R&B and Funk Music to Listen to Right Now
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Looking for some new R&B and Funk tunes to add to your playlist? Check out our latest blog post for a roundup of the best tracks to listen to right now.
R&B
R&B is a genre of music that is known for its soulful sound and its ability to tell a story. R&B is often about love, heartbreak, and relationships, and it can be both happy and sad. R&B is also a very popular genre of music, and it has produced some of the biggest stars in the world.
Jazmine Sullivan- Heaux Tales
R&B sensation Jazmine Sullivan is back with her third album, Heaux Tales. The project is a departure from her previous work, exploring the complexities of modern romance from a woman’s perspective. Heaux Tales is a fierce and vulnerable album that will speak to anyone who has ever dealt with heartbreak, betrayal, or disappointment in love.
Sullivan’s powerful voice is on full display throughout the album, soaring over soulful production that blends elements of R&B, hip-hop, and jazz. Standout tracks include the anthemic “Lost One”, the sultry “Bodies”, and theTitle: poignant “Stupid Games”. With Heaux Tales, Sullivan has crafted a timeless R&B classic that will resonate with listeners for years to come.
H.E.R- “I Can’t Breathe”
H.E.R.’s new song “I Can’t Breathe” is a powerful ballad about the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for justice. The song features H.E.R.’s emotive vocals over a moving piano melody, with the lyrics speaking directly to the systemic racism and police brutality that has long plagued the black community. “I can’t breathe/every time I try to speak/I can’t breathe/every time I try to breathe,” she sings on the chorus, her voice strained and filled with pain. “I can’t breathe/every time I see my people die/I can’t breathe.” It’s a gut-wrenching song that will leave you feeling angry, frustrated, and hopeful all at the same time.
Summer Walker- Over It
Summer Walker’s “Over It” is the perfect R&B and Funk song to listen to right now. The song has a catchy beat that will keep you hooked and Walker’s vocals are incredibly smooth. The lyrics are also very relatable and will resonate with many listeners. If you’re looking for a summertime jam, “Over It” is the perfect choice.
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-1960s. It is a style of African-American music that is characterized by a strong groove and a syncopated rhythm. Funk music is often based on a 12-bar blues or a 16-bar blues chord progression. The most popular funk songs are often based on a groove, or a repeated pattern of notes.
D’Angelo- “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”
Named after one of the most influential musicians of the past two decades, D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” is a stunning seven-minute opus that captures the sensuality, the groove, and the technical virtuosity of classic R&B and Funk. While the majority of popular music today relies on production tricks and Auto-Tune to create a false sense of emotion, D’Angelo emotes with every fiber of his being, using his silky smooth voice and impeccable falsetto to sell each and every lyric. The result is a track that feels both timeless and current, a rare feat in an era where so much music feels disposable.
Parliament- “Flash Light”
“Flash Light” is a song by Parliament, released as a single in 1977 on the Casablanca Records label. The song was written by Parliament frontman George Clinton, bassist Bootsy Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell. It was the first single to be released from the group’s fifth album, Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome.
The song features a simple bass line, played by Collins, over which Worrell layers a series of keyboard parts. Clinton’s vocals are delivered in a rapid-fire rap style. The lyrics of “Flash Light” are based on a children’s nursery rhyme about a creature called the boogie man.
“Flash Light” was a commercial success for Parliament, reaching number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song has since been sampled or covered by numerous artists, including Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino.
Bruno Mars- “Uptown Funk”
Bruno Mars is known for his catchy hooks and uptempo beats, and “Uptown Funk” is no exception. This smooth track features a groovy bassline and horns that will keep you moving all night long. If you’re looking for a fun party song to get everyone on the dance floor, this is it.
