From Tamar Braxton’s phenomenal “Love and War” to John Legend’s romantic “Love in the Future,” 2013 was a year of R&B career comebacks. We were introduced to some of the industry’s freshest up and coming talents such as K. Michelle, Sevyn Streeter and August Alsina.
Overall, 2013 served as a great year for R&B in both mainstream and independent industries. Now as a new year begins, we can not wait to hear what new music awaits our ears.
So far, 2014 looks to be another year of great R&B comebacks as some of our classic faves have announced new projects as well.
Here are some of the albums we are anticipating to hear and love in 2014.
T-Pain
T-Pain broke out of his musical hiatus in 2013. He returned on the music scene with his B.o.B assisted club banger “Up Down” the sexy “She Said” record and a fresh new cut.
Pain has taken over the R&B and Hip-Hop industry since his 2005 breakout hit “I’m Sprung”- which is when we first heard his creative auto-tune infusions. Since then, he has never disappointed, giving us unique productions, collaborations and hit songs.
In an October 2013 interview, the “rapper turned singer” told VIBE that his new album “Stoicville: The Phoenix,” represents his “happy place.”
“Everybody needs that one place where they can go,” Pain told VIBE. “I think they can relate because it’s so free in Stoicville. You can do whatever you want to do and this is what I want to do, this is the music that I want to do. It’s not the label, it’s not my management, it’s not my friends, this is me. A lot of people are saying this is the best music I’ve made in years.”
Ledisi
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Ledisi has us already jamming to her carefree single, “I Blame You.” As we inch closer to the March 11 release date of her upcoming album, “The Truth,” our anticipation for the singer’s new album grows.
We have always had an idea of the type of artist she is, but Ledisi says that with her seventh album, she projects that we will be in for a pleasant surprise.
“Making “The Truth” was like journaling, because anything I had to say went into the songs, so it was like singing out my journal.”Ledisi said in an interview with Ebony. “I’d been holding so much inside, but I didn’t realize it until it was time to work on the songs.”
In an interview with Billboard she lets fans know, with her new album, we will see a more “open, sensual and confident” Ledisi.
Ledisi, we can’t wait!
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul recently announced she’s hitting the studio with Babyface, Don Was and Clive Davis to record a 10-track album filled with her own renditions of classic songs from some of other great female singers.
“It’s just re-working some things that were very, very good and certainly chart worthy and sold a lot of records,” Franklin said to Billboard magazine. “They’re records that, musically, I respected and that I liked a lot and that I would love to have one go-’round with. I aspire for musical excellence. I have very high standards where music is concerned, and I’m looking for something I haven’t done, something that you haven’t heard and something just absolutely smashing.”
The album will include Franklin’s rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “People” and Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.” She even hinted she might re-record Destiny’s Child hit “Bootylicious.”
The “Chain of Fools” singer says that she hopes to release the concept album during the second quarter of 2014 via RCA Records.
Toni Braxton & Babyface
We were anticipating this album last November, but in a turn of events, the powerful duo of Toni Braxton and Babyface postponed their collaborative album “Love, Marriage & Divorce” to be released just in time to be a fresh addition to our Valentine’s Day playlists.
With singles like “Hurt You” and “Where Did We Go Wrong” as the first glimpses of the album’s duets, the two artists personal experiences and navigation through the ups and downs of love and relationships will make a stellar R&B album.
“Love, Marriage & Divorce” arrives in stores and digital retailers on February 4 via Motown Records.
Mariah Carey
If its one R&B album were anticipating – its Mariah Carey’s. The songbird made our list last year as one of the top R&B comebacks we’re anticipating. However, we still haven’t gotten a full body of work from Mimi.
In 2013, Carey released two singles for her forthcoming project including the passionate ballad and title track in November. While it didn’t received much airplay, MC has a new plan for new album.
During her appearance on New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly, she announced a new single will drop on Valentine’s Day. In addition, fans can expect the “The Art of Letting Go” in the spring. She will release a new single on Valentine’s Day and says ”
We can only anticipate what Mimi will have in store for us with her 14th album, which will follow-up to her 2009 release “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.”