The 25 Best R&B Songs Of 2024

When it comes to R&B songs, there have been so many debates about their length and the lack of bridges. Although these elements had been placed on the back burner in recent decades, they have slowly been making their way back to being the standard for those acts who actually value R&B and want to contribute to its legacy.

If you thought narrowing down our top R&B albums was hard, this exercise proved to be far more difficult. What makes a great song? Is it the melody, the lyrical theme, the replay value, or all of the above? Great songs can have you daydreaming about a memory from your childhood or envisioning your future life. These top R&B songs of 2024 do that in their own respective ways. On this list, there may be records you feel were snubbed, but everything was up for consideration. This is just where we landed.

Argue away.

“Smoke” – Ari Lennox

Image Credit: Dreamville/Interscope Records

Ari Lennox‘s “Smoke” sounds like nothing on the radio right now. The 1960s Motown-inspired number produced by Bongo is jam-packed with lively drums, cheerful horns, and an infectious chorus, with Ari asserting that she’s protecting her peace.

Lennox, who has had public spats folks after setting her boundaries, takes a humorous approach to the song’s lyrics. Ari flips the “f**k around and find out” mantra into a call to arms. “Save all your f**ks for me/I want all the smoke/Save all your f**ks for me/Better not give that sh*t away,” she sings passionately with the tone of someone who knows their worth. “Smoke” demonstrates Lennox’s growth as an artist She’s elevated her craft with inspiration from R&B greats while actively using it to protect her peace. — Marc Antonio “Spidey” Griffin

“Met You At A Bar” – Jaz Karis & Tone Stith

Image Credit: Antony Jones/Getty Images for GUAP

We had a bevy of British R&B beauties drop soulful singles and full-lengths this year: Raye, Jorja Smith, Ella Mai, Tiana Major9, Sasha Keable, Lola Moxom – hell, even Sade returned! South London lass Jaz Karis gave us some seductive soul when her debut album, Safe Flight, dropped in September. This is most exemplified in the single “Met You at a Bar,” which also features vocals from Jersey soulster Tone Stith. Over a saucy-but-smooth, mid-tempo groove filled with bluesy guitar licks, Karis and Stith assume the roles of swinging singles who vocally lay out their prospective, no-strings-attached romance. While Stith doesn’t want feelings to get caught, Karis knows it’s coming – but she’s willing to roll with the punches. A slinky, cynical number for our situationship-filled society. — Craig D. Lindsey

“Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me” – Khalid