The Revival of 2000s R&B

By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist

With Timbaland and Darkchild ruling the 2000s R&B scene, they created a new wave of R&B that had never been seen or heard before. 20 years later, that same sound they created is returning. The following artists are full of melodic nostalgia while still having their own new-age spin on their tracks.

Joyce Wrice

Joyce Wrice describes her sound as being “feel-good R&B with some smooth, warm, sultry vocals on it,” and I felt that she described it accurately. She draws inspiration from the likes of The Neptunes, Beyoncé and Rihanna, and it’s clearly shown on her latest EP, Motive. On said EP, she collaborates with producer Kaytranada on “Iced Tea” to enhance that classic 2000s R&B sound. It was her second time working with Kaytranada, as she worked with him on her first album Overgrown, where she has other features such as Lucky Daye, Freddie Gibbs and Masego.

Avenoir

As Avenoir includes Brent Faiyaz-esque attributes, his music sounds like it could’ve come straight out of Timbaland’s discography. Back in 2022, he was considered one of Spotify’s “Fresh Finds,” where in an interview with them, he acknowledges that he wants to “bring back a sound that hasn’t been heard in a while and make it [his] own.” On his track “MORAL,” which he just released at the beginning of March, he takes a different approach on a traditional R&B love ballad by adding some alternative influence and singing about prioritizing himself rather than a lover.

FLO

Several prominent girl groups ruled the 2000s, but they are rare to see in today’s mainstream music industry. FLO is reminiscent of such an era by creating songs of empowerment similar to their Destiny’s Child predecessor. The group, which consists of members Jorja Douglas, Reńee Downer and Stella Quaresma, was formed in 2019 but didn’t debut their debut single until 2022. Their debut, “Cardboard Box,” has the same lyrical content that can easily be related to Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” but with a production by MNEK that was catered to a modern-day audience. On their most recent single, “Fly Girl,” not only do they interpolate the 2002 hit “Work It” by Missy Elliot, but they also include a feature from the rapper herself. When talking about the track, the group said, “‘Fly Girl’ is quite literally a perfect fusion of old school meets new school with a nod to and original fly girl Missy Elliot.”

Jay Safari

Jay Safari’s song “Dance” has been circulating around TikTok, as it was produced in The Neptunes member Pharrell’s familiar style that can be found on Usher’s 2001 hit “U Don’t Have to Call.” He promotes his music on TikTok, as that is how many new-age artists have gained popularity with the same strategy. In the latest video he posted to the app, he promotes a song where he states that it was about the last conversation between him and an ex. He sings about his heartbreak on a spunky house beat with a vocal delivery that, to me, can be compared to Don Toliver.

Featured Image from FLO