# 2025 in rhythm and blues music

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in rhythm and blues for the year 2025.

## Events
### January

* On January 3, Brenton Wood died at the age of 83.
* On January 10, Sam Moore died at the age of 89.
* On January 20, Bob Kuban died at the age of 84.

### February

* On February 2, Gene Barge died at the age of 98. On the same day, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards were held. Beyoncé won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. Muni Long won Best R&B Performance for "Made for Me (Live on BET)". Lucky Daye won Best Traditional R&B Performance for "That's You". SZA won Best R&B Song for "Saturn". AverySunshine and NxWorries tied for Best Progressive R&B Album for So Glad to Know You and Why Lawd?, respectively. Chris Brown won Best R&B Album for 11:11 (Deluxe). Tank and the Bangas won Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for The Heart, The Mind, The Soul. Prince, Taj Mahal, and Frankie Beverly received the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Alicia Keys received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
* On February 12, Tommy Hunt died at the age of 91. On the same day, Jimi Mbaye died at the age of 67.
* On February 18, the MOBO Awards 2025 were held. Odeal won Best Newcomer and Best R&B/Soul Act. Mnelia won Video of the Year for "My Man". Ayra Starr won Best African Music Act and Best International Act.
* On February 22, the 56th NAACP Image Awards were held. Beyoncé won Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Album for Cowboy Carter. Doechii won Outstanding New Artist. Chris Brown won Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding International Song with Davido for "Hmmm" and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for "Residuals". Adam Blackstone & Fantasia won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for "Summertime". Wizkid and Brent Faiyaz won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for "Piece of My Heart". Samara Joy won Outstanding Jazz Album for Portrait. Luther: Never Too Much won Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) and Outstanding Documentary (Motion Picture).
* On February 20, Jerry Butler died at the age of 85.
* On February 21, Gwen McCrae died at the age of 81.
* On February 22, Linsey Alexander died at the age of 82.
* On February 24, Roberta Flack died at the age of 88.

### March

* On March 1, Angie Stone died at the age of 63.
* On March 4, Roy Ayers died at the age of 84.
* On March 7, D'Wayne Wiggins died at the age of 64.
* On March 10, Wheesung died at the age of 43.
* On March 30, the Juno Awards of 2025 are set to be held.

## Released albums
### January

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 3 | Nia Nadurata | Still Living with My Parents | Arts & Crafts Productions | |
| 10 | Moonchild Sanelly | Full Moon | Transgressive | |
| 10 | Otis Kane | Violet | Nettwerk Music Group | |
| 10 | Rilès | Survival Mode | Self-released | |
| 10 | Skiifall | Lovers Till I'm Gone | Peoples Champ | |
| 15 | Maro & Nasaya | Lifeline | Secca, Venice | |
| 15 | Nariaki | Zatto | Self-released | |
| 17 | Keke Palmer | DivaGurl: A Story By Keke Palmer | Big Bosses, The SRG, ILS Group | |
| 17 | Mac Miller | Balloonerism | Warner | Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 |
| 17 | Yola | My Way | S-Curve Records | |
| 21 | Minnie | Her | Cube | |
| 24 | Benjamin Booker | Lower | Fire Next Time, Thirty Tigers | |
| 24 | Charlie Bereal | Walk With The Father | Death Row Records, Gamma | |
| 24 | FKA Twigs | Eusexua | Young, Atlantic | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | JoJo | NGL | BMG | |
| 24 | Jordan Adetunji | A Jaguar's Dream | 300 Entertainment, Warner UK | |
| 24 | Teddy Swims | I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) | Warner | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | Young Franco | It's Franky Baby! | Neon | |
| 29 | Jacob Banks | Yonder: Book II | Nobody Records | |
| 31 | Brooke Combe | Dancing at the Edge of the World | Modern Sky UK | |
| 31 | Cymande | Renascence | BMG | |
| 31 | Eddie Chacon | Lay Low | Stones Throw | |
| 31 | Iniko | The Awakening | Columbia, Audio Angel | |
| 31 | Journey Montana | Lucky Girl Syndrome | 10K Projects | |
| 31 | Qing Madi | I Am the Blueprint | Jton, Bu Vision | |
| 31 | The Weeknd | Hurry Up Tomorrow | XO, Republic | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |

### February

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 7 | Biig Piig | 11:11 | Sony Music UK | |
| 7 | Chase Shakur | Wonderlove | Def Jam | |
| 7 | Johnnyswim | When the War is Over | Self-released | |
| 7 | Truice Young | Vices | Gamma | |
| 11 | Kelela | In the Blue Light | Warp Records | |
| 14 | Alessia Cara | Love & Hyperbole | Def Jam | |
| 14 | Candi Staton | Back To My Roots | Beracah Records | |
| 14 | Flau'jae | Flau & B | Flauge Entertainment | |
| 14 | Jacquees & DeJ Loaf | Fuck A Friendzone 2 | Yellow World, FYB Records | |
| 14 | Jagged Edge | All Original Parts, Vol. 1 | Self-released | |
| 14 | John Glacier | Like a Ribbon | Young | |
| 14 | Mereba | The Breeze Grew a Fire | Secretly Canadian | |
| 14 | PartyNextDoor & Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | OVO Sound, Republic Records | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 14 | The Altons | Heartache in Room 14 | Daptone | |
| 14 | They. | Love.Jones | Drink Sum Wtr | |
| 18 | Durand Bernarr | Bloom | Create Music Group | |
| 21 | Bren Joy | Sunset Black | Self-released | |
| 21 | Joan Thiele | Joanita | Sony Music Italy | |
| 21 | Nao | Jupiter | Little Tokyo Recordings, Sony Music | |
| 21 | Saint Jhn | Festival Season | Godd Complexx | |
| 21 | Sir Woman | If It All Works Out | ONErpm | |
| 21 | Tate McRae | So Close to What | RCA | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 25 | Senidah | Sen i Dah | Bassivity Digital | |
| 27 | Bini | Biniverse | Star Music | |
| 28 | Aloe Blacc | Stand Together | Grand Scheme, Vydia | |
| 28 | Banks | Off With Her Head | Self-released | |
| 28 | Everything Is Recorded | Temporary | XL | |
| 28 | Fridayy | Some Days I'm Good, Some Days I'm Not | Lost In Melody, Def Jam | Debuted at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 |
| 28 | Hope Tala | Hope Handwritten | PMR Records | |
| 28 | Michi | Dirty Talk | Stones Throw | |
| 28 | Noemi | Nostalgia | Columbia, Sony Music | |
| 28 | Serpentwithfeet | Grip Sequel | Secretly Canadian | |
| 28 | Terrace Martin | Albion Files | Sounds of Crenshaw | |
| 28 | Yves Jarvis | All Cylinders | In Real Life | |

### March

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) |
| 6 | Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso | Papota | 5020 Records |
| 7 | Immasoul | Pistola | Empire |
| 7 | Jacob Banks | Yonder: Book III | Nobody Records |
| 7 | Jennie | Ruby | Odd Atelier, Columbia |
| 7 | Tokimonsta | Eternal Reverie | Young Art |
| 10 | Seulgi | Accidentally On Purpose | SM |

## Upcoming releases
### March

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) |
| 21 | Bathe | Inside Voice(s) | MNRK |
| 21 | Greentea Peng | Tell Dem It's Sunny | AWAL |
| 21 | Jon B. | Waiting On You | Vibezelect |
| 28 | Butcher Brown | Letters from the Atlantic | Concord Jazz |
| 28 | Jessie Reyez | Paid In Memories | Fmly, Island |
| 28 | Yukimi | For You | Ninja Tune |
| TBA | Victor Ray | TBA | Decca Records |

### April

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) |
| 4 | Malcolm Todd | Malcolm Todd | Columbia |
| 11 | Bootsy Collins | Album of the Year #1 Funkateer | Bootzilla |
| 18 | Davido | 5ive | Sony |
| 25 | Coco Jones | Why Not More? | High Standardz, Def Jam |
| 25 | D4vd | Withered | Darkroom, Interscope |

### May

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Ref. |
| 16 | Tanika Charles | Reasons to Stay | Record Kicks | |

### Unscheduled and TBA

| Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) |
| Aaliyah | Unstoppable | Blackground Records, Empire |
| Amanda Reifer | The Reifer Files | Title 9, Atlantic |
| Amerie | Cymatika, Vol. 1 | TBA |
| Ari Lennox | TBA | Dreamville, Interscope |
| Bakar | Forever & Ever | Self-released |
| Brandon | TBA | Secretly Canadian |
| Brownstone | Back Again | Self-released |
| Burna Boy | No Sign of Weakness | Spaceship, Bad Habit, Atlantic |
| Carl Thomas | TBA | TBA |
| Case | Love Jones, Vol. 2 | Self-released |
| Colde | Yang | Wavy |
| Craig David | TBA | Believe UK |
| D'Angelo | TBA | TBA |
| Drew Sidora | TBA | MusicXchange |
| Elle Varner | S.E.L.F. | Two Twelve Enterprises |
| Eric Benét | TBA | JBR Creative Group |
| Estelle | TBA | Established 1980 Records, Fab Factory Entertainment |
| Gigi | TBA | Marki, Warner |
| Giveon | TBA | Epic |
| Honey Bxby | Raw Honey | Rebirth, Art@War, Warner |
| J. Valentine | Conversations With Women | R&B Money |
| JayDon | TBA | Zoo, Mega, Gamma |
| Jeremih | TBA | Late Nights, Pulse, Concord |
| Johnny Venus | TBA | SinceThe80s, Epic |
| Josh Levi | TBA | Raedio, Atlantic |
| Kelis | TBA | TBA |
| Keyshia Cole | TBA | TBA |
| Koffee Brown | TBA | Slugga Music, Reservoir Recordings |
| Ledisi | The Crown | Listen Back, BMG |
| Liamani | TBA | Def Jam |
| Lizzo | Love In Real Life | Nice Life |
| Mabel | TBA | TBA |
| Maleek Berry | If Only Love Was Enough | Berry's Room |
| Mariah Carey | TBA | Columbia |
| Maxwell | blacksummers'NIGHT | Musze, BMG |
| Melanie Fiona | Say Yes | LoveLinc, Public Records, Colture, Title 9 |
| Miguel | Viscera | TBA |
| Monica | MDA | WME |
| Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy | Victims & Villains 2 | SoulStar |
| Ne-Yo | TBA | ONErpm |
| Rihanna | R9 | Roc Nation, Westbury Road |
| Robin Thicke | TBA | Run It Up Records |
| Rotimi | In My Heart, In My Veins | FrontRo, Empire |
| Sean Garrett | TBA | Blackground Records |
| Summer Walker | Finally Over It | LVRN, Interscope |
| TA Thomas | Southern Soul | Def Jam |
| Tamar Braxton | TBA | TBA |
| Teedra Moses | The Bullsh*t | Black Moses |
| Tiffany Evans | TBA | Hubris Sound |
| Ty Dolla Sign | Tycoon | Self-released |
| Vedo | TBA | New Wav Music Group |

## Highest-charting songs
### United States

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2025 Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 :
| Song | Artist | Project | Peak position |
| "30 for 30" | SZA and Kendrick Lamar | Lana | 10 |
| "Cry for Me" | The Weeknd | Hurry Up Tomorrow | 12 |
| "Messy" | Lola Young | This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway | 14 |
| "CN Tower" | PartyNextDoor and Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 18 |
| "Die Trying" | PartyNextDoor, Drake and Yebba | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 21 |
| "Something About You" | PartyNextDoor and Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 26 |
| "Moth Balls" | PartyNextDoor and Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 29 |
| "BMF" | SZA | Lana | 29 |
| "Somebody Loves Me" | PartyNextDoor and Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 30 |
| "Deeper" | PartyNextDoor | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 31 |
| "Spider-Man Superman" | PartyNextDoor and Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 35 |
| "Crying in Chanel" | Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 37 |
| "Residuals" | Chris Brown | 11:11 | 40 |

### United Kingdom

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2025 Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart :
| Song | Artist | Project | Peak position |
| "Messy" | Lola Young | This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway | 1 |

## Highest first-week consumption

List of albums with the highest first-week consumption (sales + streaming + track equivalent), as of February 2025 in the United States :
| Number | Album | Artist | 1st-week consumption | 1st-week position |
| 1 | Hurry Up Tomorrow | The Weeknd | 490,500 | 1 |
| 2 | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | PartyNextDoor & Drake | 246,000 | 1 |
| 3 | I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) | Teddy Swims | 50,000 | 4 |

## All critically reviewed albums ranked
### Metacritic

| Number | Artist | Album | Average score | Number of reviews |
| 1 | FKA Twigs | Eusexua | 87 | 24 reviews |
| 2 | Cymande | Renascence | 82 | 5 reviews |
| 3 | Eddie Chacon | Lay Low | 82 | 5 reviews |
| 4 | Mac Miller | Balloonerism | 77 | 9 reviews |
| 5 | Nao | Jupiter | 76 | 7 reviews |
| 6 | Biig Piig | 11:11 | 75 | 6 reviews |
| 7 | The Weeknd | Hurry Up Tomorrow | 73 | 12 reviews |
| 8 | Hope Tala | Hope Handwritten | 72 | 4 reviews |
| 9 | Teddy Swims | I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) | 70 | 6 reviews |
| 10 | PartyNextDoor & Drake | Some Sexy Songs 4 U | 55 | 5 reviews |