The New Age R&B & Pop Girlies Are Redefining the Game

REALM MUSIC - #THEINDUSTRY

Let me be real: the current wave of R&B and Pop girlies is not only making noise—they’re shifting the culture. This generation of artists isn’t just following in the footsteps of the greats; they’re building their own lanes, blending genres, and telling stories that feel raw, emotional, and real. It’s a renaissance—but this time, it’s ours.

What’s happening right now in music is exciting because these women are tearing down the old walls between R&B and Pop. They’re bending sound, image, and expectation. And as an artist myself, I see the influence and I feel the shift. It’s in the production, in the lyricism, in the fearless vulnerability. It’s the reason I keep pushing my own boundaries.

Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about the girlies who are defining this era.

Coco Jones

Coco’s rise has been long overdue. When "ICU" dropped, it was like the whole industry finally woke up. Her voice is classic—rich, soulful, with that church-born control—but what makes Coco stand out is how she delivers traditional R&B with a fresh attitude. She doesn’t try to fit in with current trends. Instead, she brings you into her world. It’s giving elegance, it’s giving emotion, and it’s giving grown.

Coco’s ability to lean into heartbreak, desire, and strength reminds me that vulnerability is power. She’s brought back a kind of R&B that feels timeless but current. That duality is something I aim for in my own art—where every note feels intentional, where every word lands.

Tinashe

Tinashe is the blueprint for staying true while evolving. She's been genre-bending from the jump—experimenting with electro-pop, trap beats, and ambient R&B. The industry tried to box her in, but she broke out on her own terms. Her independent projects, especially "333" and "BB/ANG3L," show how futuristic R&B can be without losing its soul.

What Tinashe does that inspires me is how she fuses choreography, visual art, and sonics. She makes full experiences. Watching her reminds me that being an artist isn’t just about music—it’s about building a world. And she builds hers unapologetically.

Normani

Normani has star power in her DNA. From her days in Fifth Harmony to the solo visuals for "Motivation" and "Wild Side," she’s shown time and time again that she’s that girl. While her music catalog is still developing, her presence is undeniable.

What stands out about Normani is the pressure she carries—being one of the few dark-skinned Black women in mainstream pop—and how she still shows up with grace and precision. When she moves, it’s art. When she sings, it’s mood. Her journey reminds me that impact isn’t always about quantity—it’s about quality, presence, and patience.

Kehlani

Kehlani bleeds authenticity. From mixtapes to studio albums, they’ve always shared their truth. Their sound lives in the intersection of R&B, pop, and alt—sometimes dreamy, sometimes gritty, always real. Tracks like "Toxic" and "Honey" show how love can be messy, beautiful, and painful all at once.

As someone who also uses music to process life, I respect how Kehlani stays open. They don’t hide behind the beat. They sit in the emotion, and they let you feel it too. That rawness? That’s what connects. That’s what lasts.

Chloe

Chloe’s solo debut era has been polarizing for some, but for me, it’s necessary. She’s exploring sensuality, performance, and identity with zero hesitation. "Have Mercy" was a statement, not just a song. She’s here to own her power.

Vocally, she’s a beast. She grew up in harmony—literally—and now she’s showing us how versatile she can be. Chloe’s blend of R&B with hard-hitting pop production gives us something bold. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to be palatable to be successful. You can be loud, sexy, complicated—and still worthy of praise.

Tems

Tems is otherworldly. Her voice doesn’t just sing—it resonates. She’s taken Afrobeats and infused it with soul and introspection. She moves with a calm confidence that’s magnetic.

Her breakout moment with Wizkid on "Essence" wasn’t luck—it was alignment. Since then, Tems has carved her own path. She’s global, but grounded. She reminds me that music can be soft and still revolutionary. That subtlety can shift culture. In my own work, I think about tone and intention because of artists like her.

Summer Walker

Summer is the queen of saying what everyone’s thinking but too scared to admit. Her music is like reading a diary—with trap drums. Albums like "Over It" and "Still Over It" cut deep, and she doesn’t sugarcoat.

She represents the part of R&B that’s fed up, emotionally drained, but still yearning. And she says it in a way that’s so Atlanta, so raw, so her. That honesty influences me heavily. Not everything has to be polished. Sometimes it’s the crack in your voice that hits hardest.

Tyla

Tyla is bringing a whole new flavor. South African-born, her sound is rooted in amapiano, but she’s mixing it with pop sensibility and international vibes. "Water" wasn’t just a hit—it was a cultural moment.

She’s proof that global sounds have a place in the mainstream, and it’s exciting to watch her rise. Her visuals, her energy, her effortless vibe—she’s making it cool to be soft, fun, and unbothered. It’s a vibe I’m channeling more these days—where joy is the message.

Kiana Lede

Kiana’s voice is that voice. Smooth, emotional, and crystal clear. She doesn’t get enough credit for how consistent her pen game is. Songs like "Ex" and "Mad At Me" hit because they’re rooted in real stories.

She doesn’t overdo it. She keeps it sleek and melodic, which is something I really respect. Sometimes the most powerful thing is restraint. She reminds me that subtlety can be sexy, too.

Victoria Monet

Victoria is finally getting her flowers, and it’s about damn time. She’s been behind the scenes for years writing for everyone, but now she’s showing the full range of her own artistry. "Jaguar II" was a masterclass in groove, storytelling, and production.

Her sound is plush, nostalgic, and futuristic all at once. She’s intentional. Every detail—from the lyrics to the visual to the choreography—is curated. She’s the kind of artist I study. Because when you take your craft seriously, it shows.

Sasha Kemble

Now let’s talk about Sasha Kemble—because yes, I’m going to talk about me too. Being an artist in this era means navigating expectation and expression. I see myself in all of these women. The way they balance softness and strength. The way they genre-hop without losing identity. The way they show up—black, brown, queer, loud, quiet, broken, healed, sexy, sacred. All of it.

My music is rooted in emotion, but I play with structure and sound. I might layer an airy synth over a slow jam beat, or drop a pop hook in the middle of a soul verse. That fusion? It’s not by accident. It’s because I grew up listening to these women. They taught me that there are no rules. Or if there are, we can break them.

These women aren’t just making hits. They’re building legacies. They’re expanding what R&B and Pop can look and sound like. They’re pushing back on what it means to be a "girl singer" in a male-dominated industry. They’re using fashion, performance, and storytelling to create full-spectrum art.

And the impact isn’t just commercial—it’s emotional. When I hear a Kehlani track, I feel seen. When Coco Jones belts out a note, I remember my worth. When Tyla dances in a sundress, I remember to smile. When Victoria Monet builds a bridge in a song, I remember why I started writing in the first place.

The Fusion Is the Future

R&B and Pop aren’t separate worlds anymore. They’re in conversation. And the new age girlies are the ones conducting the orchestra. They’re singing over drill beats. They’re writing ballads with club tempos. They’re genre-less, fearless, and fluid.

That genre-blending is what drives my own sound. I want to make music that feels familiar but new. That makes you cry, dance, and reflect all at once. That’s the blueprint these women are giving us.

This isn’t a trend. This is a movement. A redefinition. These women are not just artists—they’re architects. And as someone stepping into this space with her own story, her own sound, and her own scars—I’m grateful.

Because the new age R&B and Pop girlies? They made space. And now, I’m walking through the door they kicked open.

Editor’s Note: The Next Up Edition – Pop Girlie Groups

If the solo girls are pushing boundaries, the groups are rewriting the rulebook.

This edition of Next Up is all about the rising pop girlie groups who are loud, fresh, and unapologetically themselves. These collectives aren’t just reviving the girl group magic—they’re flipping it on its head. They're blending harmonies with hard-hitting beats, soft aesthetics with bold messages, and serving visuals that stop timelines cold.

From genre-defying sounds to sisterhood-centered energy, these groups are creating music that hits harder because it comes from a collective voice. And in a landscape where individuality often takes center stage, they’re reminding us of the power in unity, collaboration, and shared artistry.

We're keeping our eyes (and ears) on the ones who are up next—because the new wave of pop girlie groups isn’t just coming. They’ve arrived.