Leon Thomas and Halle get together to perform the duet “Rather Be Alone.” The single feels like it belongs in the yacht rock family with its continuous folk guitar and their R&B vocals. They make a serious statement about relationships, admitting that being solo is much better than trying to hold on to a dead romance. Thomas’s most recent output comes as he is still riding on the success of his sophomore album, MUTT, which made 2024 his breakout year. The title track went viral and attracted a remix with Freddie Gibbs. He also went to the Grammys and took one home for his production work with Babyface on SZA’s “Snooze.” Thomas is not resting on the success of MUTT, as his creativity keeps going and “Rather Be Alone” is something new for those who heard the album and were waiting for more. If you haven’t seen him live yet, his NPR Tiny Desk show is a must-see. 

Watch Ari Lennox cheer for her “Soft Girl Era” in the official video. Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox produced “Soft Girl Era,” and they have given it a throwback feel with a sample of The New Birth’s “You Are What I’m All About,” famously sampled in the Junior Mafia’s “Players Anthem.” Video director Chris Robinson taps into that energy with a visual of Lennox surrounded by her team of dancers, all of them in colors that pop and change, reminiscent of Lil Kim’s “Crush On You” video. Lennox was just seen performing at the Dreamville Festival. Lennox announced “Soft Girl Era” back in February on her Instagram page when she was in the studio recording it and she also revealed that an album to follow Age/Sex/Location is on the way. 

Luther Vandross and Nat Adderley Jr. wrote “Other Side of the World,” and it appears on his 1985 fourth album, The Night I Fell In Love. Vandross sang about an unexpected love with a vulnerability and tenderness that satisfied the most fervent romantics. Adderley’s synthesizer arrangements were cosmic and matched Marcus Miller’s rich bass in what sounded like a love song from outer space. The general opinion of The Night I Fell In Love was that all of the other songs, such as “Creepin'” and “Wait For Love,” were the real draw, but “Other Side of the World” was an underrated album cut played on Quiet Storm radio. Serious fans saw the whole album as a jewel that ended perfectly with a sensitive ballad. Vandross was nominated for a Grammy and received two American Music Award nominations for TNIFIL, which reached number one on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. Luther Vandross has experienced more posthumous popularity in 2025 thanks to Kendrick Lamar’s “luther” collaboration with Sza and a documentary about his life. 

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