Leslie Odom Jr. plays a Tiny Desk Concert Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption
R&B/Soul NPR Music stories that feature R&B and soul music.
R&B/Soul
Robert Randolph performing live at the AmericanaFest Day Stage presented by NPR Music, WMOT and World Cafe. Val Hoeppner/WMOT hide caption
Robert Randolph and the Family Band On World Cafe
With rich, cascading runs, Ayoni's "September" is a stand-out on this week's Heat Check. Caleb Griffin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
BJ the Chicago Kid performs at a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 3, 2019. (Emily Bogle/NPR) Emily Bogle/NPR hide caption
D.C.-hailing duo April + VISTA take a new immersive step with "Every Void." Amanda Alborano/Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Mwenso & the Shakes perform live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert - recorded live for this World Cafe Session. Rich McKie/WXPN hide caption
Mwenso & the Shakes On World Cafe
Ness Nite subverts hip-hop tropes with "Gucciprada." Enmi Yang/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Raphael Saadiq with Lucky Daye performs during Tiny Desk Fest, on Oct. 31, 2019. Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption
TeaMarrr's mesmerizing new single "Kinda Love" is the type of daydream to put into action. Tyren Redd/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Summer Walker plays a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 13, 2019 (Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR). Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR hide caption
Brittany Howard plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR). Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR hide caption
The Pendletons provide a jazzy, dancing-in-your-living-room soundtrack to self-care. Ivan Noble/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Raphael Saadiq Aaron Rapoport/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Raphael Saadiq On World Cafe (OLD)
Daniela Andrade's "Ayayai" (single artwork pictured here) shows off the artist's linguistic versatility. Yi-Shuan Lee/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Ari Lennox plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Ben de la Cruz/NPR). Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption
Gloria Gaynor originally recorded "I Will Survive" as a B-side, but swiftly after its release in October 1978 it became a worldwide hit. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption
'I Will Survive' Saves Marginalized People A Spot On The Dance Floor
KIRBY's "Kool Aid" injects just the right doses of doo-wop and soul. Courtney Loo & David Karp/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lee Fields Sesse Lind/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lee Fields On World Cafe
Black Pumas perform at KCRW. Chris Ho/KCRW hide caption
Barnes Brothers Bill Reynolds/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Pusha T performs at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in April 2019. Push's latest single, "Coming Home" is on this week's Heat Check. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption