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From Future’s Little one and SWV to Boyz II Males and Jodeci, R&B teams and duos have been a mainstay within the style — not less than till the mid-to-late 2000s. By the subsequent decade, the trade largely moved on to solo acts, and for good causes: much less drama, fewer egos and no profit-splitting. Whether or not R&B teams ever reclaim their ’90s dominance is up for debate, however duos, trios and even quartets have made a quiet comeback within the 2020s.
Take FLO, for instance, who tapped into the ’90s lady group nostalgia throughout tracks like “Not My Job” and “Summertime,” with social media giving the British lady group a significant enhance in crossing over to america. Then there’s WanMor, carrying on the legacy of their father, Boyz II Males’s Wanyá Morris. Arguably, essentially the most profitable group in 2020 was Chloe x Halle, and followers proceed to await new music from them because the success of their Grammy-nominated sophomore album, Ungodly Hour.
Whereas most of these teams might not expertise a full resurgence but, the starvation for actual vocals, tight harmonies and traditional R&B is evidently solely rising stronger. Right here is Rap-Up’s record of R&B teams and duos making a case for why we’d like extra. Have a look beneath.
1. FLO
No one does it fairly like FLO. The London-based trio — comprised of Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma and Renée Downer — ascended to reputation with “Cardboard Field” and hasn’t left the mainstream since. They’re additionally a part of the rationale followers are craving a resurgence of late-’90s, early 2000s R&B teams — one thing that’s evident on their debut EP, The Lead, which is dwelling to singles like “Immature” and “Characteristic Me.” Fortunately, FLO has solely gotten higher over time, with Entry All Areas solidifying their progress by way of the GloRilla-assisted “In My Bag,” “Stroll Like This” and “Examine,” to call a couple of tracks.
2. No Guidnce
Boy bands are few and much between within the streaming period, however not less than No Guidnce knew to give you a reputation that holds weight — one thing New Version, Jagged Edge and R&B teams of the previous would approve. For a lot of followers, their first introduction to the British group got here by way of the soul-drenched ballad co-written by Victoria Monét: “Is It A Crime?” That momentum carried over into their Is It A Crime? EP, on which they stacked harmonies towards one another — notably in “Dedicated” and “Lie To Me.”
3. THEY.
Transitioning into R&B was the perfect choice THEY. might have made. The duo, who rose to fame in 2017 by way of “U-RITE,” discovered their stride within the style with the Ty Dolla Signal-assisted “18 Months” and “Damaged” that includes Jessie Reyez, amongst a number of different songs from Hearth. Quick ahead to albums like The Amanda Tape, Nü Moon and LOVE.JONES, and it’s clear their grip on R&B isn’t loosening anytime quickly.
4. Chloe x Halle
It’s inconceivable to debate R&B teams and duos, with out mentioning Chloe x Halle. Although they’ve solely launched two albums, The Children Are Alright and Ungodly Hour, we’ve gotten a lot from the duo’s solo careers. Chlöe debuted “Have Mercy,” her first Billboard Scorching 100 entry, throughout her sister’s breakout second as Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey has put out breathtaking information just like the Grammy-nominated “Angel” and “In Your Fingers.”
5. WanMor
WanMor might need carried out background vocals on Lil Uzi Vert’s Everlasting Atake and appeared on Hunxho’s “Heartless,” however their very own catalog is simply as noteworthy. The group — made up of brothers Large Boy, Chulo, Tyvas and Rocco — have R&B of their bloodline, being the sons of Boyz II Males’s Wanyá Morris. They’ve put out efforts like “Mine,” “Please Don’t Go” and “Alone With You” — every extra spectacular than the final. With a deal beneath Mary J. Blige’s Stunning Life Productions imprint and a co-sign from Stevie Surprise, WanMor’s potential is simply too excessive to disregard.
6. Say Now
One other London-based lady group, Say Now’s tapping into early 2000s nostalgia with a refreshingly present really feel — they usually make it look fairly rattling good. Earlier than selecting a reputation, Ysabelle Angeli, Amelia Onuorah and Madeleine Haynes dropped their first releases beneath the tongue-in-cheek placeholder “needanamebro.” Because of TikTok, thousands and thousands acquired their first style of what they needed to provide by way of information like “Not A Lot Left To Say” and “Bother.”
“It’s very pop and R&B-led, it’s like pop-fusion. There are such a lot of completely different genres that we love and are impressed by,” Haynes advised Rolling Stone UK to explain their sound. Coming off the heels of “DON’T TEXT DON’T CALL,” the group is primed for an excellent greater 2025.
7. TWENTY88
Large Sean and Jhené Aiko share a private connection arguably as sturdy as their musical synergy. After constructing anticipation for one thing greater on information like “Beware” and “I Know,” the couple fashioned TWENTY88 in 2016, the identical yr they launched their self-titled album. As one in all that yr’s finest rap and R&B pairings, they delivered steamy duets on “Déjà vu,” “On The Means” and “Speak Present.”
“I really feel nice about it,” Large Sean mentioned of the duo’s long-anticipated sophomore undertaking. “In the event that they cherished the primary one, they’ll love this one. I don’t know when it’s coming, although.” Within the meantime, followers have gotten “None Of Your Concern” and “Physique Language” to carry them over.
8. VanJess
Some, if not most, R&B teams don’t final, however that’s not essentially a nasty factor. Fashioned in 2009, VanJess captivated listeners with a string of viral covers, indie initiatives and Silk Canvas, their first album beneath RCA Information. The 2 Nigerian sisters, Ivana and Jessica Nwokike, delivered a couple of standout tracks, together with “Gradual Down” that includes Fortunate Daye, “DYSFUNCTIONAL” with KAYTRANADA and “Honeywheat.”
The duo was solely collectively for about 5 years earlier than saying their break up in 2023. “I absolutely assist and respect my sister in pursuing what makes her happiest,” Jessica penned in a letter to their followers. Fortunately for listeners, Jessica’s solo profession beneath the stage title AMAKA is shaping as much as be one thing particular — particularly with slow-burning efforts like “Unfamiliar” and “Cruisin’” from her debut EP, OASIS.
9. The Amours
One other sister duo with unimaginable expertise, The Amours consists of siblings Jakiya Ayanna and Shaina Aisha. After constructing momentum with “JK, I Love You,” “On The Run,” and lots of different lushly harmonized information, they shared their much-anticipated debut undertaking, Modifications, in 2024. The ten-song effort served as a celebration of womanhood, love and self-discovery. Since then, their presence has steadily grown, most notably with the Washington, D.C. natives’ “The Recreation” garnering well-earned consideration throughout the style.