[Latest] Quick Guide to Trends in Western R&B Music [2025]
Since the 1990s, after the sophisticated form of “R&B” that many people now imagine became established, the genre produced numerous mega-hits while also branching into subgenres.
From the 2010s onward, trap music dominated the charts, and styles like alternative R&B emerged that were not bound by traditional R&B.
Interestingly, now that we’re in the 2020s, we’re seeing a steady stream of acclaimed songs that reflect the influence of the R&B that dominated the scene in the ’90s and ’00s.
In this article, we’ve compiled standout tracks that make it easy to grasp the latest trends in Western R&B that capture the “now” of the 2020s.
We cover a wide range—from veterans to exciting newcomers—so be sure to check it out!
- Popular R&B: Western Music Artist Rankings [2025]
- Western R&B Popularity Ranking [2025]
- R&B Masterpieces in Western Music: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics [2025]
- [2025 Edition] Upbeat Western Music! Latest Hits and Popular Songs
- A classic R&B masterpiece. A must-listen recommended album.
- [Latest] Trends in Western Hip-Hop Music [2025]
- Western Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2025]
- Popular and trending songs in the latest Black music (Western music)
- [2025] Best Western R&B Love Songs: A Curated Collection of Romance Tracks
- Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces
- Western music artists ranking popular among people in their 20s [2025]
- [2025] Trending Western Music: The Latest Hit Songs to Watch
- Classic R&B songs recommended for women
[Latest] Quick Guide to Trends in Western R&B! [2025] (131–140)
GODNelly Furtado, Sid Sriram
A bold and dramatic new track has emerged, brilliantly fusing pop, R&B, and Indian classical music.
Canadian powerhouse singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado has created a new work in April 2025 in collaboration with Indian American artist Sid Sriram, who has a background in Carnatic music—an ambitious project completed over two years across three cities.
Furtado’s clear vocals and Sriram’s emotionally rich singing intertwine to produce exquisite harmonies.
The piece appears as the first track on the two-song single “GOD/MARRIAGE,” marking her first release since the album “7.” Embodying spiritual themes and a blending of cultures, this song is perfect for listeners seeking boundary-defying, genre-free music.
LuvTory Lanez
Tory Lanez, hailing from Canada, is a talented artist who moves fluidly between R&B and hip-hop.
He made his major debut in 2016 with his flagship album “I Told You,” achieving the remarkable feat of landing a track from the album at No.
19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
His prowess also earned him a Grammy nomination in 2017, and in the same year he won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
He coined his own style “Swavey,” blending genre-defying musicality with masterful use of Auto-Tune, weaving together a velvety singing voice and powerful rap.
In 2014, he founded his own label, One Umbrella, and has been active as a music producer as well.
He’s highly recommended for music fans exploring crossover sounds between R&B and hip-hop.
London SummersOdeal
Odill is a British-Nigerian artist born in Germany and based in the UK.
Skillfully blending R&B and Afrobeats, he proved his talent by winning two awards at the 2025 MOBOs.
His single released in May 2025 feels like a tribute to the fleeting brilliance of London’s short summer and the changes it brings.
Produced by Shae Jacobs and Jack Dine, the warm vocals meld with elements of R&B, Afrobeats, and house to paint a soothing summertime scene.
As shown on his 2024 mini-album “Lustropolis,” his musical curiosity here seems to have evolved into a more open, expansive sound.
It’s a track you’ll want to play on a summer afternoon when you’re in the mood to feel just a little special.
DEADSudan Archives
Sudan Archives, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and now based in Los Angeles, is a violinist and singer-songwriter whose distinctive sound—often described as “fiddle punk” for its fusion of R&B and experimental electronic music—has earned her critical acclaim, including a Libera Award for her 2022 masterpiece Natural Brown Prom Queen.
Her first new track in about three years was released in June 2025.
The piece explores the boundary between humans and machines and the duality of identity, with a sound she herself describes as “orchestral Black dance music,” which is truly intriguing.
Its futuristic groove—woven from violin and electronic elements—should resonate with anyone seeking an innovative musical experience with deep thematic substance.
me u & pride4Batz
Based in Dallas, Texas, Forbats is an artist known for delicate, dreamlike R&B sounds and mysterious visuals.
Since releasing the mixtape “U Made Me a St4r” in May 2024, he has generated major buzz on TikTok and social media.
The project blends his signature high-register vocals with elements of trap-soul, featuring striking lyrics that capture emotions wavering between pride and affection.
He won “Best New R&B Artist” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and was selected as an Apple Music “Up Next” artist, earning high praise across the industry.
His collaborations with Drake and Usher have also drawn attention, and this release is recommended for listeners seeking fresh, genre-blurring music that bridges R&B and hip-hop.
Burning BlueMariah the Scientist
Mariah the Scientist, an Atlanta, Georgia native, is a distinctive R&B singer who chose her stage name out of her love for biology.
She’s an artist taking the alternative R&B scene by storm with lyrics that fuse a scientific perspective and a meltingly sweet, decadent vocal tone.
Released in May 2025, this work is a beautiful love ballad that rides a relaxed mid-tempo groove to portray an ice-cold heart thawing as it falls in love.
Over a retro-tinged track produced by Nineteen85 and Jetski Purp, her lustrous vocals blend in flawlessly.
On Apple Music’s U.
S.
chart, it became the first No.
1 in 2025 by a female artist.
It’s a song that soothes the soul when you’re feeling heartbreak or loneliness.
Love Me NotRavyn Lenae
Raven Lenae, an R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago, is a formidable talent known for her distinctive sound that distills everything from ’60s girl groups to contemporary R&B.
A track from her album “Bird’s Eye” went viral on TikTok and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No.
81 in April 2025, sparking global buzz.
This song portrays the emotional turbulence of unstable romantic dynamics and the push-pull between independence and dependence, blending retro-pop elements reminiscent of The Ronettes and Blood Orange with a finely tuned 2020s R&B sensibility.
Her poised, pristine vocals—shaped by a background in classical and church music—leave a strong impression, making it a standout recommendation for listeners seeking sophisticated, grown-up R&B.