After a decade-long layoff, Jill Scott picked the perfect time to return. The result is one of her best albums to date, and with a discography as strong as hers, that's saying a lot.

So, if this is really the end, what's #JCole's legacy? I think this album gives us the answer. #TheFallOff is far from a perfect project but the journey winds up greater than the destination soulinstereo.com/2026/02/albu...

"But I don't understand what Bad Bunny is saying, how can I enjoy this?" Y'all have been listening to SZA mumble for 10 years, you'll be fine.

My grandfather. 102 years old and still the flyest in the room. Happy birthday to my inspiration.

If you walk into your house of worship this morning and they're silent on the suffering in our country today, LEAVE. Jesus was a table-flipping, anti-corruption, peace-seeking radical. If your minister can't relate, Jesus ain't in there.

Despite what you'll see on these apps today, MLK was not an out-of-context quote. He was not a passive observer or watered down caricature.

I know it's easy to dismiss modern R&B as not as compelling as past decades, but we're halfway through the 2020s and the state of R&B is probably stronger than you realize. The 25 best R&B albums of the 2020s so far. #SoulInStereo soulinstereo.com/2026/01/the-...

Can’t wait for the very folks who have been violating civil rights for 365 days to start posting MLK quotes 😒

We've seen an American murdered on camera while the gunman mocked her. The current occupant of the White House is spitting segregationist rhetoric in the face of the Civil Rights Act. I have friends – actual legal citizens of this country – afraid to walk the streets. Y'all aren't angry enough.

If Aubrey had more than two brain cells under those braids he should really be rethinking that ICEman album title right about now.

IT IS THE YEAR … 2026 *Transformers 86 movie voice* #HNY2026

First Richard Smallwood, now Clay Davis!? 2025 is acting a fool on the way out. RIP Isiah Whitlock Jr.

If you never ate Now & Laters with little bits of paper stuck to them you can't argue with me about music.

Yeah this is just what his communications team wants right now

Once a week I tell myself that I want a puppy. Also once a week I talk myself out of it.

From couples creeping at Coldplay to Young Money and Dipset down bad to whatever is going on with Jermaine Jackson's head, 2025 nearly drove me to drink. I might as well, because clearly these people are. It's time for the annual Playa Please Awards. Watch me go off on the worst of the worst.

Live a life so undeniable that the bigots scramble – and fail – to discredit you in death.

2025: The year R&B began to find its voice again, legends received the spotlight they deserved and we witnessed comebacks for the ages. I listened to *218* projects this calendar year. Here are the 50 best.

Light-Years is the hip-hop White Whale that I've been chasing for literally half my lifetime. What we got wasn't what I expected, but what we needed – a beautiful ode to hip-hop culture and the perfect way to cap off this year's Legend Has It series. soulinstereo.com/2025/12/albu...

Witnessing the kids I mentored at age 10, 11 and 12 become mentors for the next generation a decade later is an amazing feeling. Want to break generational curses? Revamp the cycle.

With the #Boys4LifeTour coming soon, let's look back at the solo career of B2K's frontman Omarion. It took awhile, but he's grown into one of R&B's more consistent artists. Ranking every Omarion album & B2K project. #SoulInStereo soulinstereo.com/2025/12/rank...

Dave Hollister's #Chicago85TheMovie has become a cult classic. It might not have grabbed the headlines it deserved in 2000, but 25 years later, it's celebrated as one of the brightest hidden gems of its era. Let's look back. #SoulInStereo soulinstereo.com/2025/11/2000...

25 years ago, Erykah took a huge creative leap with her sophomore album, and if you ask us, that risk paid off. Green Eyes, Bag Lady, Didn't Cha Know – they weren't just songs, they were testimonies. Revisiting #MamasGun. soulinstereo.com/2025/11/2000...

My most anticipated album of all time. I've wanted it since 1999 but never thought it would happen. Dec. 12, 2025, dreams come true. Nas. DJ Premier. Define My Name.

If Summer Walker didn't sing like she has a mouth full of Werther's Originals I might like this album.

25 years ago today, Musiq Soulchild dropped an album that was annoying to spell but impossible to deny. Tim Hall joins me to revisit Musiq's beloved Aijuswanaseing, the legacy of "Love" and if that neo-soul tag really is a bad thing. #SoulInStereo soulinstereo.com/2025/11/2000...

With 450 albums dropping every week, it's easy to miss the good stuff. Let's circle back and celebrate 12 projects you may have missed.

Good work being done down here

Kehlani reminding R&B singers to be R&B SINGERS and not boring melodic rappers is my favorite lesson of 2025.

If you're a longtime fan of Big L, his latest posthumous release doesn't come with many surprises. But if you're not familiar with his game, introduce yourself to one of the best to ever grace a booth. soulinstereo.com/2025/10/albu...

Not shocked that rap is off the Billboard charts. Mainstream slop had a shelf life and now that its original audience has finally matured it no longer has a purpose. Meanwhile 2025 has given us some of the best rap albums in years. We're good. The culture was never determined by charts.

Fun fact: I wish I could have interviewed Fred Rogers. He fascinates me. The world desperately needs a Fred Rogers these days.

I'm not surprised that a bunch of privileged weirdos were being racist in the group chat. I'm surprised our alleged leaders are defending them. Actually, no I'm not.

When your music is this transformative, this stirring, this groundbreaking, you only needed three albums to become a legend. RIP D'Angelo. Cancer will never silence your voice.

Can't wait for y'all to check out Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur, which drops later this month. Author Jeff Pearlman shares hidden Pac gems, the relevance of All Eyez on Me & how much the world needs his revolutionary voice. soulinstereo.com/2025/10/a-co...

I lived through Lil Kim vs Foxy Brown. Cardi vs Nicki is light work.

So I hear one of these lil' websites y'all like said a 2-star Young Thug mixtape is one of the greatest albums of all time – better than Lauryn, Outkast, Jay, BIG, Kendrick, all of 'em. Please visit SoulInStereo.com for rap convos that make sense. Say no to clickbait.

Posthumous albums often are red flags for flags but, when done well, they're way more than rushed cash grabs. Check out 12 releases that keep artists' legacies strong. soulinstereo.com/2025/09/12-o...

"Bad Bunny's songs aren't in English, how are we gonna enjoy this?' Young Thug has been rapping in Klingon for a decade what's the difference?

Do I like Bad Bunny's music? No. Is he worthy of a Super Bowl spot? Yes. He's one of the most successful artists on the planet, he puts on a decent show, & has big hits. Plus it will make the racists mad so LOL. This ain't for me but it will resonate w/ millions & that's cool.

Lady Wray is all about evolution, and she may have reached her final form with Cover Girl, an incredible celebration of throwback soul and gospel flair. Don't miss one of the year's best R&B releases.

I can't shake the feeling that we've heard many of these songs before – and done way better – but when Mariah finds her groove Here For It All entertains. soulinstereo.com/2025/09/albu...

I really don't care about which football player Cardi B is having children with or what rapper she's mad at today. I only have one question – is the music good? The answer? ...It's aight. Am I The Drama review via #SoulInStereo soulinstereo.com/2025/09/albu...

Imagine demeaning experienced employees with multiple degrees as "DEI hires" when you still haven't mastered "their" and "they're."

Awhile back, I realized that Killer Mike quietly has amassed one of the best discographies in recent hip-hop history. From RTJ to his solo run, he always hits. Let's go through his entire run and prove it.

It's been awhile, so let's UPDATE our MCU villain ranking! 90+ bad guys across film, Disney+ and Netflix. #SoulinStereo soulinstereo.com/2025/09/rank...

I already looked at Gerald and King Keef, so let's celebrate the G in LSG. Johnny Gill has one of the most renowned voices in R&B and he has several albums y'all slept on. Let's revisit and rank his entire solo run (with a surprise or two) soulinstereo.com/2025/08/rank...

The #SummerofSpitters continues with another AOTY contender! No, #SupremeClientele2 isn't on the level of SC1, but it's probably Ghostface Killah's best album in 2 decades. soulinstereo.com/2025/08/albu...

Imagine if Jay sued Nas over 'Ether.' "Your honor, he called me a ... Tae Bo Ho..."

Classic or cap? Did these albums deserve five mics from The Source PART TWO. Time to spit truths! www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGFi...