Best R&B Songs Of 2024... So Far

The overlap between rap and R&B continues to widen, with both genres existing within each other as much as they do on their own. For decades now, artists from both genres have welcomed each other into their respective spaces and fostered an inclusive culture that has only enhanced creativity. Today, an entire branch of R&B exists within the world of Hip Hop, with or without bars.

For those who don’t know where to look, HipHopDX has compiled some of the best R&B songs of 2024 in one place to make sure our readers stay tuned in.

4Batz – “act iii: on god? (she like)”

4Batz has sustained his momentum with the latest installment of the viral series that put him on the map. With only a handful of official releases to his name, the 22-year-old is gaining momentum at a pace reminiscent of Ice Spice — judging by the quality of “act iii: on god? (she like),” however, he might just surpass her.

Kenya Vaun – “Yesterday”

Those looking for an excuse to do a Kenya Vaun deep dive have been blessed with the ultimate prompt. “Yesterday” encapsulates the Philadelphia singer’s essence in just a little over three minutes, which is nowhere near enough — whether listeners hit replay or explore further, this song will set fans of R&B on the right path.

Alicia Keys (Feat. Maleah Join Moon) – “Kaleidoscope”

With her Hell’s Kitchen musical finally on Broadway, Alicia Keys has given fans a taste of what the production will offer. As of now, it is unclear if and when she plans on releasing the entire soundtrack, but “Kaleidoscope” is a much-welcome addition to her catalogue, and certainly one that elicits curiosity about what it might look like on stage.

Marsha Ambrosia – “One Night Stand”

Co-produced by Dr. Dre and filled to the brim with character, Marsha Ambrosia‘s “One Night Stand” is without question among the best R&B songs of 2024 since it embodies everything there is to love about the genre — it’s passionate, textured with great precision and bustling with flavor. Even at 46, the quality of her work remains pristine from head to toe. 

Nhale (feat. Nate Dogg) – “Nobody Does It Better”

The late, great Nate Dogg is no longer be with us, but his spirit lives on through the music he left behind as well as his son, Nhale. On “Nobody Does It Better,” the second-generation rapper and singer pays homage to his father while letting the West Coast legend take over the hook to remind listeners why there will never be another artist like him.

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ’Em”

The Queen’s long-awaited transition to country music finally arrived during Super Bowl LVIII, when she dropped two new singles that blend the genre with her signature R&B touch. Since their release, both tracks have been making waves across genres and state lines, though “Texas Hold ’Em” in particular has been picking up tons of steam as it has made Beyoncé the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Based on that alone, few would dispute that it is one of the best R&B songs of 2024.

Free Nationals (Feat. Anderson .Paak & A$AP Rocky) – “Gangsta”

Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals teaming up is always a winning formula — there’s ample proof of that — but with bars from A$AP Rocky further embellishing the alliance, there’s practically no room for error. Clean, precise and polished to the dot, “Gangsta” is the ultimate rap/R&B spectacle.

Little Simz – “Far Away”

Little Simz’s Drop 7 EP caught many off-guard mainly because it doesn’t sound anything like what fans expect from the British MC. Though the package as a whole might work for some while turning others away, album closer “Far Away” is one of those joints that unites both sides.

Usher – “BIG”

The past few years have been massive for Usher, from his blockbuster residency in Las Vegas to headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show to releasing a new album. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that he was able to flawlessly channel his larger-than-life aura on COMING HOME’s “BIG.”

Mýa – “Anytime”

Creatives like Mýa serve to remind fans that there’s always more to any style of music than what we’ve grown comfortable with. “Anytime,” for example, seamlessly fuses the familiar with a percussive texture that adds a new radiance to the genre. A vibrant addition to her already thriving catalog, it sustains the Grammy Award-winner’s place in a culture that always welcomes more and more flavors.

Tierra Whack — “SHOWER SONG”

Tierra Whack always has a valid reason to keep fans waiting, and that’s evident from what she ends up bringing to the party — no matter how late. She has the unique ability to paint the most vibrant pictures just through her sound, which most of her peers need visual mediums to pull off. Of course, it helps that “SHOWER SONG” also happens to come with a music video as colorful as the music it represents.

Reggie Becton — “Bad M’fkr”

Inspired by all-time greats such as Marvin Gaye, Prince and Brandy, Reggie Becton has been at it since the age of 17. Judging by how he turned out, it’s no surprise that he honed in on his calling from such an early age. What’s more is the results clearly indicate that all his hard work paid off.

BLK ODYSSY — “Want You”


The Austin-based singer and producer is a product of neo-soul influences descending upon him from every direction since he was a child. From expressing love to enduring hate, he covers a range of emotions through his zestful compositions, and he always finds a way to do it all within a matter of minutes.

Emotional Oranges & Nonso Amadi — “Simple Things”

Just a little over five years into their career, the R&B duo from Los Angeles made up of Azad Right and Vali Porter have already mastered the art of shape shifting and adapting to styles different than their own. To that point, their joint effort with Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer Nonso Amadi shows that their allure will continue to persist so long as they keep doing what they’re doing.

HipHopDX’s search for the best R&B songs of 2024 involves recurring alterations and upgrades. Join us in curating this living, breathing shortlist and hop in the comments section to let us know if we missed anything.

Be sure to also check out our other shortlists for updates at the start of each month:

The Best R&B Albums of 2024
The Best Hip Hop Albums of 2024
The Best Hip Hop Songs of 2024