then SZA’s 2020 track “Good Days” deserves to be in heavy rotation. On the track, SZA describes how people have battles with their own selves, but there is always hope that the future can be better than your current situation. 

Although Joyce Wrice has released a few EPs over the last few years, she finally released her debut album, Overgrown, in 2021 to rave reviews. She teamed up with rapper Freddie Gibbs on her single “On One,” a song that finds Wrice in limbo as she tries to figure out what she wants from a lover. 

In 2022, Steve Lacy released his sophomore album, Gemini Rights, which featured his hit song “Bad Habit.” On the track, Lacy describes his regret for not making a move on someone he was interested in. Not only did “Bad Habits” top several Billboard charts, but it was nominated for several Grammys. 

In 2022, Coco Jones released her critically acclaimed EP, What I Didn’t Tell You. On her single “Double Back,” she samples SWV's hit song “Rain” to describe the feelings of going back and forth with a lover and how it’s hard for her to stay gone too long after calling it quits. 

The smooth vocal tones between Destin Conrad and Alex Isley work perfectly together on their 2024 single “Same Mistake.” On the track, the two describe they made the mistake of falling for someone who didn’t reciprocate the same feelings. As Conrad says in the first verse, “Why you always wanna play games? / Nighttime, you're mine, and daylight, you act like you don't even know my name / Hurts me to say it, but I gotta move on.”

Tyla took the world by storm in 2023 when she released her smash hit “Water.” Blending the sounds of amapiano, R&B, and pop, “Water” describes Tyla’s feelings on getting intimate with a partner. As she sings in the song, “Can you blow my mind? / Set off my whole body / If I give you my time / Can you snatch my soul from me? / I don't wanna wait, come take it / Take me where I ain't been before.”

Fans who say they miss R&B from the past have probably never listened to a Kevin Ross song before. His 2021 single “Sweet Release” has all the elements of classic R&B. With smooth guitar riffs and Ross’ ethereal vocals, “Sweet Release” can easily put listeners in a romantic mood. 

Beyoncé blends R&B with disco and funk on her 2022 single “Cuff It,” which was an immediate fan favorite from her Renaissance album. Using an interpolation of Teena Marie’s 1998 track “Ooo La La La,” Beyoncé uses the dance track to reflect on having a good time and falling in love. “Cuff It” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and, of course, inspired a dance challenge on TikTok. 

R&B trio FLO teamed up with Missy Elliott on their hit 2023 single “Fly Girl.” Using classic R&B elements with a modern twist, the group reflects on their style and confidence being the only things they need to present their aura to the world. It also helps that the song interpolates lyrics from Elliott’s 2002 hit single “Work It.” 

Afrobeats singer Tems is all about reflecting on any doubts, fears, and insecurities on her 2022 single “Free Mind.” She realizes that certain thoughts and moods might creep up on her to tear her down, and she knows she needs to give her mind the freedom of releasing them. Sometimes, life is all about tackling the battlefield of the mind. 

Although GIVEON made a little noise in 2019 with his single “Like I Want You,” his breakthrough came in 2020 with his hit track “Heartbreak Anniversary.” GIVEON wins listeners over with his baritone vocals as he describes a love that didn’t last. As he sings in the second verse, “I'm buildin' my hopes up / Like presents unopened 'til this day / I still see the messages you read, mmm / I'm foolishly patient / Can't get past the taste of your lips / Don't wanna let you out my head.”

In 2023, Kali Uchis released her third album, Red Moon in Venus, which featured her smooth single “Moonlight.” On the track, Uchis describes her longing for spending so much time with a lover that it gives her a natural high. As she sings on the track, “Baby, it's been a hell of a day / But I know a place we can escape / Find out how it feels to let go of everything, be free / When you're here with me.”

“Good Good” was the first single released from Usher’s ninth album, Coming Home. Joined by Summer Walker and 21 Savage, Usher uses the track to reflect on a past relationship that didn’t work out, but he still has love, respect, and well-wishes for that ex-lover. “Good Good” peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Blxst came onto the scene in 2020 with his debut EP No Love Lost, and one song that stood out was the Dom Kennedy-assisted track “Got It All.” In the song, Blxst praises his partner for having everything he wants and needs, just enough to show her off to the world. As Blxst sings on the hook, “Ayy, yeah she poppin' but never poppin' off / Plus she bad and bougie to top it off / Tell whoever trippin' they can knock it off.”

In 2020, Chris Brown and Young Thug teamed up on their joint mixtape Slime & B, which featured the hit single “Go Crazy.” On the track, Brown and Thug trade verses and bars about a lover who may seem shy to others but shows their freaky side when they’re intimate. As Brown sings on the pre-hook, “Trips to your crib in the middle of the night / I know that you miss me 'cause I put it down right / Damn, babe, I can put you on a flight.”