The end of summer always hits extremely hard. Kids start going back to school, vacations end, and the work grind really starts to set in again. The worst part? It’s still so hot outside. You’re left sweaty and upset that you have to go back into work mode until the holidays.

But thankfully, songs capture that essence of summer coming to a close and the days slowly starting to feel shorter again. We’ve picked five hip-hop and R&B records that feel like the sun is setting as we slowly inch toward a beautiful fall and a grueling winter.

Five Rap and R&B Songs to Soundtrack The end of Your Summer

“Summer’s Over Interlude” by Drake and Majid Jordan

Views was made with the intention of capturing the many seasons and atmospheres of Toronto. That could mean “Weston Road Flows” and the chilly Mary J. Blige sample taking on the winter. Or there’s “Controlla” and “One Dance” distilling the summery vibe. “Summer’s Over Interlude” is a phenomenal bridge to capture those energies. Majid of Majid Jordan croons about the end of a summer fling, singing that there are no mutual feelings for long-term romance. “I don’t feel the same,” he sings as the crispy guitar lick takes him into the outro.

“Summatime” by GoldLink, Wale, and Radiant Children

Even in the last days of summer, people will still be outside, relishing the season. That means long nights and sensual evenings, which GoldLink and co. capture beautifully on “Summatime”. The production is luscious and steamy, like the energy of two strangers dancing as beads of sweat drip down their foreheads.

“Any Time Any Place” by Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson sings like she’s whispering a dirty secret in your ear. She’s tender and delicate about her fantasies, which leads to the steaminess you feel when it’s a hot August and there’s no AC in the house. In any setting, sweat and all, the attraction is all the same.

“I Love LA” by Ocho Worldwide

The beautiful thing about LA is that there’s always something to get into. There’s a movie playing at a special theater, someone is performing at a local venue, there’s great food on every corner. Street vendors will sell you all their fruit and tacos if you let them. It can feel like home if you have the right community in your life.

Ocho Worldwide captures that singular sensation on “I Love LA”, where he speaks to the push and pull of LA. Sometimes, it’s as hectic as advertised. But there’s far too much to love to truly ever loathe.

“Sierra Leone” by Frank Ocean

Like Janet Jackson, Frank Ocean uses intimacy on “Sierra Leone”. He coos about getting a girl pregnant with a twinkle in his eye, a warmth you only get as the day draws to a close in the summer.

Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The post 5 Hip-Hop and R&B Songs That Are Perfect for the End of Summer appeared first on VICE.

💾

Music is one of the surest ways to a person’s heart. If someone’s music taste is good, there are endless ways to bond and gain beautiful memories with someone. When it’s awful, there’s a jarring exchange that makes future dates extremely difficult to deal with.

Nowadays, though, we have dating apps that allow us a sneak preview into the music another person loves. As a result, it allows us a peek into the kind of person someone is before we even talk to them. We picked out four songs that let us know if we should immediately swipe left or not.

Four Songs That Will Make anyone Swipe Left on Your Dating Profile

“Runaway” by Kanye West and Pusha T

It’s literally in the name. As enchanting as the song is, someone who loves this song a little too much might be a red flag. Kanye West strips himself bare, honing in on his flaws as a partner. The intimacy scares him, the arguments grow hectic, and he’ll probably email pictures of his junk. It’s one thing to love “Runaway”, but to make it your profile song should give anyone the ick.

“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

Anyone who has spent a mild amount of time on social media has likely seen how crazy a devoted Swiftie can get. Consequently, broadcasting that in your dating profile might immediately raise some alarms. But “You Belong With Me” in particular signals that there might be a bit of jealousy and insecurity that you might not be ready to handle. If you don’t immediately swipe left, keep an eye out if they get extremely possessive.

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran

This one is really a matter of taste. Watching Ed Sheeran try his hand at a song he initially wrote for Rihanna is extremely jarring. A pasty white Brit tinkering with sanitized dancehall and saying your love was handmade for him is more than a bit off-putting. Not to mention, it’s one of the most popular songs of all time—dare to live a little and pick an album cut if you love Ed Sheeran so much.

“Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge

Nothing screams romantic quite like “we ain’t gettin’ no younger, we might as well do it.” The Jagged Edge classic certainly jams, but an examination of the lyrics will probably make you wonder how serious they are about their love lives. Good taste or not, a swipe left might be for the best.

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The post 4 Songs That Scream ‘Swipe Left’ appeared first on VICE.

💾

R&B nerds and fanatics rejoiced everywhere when the news broke of Joe and Donell Jones performing in a Verzuz battle. They are two of the most underrated R&B singers of the last 30 years, buttery smooth voices with hooks that have stayed in our heads for years. Those who dug beyond the big hits found a treasure chest of timeless gems. The pair give crucial examples of why R&B is such an important genre of music.

Consequently, in the spirit of celebrating two legends, we’ve selected five songs they have to perform somewhere in their set lists. We already know that Joe is probably going to pop out with “I Wanna Know” or “All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)” as his closing records. Donell Jones would be a fool not to sing “Where I Wanna Be” or “U Know What’s Up”.

So we’ve picked some less obvious songs that might be spread throughout their performances.

Five Songs From Joe and Donell Jones That Have to Be Performed During Their Verzuz

“Somebody Gotta Be On Top” by Joe

R&B holds so much of its power when it allows itself to be a little silly and playful. So when Joe flirts that he wants to “take you down horny street tonight,” you can’t help but laugh a little bit. Moreover, his showmanship as a singer and performer on the track and live helps the absurdity digest much more easily.

“Natural Thang” by Donell Jones

Donell Jones will likely always be remembered for “Where I Wanna Be” first. But his debut album My Heart in 1996 could give it a run for its money. His confidence as an artist was immediately recognized, so much so that he covered Stevie Wonder that didn’t feel pointless or derivative. Instead, by altering its musical composition, it became its own distinct rendition.

That self-assured nature comes through on “Natural Thang”, irresistibly steamy and the ideal soundtrack for anyone bringing a woman back from the bar.

“If I Was Your Man” by Joe

Men in R&B love to plot on another man’s woman. It’s practically in the handbook to plot on and cater to a woman who is with another lousy guy. But Joe alters the formula slightly by telling us that he’s already lost his girl. Now, she has moved on to someone else. As a result, he essentially offers a sales pitch on how he’d treat her if they were together. Any other artist would flop in their pursuit. But Joe’s magnetism on a record would make anyone swoon for him all over again.

“I’ll Go” by Donell Jones

Love & Basketball is one of the five greatest soundtracks of all time. That fact can largely credited to the film ending on “I’ll Go” by Donell Jones. The heavenly chords and swinging tempo bring the kind of warmth you’d only feel when a film ends happily ever after. Jones sings it like the love he’s experiencing is a miracle. “When you smiled, I saw angels/Then all my worries disappeared,” he croons. It’s unbelievably romantic how he vows to follow his love to the ends of the earth.

“I Can Do It Right” by Joe

Joe has been around in R&B way longer than you might think. Before he released one of the greatest R&B songs of 1997 in “All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)”, he released his impressive debut album Everything in 1993. We’ve always known him to croon over late 90s and 2000s contemporary production, so it’s refreshing to hear him on such strong, spunky drums that were par for the course in the early 90s.

Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage

The post 5 Songs Joe and Donell Jones Have to Perform During Their Upcoming Verzuz Battle appeared first on VICE.

💾

The BTS Army rides for their favorite artists unlike any other working in popular music today. K-Pop fans in general are deeply devoted to their favorite groups and singers, mobilizing to shut down any of their biggest critics. However, there’s a reason they’ve compared themselves to the military and not just some generic name for a fanbase. So you could imagine their disappointment when two members of the group met and took a picture with Chris Brown.

During one of the stops on his massive R&B tour with Usher, Brown shared a moment with J-Hope and Namjoon of BTS. Given the group’s stylistic influences, it makes sense that they might align with an R&B legend.

However, due to numerous allegations and run-ins with the law, fans were disturbed. They couldn’t envision their favorite artists aligning with someone who has a history of allegations involving domestic violence and sexual assault.

One fan highlighted the head of the group, Kim Namjoon, in particular. They expressed their frustrations about how the leader would make such a decision without thinking of their audience. “Honestly I expected better but most of all i’m very disappointed in Namjoon,” they wrote on X. “Like you’re their leader and supposed to set an example. But I’m also not shocked because his words and actions haven’t been matching lately.”

BTS Disappoints Fans Online After Taking Picture with Chris Brown

Additionally, another fan shrugged, arguing that this is why it’s impossible to “separate art from the artist.” “This is exactly why disgusting men keep thriving and getting away with crimes,” they tweeted. “’I have no moral compass. No ethics. Zero concern for victims. I want to make an atrocious man more rich and void of consequences.’”

While BTS fans may be particularly incensed that they’re taking pictures with Chris Brown, the R&B star has bigger visions. He and his manager are eyeballing one of the biggest stages an artist could perform: the Super Bowl. “I think it’s safe to say… they need me!” Brown exclaimed after Bad Bunny’s performance in February 2026.

Meanwhile, his manager Anthony “Ant” Wilson told Billboard that it’s an inevitability that he graces the stage. “I also think the Super Bowl would be a great place for him. I believe it will happen,” Wilson shared.

As for BTS, they may not abstain from taking pictures with Chris Brown. But they did withdraw themselves from the 2027 Grammys. The band cited the institution’s new category for ‘Best Asian Pop Performance’ as their primary reason. “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” they told their fans. “We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us.”

(Photo by Leonardo MUNOZ / AFP via Getty Images)

The post K-Pop Fans Outraged With BTS Members Who Attended Chris Brown Concert: ‘Honestly I Expected Better’ appeared first on VICE.

R&B changed significantly when Aaliyah dropped One In a Million in 1996. Jodeci producer and R&B icon Devante Swing was leaving his stylistic imprint on the future of the genre by mentoring the likes of Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and more. Through Aaliyah’s connection to them, we get her classic sophomore album that challenged our preconceived notions of music at the time. The drums were sexy, the samples were creative, and the vibe was sexy. After working with R. Kelly on her debut Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number, Aaliyah desperately needed a change of scenery.

\Unfortunately, the R&B legend passed away far too soon at 22 years old in 2001. Now, 30 years after One In a Million, Missy Elliott is celebrating her close friend and collaborator. In a heartfelt tribute on X, she talked about how the album aged incredibly all these years later. Moreover, she highlighted how Aaliyah was one of one when it came to her stardom and presence on records.

“30 years ago, Aaliyah ushered in a new sound that was FUTURISTIC and DISTINCTIVE. She had her own sound,” Elliott wrote. “Her SMOOTH vocals & choreography complemented every beat. One in a Million wasn’t just an album; it was ART & a MASTERPIECE A BODY of WORK that, til this day, feels FRESH & NEW, & studied by many great artists today.”

Missy Elliott Honors Aaliyah 30 Years After Her Classic Album ‘One In A Million’

The Virginia rapper and singer similarly honored her late friend Aaliyah in 2025. It would’ve marked Aaliyah’s 46th birthday. “Babygirl the IMPACT that you have left in the years you spent here with the world is UNDENIABLE. Leaving generations to know your name ‘AALIYAH’,” she wrote. “They continue to learn of your UNIQUE Music ORIGINAL Style & GLOWING personality. You will NEVER be 4Gotten.”

Missy Elliott famously wrote a number of iconic records for Aaliyah, including “One in a Million” and “If Your Girl Only Knew”. Initially, Elliott and Timbaland recalled being a little nervous because they were still relatively unknown. Consequently, they thought Aaliyah might’ve been a bit standoffish towards them, questioning how legit they were. But immediately, all the worries about her being a “diva” washed away, likening her to a comedian.

“We were nervous when we first worked with her because nobody knew who we was,” Missy Elliott told MTV in 2012. “She came in and was so warming; she made us immediately feel like family.”

Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage

The post Missy Elliott Celebrates 30 Years of This Iconic R&B Album: ‘It Was Art and a Masterpiece’ appeared first on VICE.

Romance today can feel far too jaded. It’s why so many people tend to look to the past when thinking about the kind of love they want. It’s easier to have rose-colored glasses about old-school love when the present feels so doomed. Oftentimes, 90s R&B captures that euphoria. But 70s R&B is the greatest time for the genre, when artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye operated in their prime.

In a world of people who want a 90s kind of love, we picked five songs that show why the 70s might be the new decade to strive for romantically.

Five 70s R&B Songs That Will Make You Yearn for Old School Love

“As” by Stevie Wonder

While Stevie Wonder was certainly depicting a universal, all-encompassing kind of love on “As”, it is deeply touching on a romantic kind of level. To be told that you will be loved until the sun burns out is the kind of one-of-a-kind love that any person would be lucky to have.

“I Choose You” by Willie Hutch

The ultimate marriage song, so much that UGK and Outkast turned it into “Int’l Players Anthem“. The horns are sweeping and triumphant, belting out as flowers rain from the sky. Meanwhile, Willie Hutch might as well be reciting his vows and telling us why he’s committing the rest of his life to his woman.

“I Want You” by Marvin Gaye

While it’s really easy to just marvel at how sweet and romantic 70s R&B was, it was also deeply sexy and sensual. Take Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You”, where his heart throbs and yearns to be desired the way he does for her. As a generation of prudes seems to become more prominent, “I Want You” shows lust and love done right.

“Sweet Thing” by Rufus and Chaka Khan

No one has yearned quite like Chaka Khan on “Sweet Thing”. She alludes to being smitten by a man who is already spoken for, telling him that the love is unconditional regardless of circumstances. By the time she belts out in the bridge, you realize her threat of going crazy wasn’t just exaggeration. Khan is completely encompassed by the love she feels, “be it right or be it wrong.”

“Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack had such an unbelievably delicate voice. It made her desire for sex sound sweet and thoughtful on “Feel Like Makin’ Love” instead of dirty or steamy. Her desire was only sparked by watching other lovers live their lives at the park. It shows that intimacy doesn’t need to be sparked in the raunchiest ways. Sometimes, you just want to be closer than a hug and a kiss allows. Flack singing it so poetically allows us to see why sex is such a vital part of a relationship.

Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images

The post 5 R&B Love Songs From the 70s That Will Make You Feel Like You Were Born in the Wrong Generation appeared first on VICE.

💾