No hate, but I haven’t been a fan of some of today’s R&B. In my defense, I’ve been deep in my podcast bag. When I come out, it’s usually to listen to what’s in my Apple Music. I also put an ear on this Christian R&B vibe. Artists like Lee Vasi, Jor’dan Armstrong, Anthny, and this Maverick City with Song House’s Well Well Well are on repeat lately.
Still, a few recent R&B joints have caught my attention. Leon Thomas’ Mutt—especially with the Chris Brown verse—and Kehlani’s Folded have been added to my playlist rotation. These tracks, along with others, inspired this writing. Kendrick Lamar and SZA have been digging into their parents’ albums, pulling samples from legends like Luther Vandross and DeBarge. I just hope they put those albums back exactly how they found them.
But what really moved me to put cursor to screen was Leon Thomas’ Yes It Is remix featuring Muni Long and Marsha Ambrosius.
Listening to R&B now feels different than when I first got into the business of picking music for airplay. Back then, I could hear a song and have no clue if it was influenced by a previous artist. If you told me Luther’s Superstar was originally a Carpenters song, I would’ve called you a liar. I actually did when someone first told me. Today, though, it feels like every other track is built from pieces of something older. Some songs make me wonder if the sample is even worthy, but maybe that’s me being too judgmental.
Thomas’ remix hits differently. It’s a triple shot of Floetry’s Say Yes—melody, lyrics, and Marsha Ambrosius herself on vocals. Beyond that, the production is clever, with the title flipped into Yes It Is. I don’t want to downplay Thomas or Muni Long—their performances are essential to the track’s unique vibe and, hopefully, its success.
Artists like these give me optimism for the Urban format. Music is 50 percent of what a station offers, and you can’t take that for granted. Early in the streaming era, I saw digital platforms as a threat to radio. Sure, they shaved off some quarter-hours. But they also became tools—letting us see exactly what urban listeners were consuming. Add social media commentary, and you’ve got a blueprint that allows programmers to be intentional and more confident with music selections.
Collabs in R&B aren’t new, but lately the quality of production has impressed me. The creativity producers and artists are showing could lift the format, even redefine Urban and Urban AC, by shining light on the original songs being sampled.
For me, this all comes back to preserving the format. I often talk about evolving brands and refining execution through AI, community and coaching. Music is still at the core though. As programmers, we can’t ignore how the music itself is evolving.
I appreciate the comments and feedback you’ve shared on past pieces. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one, too. Reach me at Ken@KenJohnsonMedia.com.
Ken Johnson is an Urban/Hip-Hop columnist for Barrett Media. Born and raised in Washington DC, his career experiences include serving as VP of Urban formats for Cumulus Media, holding the Director of Urban Programming post at ABC Radio Networks, and programming stations in Birmingham, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City. He has also managed affiliate relations for the Nick Cannon show, and worked as the Executive Producer of The Hughley Truth Podcast hosted by comedian DL Hughley. Ken currently runs Mean Ole Lion Media, a content creation company and podcast network. He can be reached by email at ken@kenjohnsonmedia.com.
