R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: BunnaB, Icewear Vezzo, Masego, Jordan Ward & More

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Listen to caller must-hear songs from emerging R&B/hip-hop artists similar Kocky Ka and TKTK.

10/20/2025

Less than a week later, the worlds of hip-hop and R&B are inactive mourning precocious neo-soul pioneer D’Angelo.

On Tuesday (Oct. 14), the four-time Grammy winner, 51, passed “after a prolonged and courageous conflict with cancer,” according to a connection his family shared with Billboard. Since the announcement, artists from Beyoncé to Tyler, the Creator, person taken to societal media to wage tribute to the visionary musician. “Rest successful bid D’angelo,” wrote Doja Cat connected X. “My thoughts, emotion and prayers spell retired to his household and friends. A existent dependable of psyche and inspiration to galore superb artists of our procreation and generations to come.”

That aforesaid evening, Kendrick Lamar besides came retired arsenic a astonishment guest astatine Playboi Carti’s Antagonist 2.0 L.A. circuit stop. The pursuing time (Oct. 15) marked the extremity of first-round Grammy voting, bringing america 1 measurement person to the authoritative nominations announcement connected Nov. 7. As assessed by Billboard, starring contenders crossed the rap, R&B, African and global euphony categories see Lamar, Clipse, Leon Thomas, Kehlani, Tyla and Vybz Kartel.

Back connected the R&B broadside of things, Summer Walker shared the release date of her long-awaited Finally Over It LP, Brandy abruptly left the signifier astatine the Chicago halt of her and Brandy’s The Boy Is Mine Tour (and rapidly issued an explanation) and Ty Dolla $ign dropped his caller Tycoon medium — his archetypal solo LP since 2020’s Featuring Ty Dolla $ign.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to item immoderate of the champion and astir absorbing caller sounds crossed R&B and hip-hop — from a caller BunnaB banger to Icewear Vezzo’s latest heater. Be definite to cheque retired this week’s Fresh Picks successful our Spotify playlist below.