Bay Area R&B Singers
List of the Top 15 Bay Area R&B Artists
Representing the entire Northern California are a great many of Bay Area R&B singers that have become the faces of rhythm and blues music, from places like Oakland to even Sacramento, which sits right outside of the Bay.
A place where Bay Area R&B artists like Keyshia Cole, Tony! Toni! Toné!, En Vogue, Sheila E., and Chanté Moore grew up and started their careers, and now, moving into the 2020s, rhythm and blues remains instilled in the heart of the Bay Area’s music scene, led by great talents like Kehlani, H.E.R, and many more.
Top 15 Bay Area R&B Singers
Kehlani
Debut: 2014
Top Songs: “Good Life,” “Gangsta,” “The Way,” “Distraction,” “Nights Like This,” “Toxic,” “Can I,” “CRZY,” “Nunya,” and more
Projects: Cloud 19, You Should Be Here, SweetSexySavage, While We Wait, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, blue water road, CRASH, While We Wait 2.
After a short run with teen group Poplyfe and appearances on America’s Got Talent, the Oakland native would have her share of ups and downs before linking with Nick Cannon and eventually beginning a prosperous solo career.
Starting with the 2014 release of Cloud 19 and the 2015 release of You Should be Here, Kehlani’s career would gradually rise over time, especially following the releases of her freshman and sophomore albums, SweetSexySavage and It Was Good Until It Wasn’t.
H.E.R.
Debut: 2016
Top Songs: “Damage,” “Best Part,” “Could’ve Been,” “Slide,” “Focus,” “Come Through,” “Every Kind of Way,” “Changes,” “Comfortable,” and more.
Projects: H.E.R. Volume 1 (2016), H.E.R. Volume 2 (2017), H.E.R. Volume 2, The B Sides (2017), H.E.R (2017), I Used to Know Her: The Prelude (2018), I Used to Know Her: Part 2 (2018)
A Bay Area singer that was destined to be a star, H.E.R. obtained numerous accolades and achievements during her childhood, ranging from performing at the Apollo Theater to appearing on numerous day time talk shows, even making a few minor acting appearances.
While most of H.E.R’s life has been consumed by music and entertainment, she has now become one of the most seasoned R&B artists in the business.
Victoria Monet
Debut: 2014
Top Songs: “On My Mama,” “Alright,” “Ass Like That,” “Moment,” “Monopoly” with Ariana Grande, “Sex on Sight” with Usher, and more.
Projects: Nightmares & Lullabies Act 1 EP (2014), Nightmares & Lullabies Act 2 (2015), Life After Love Part 1 and Part 2 (2018), JAGUAR (2020), JAGUAR II (2023),
Sacramento native Victoria Monét has become one of the most accomplished and gifted songwriters as her songwriting credits includes Ariana Grande, K-Pop group Blackpink, Chloe x Halle, T.I. and many more.
Her debut as an artist was 2014’s Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1. Since, she has continued a promising career as an artist, releasing six EPs with Jaguar being her most successful.
Thuy.
Debut: 2015
Top Songs: “girls like me don’t cry,” “universe,” “All Night Long,” “chances,” “figured it out,” and more.
Projects: I hope u see this (2021), girls like me don’t cry (2022), wings (2024)
Another one of the top rising Bay Area R&B singers, thuy is an undiscovered gift to music, especially to the rhythm and blues genre, while she has been slowly gaining traction in the industry.
Releasing multiple songs and projects over the past few years, thuy eventually came into the spotlight with her debut album i hope u see this, released in 2021.
Destiny Rogers
Debut: 2019
Top Songs: “Tomboy,” “Lo Lo,” “West Like,” “Kickin Pushin,” “NorthSide,” “Euphoria,” and more.
Projects: Great Escape (2020), Still Your Girl (2024)
On the outskirts of the Bay Area, just north of Stockton, CA, was the small Northern California town that helped raise Pop/R&B artist Destiny Rogers.
A similar path to music, a guitar and a camera covering YouTube songs at a young age, Destiny Rogers has since risen into stardom with her debut hit single “Tomboy”. A combination of both Pop music and R&B music, Destiny has collaborated with top rappers, like Coi Leray, Guapdad 4000, and Kalan.FrFr, and released two well acclaimed projects, The Great Escape and EP Tomboy.
Lolo Zouaï
Debut: 2017
Top Songs: “Desert Rose,” “Moi,” “High Highs to Low Lows,” “Ride,” “Caffeine,” “Brooklyn Love,” and more.
Projects: High Highs to Low Lows (2019), PLAYGIRL (2023), Crying In the Car Wash EP (2023)
Singer and Songwriter Lolo Zouai has been on a steady climb since her first introduction to music in 2017 with the single “So Real.” While being one of R&B’s most overlooked, Lolo Zouaï’s talent can cast a shadow over the biggest names in music.
Receiving much fanfare from her 2019 album High Highs to Low Lows, Lolo Zouaï most popular songs have been “Desert Rose,” “Moi,” “High Highs to Low Lows,” “Brooklyn Love,” and “Caffeine.”
Rayana Jay
Debut: 2016
Top Songs: “Breakfast In Bed,” “Love Me Like,” “Nothin To Talk About,”
Albums/Projects: Sorry About Last Night (2016), Morning After (2017), Love Me Like (2019), Last Call (2022),
Rayana Jay is a soulful singer-songwriter hailing from Richmond, California. Known for her smooth, sultry vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, Jay has been grinding within the R&B landscape since her 2016 debut.
Jay’s songs often explore themes of love, empowerment, and personal growth. She has released four albums, Sorry About Last Night (2016), Morning After (2017), Love Me Like (2019), and Last Call (2022). Her most popular songs are “Breakfast In Bed,” “Love Me Like” with DUCKWRTH, “Way Back,” and “Nothing To Talk About.”
Audrey Mika
Debut: 2018
Top Songs: “Just Friends,” “Y U Gotta B Like That,” “Excuses,” and more.
Projects: Loved Up (2019)
Years of covering songs on YouTube, rising Pop and R&B artist Audrey Mika finally made the transition into professionalism and the music industry with the release of her 5 A.M. EP in 2020.
While still up and coming, Audrey Mika exceeds the levels of talent of most mainstream artists, showcased on songs like “Just Friends”, “Y U Gotta B Like That,” and “Excuses.”
Marc E Bassy
Debut: 2014
Top Songs: “You & Me,” “Plot Twist,” “Love Her Too,” “Some Things Never Change,” “Just My Luck,” and more.
Projects: Man Makes Plan 2 (2024), Folk Hero Funk (2023), Man Makes Plans (2022), East Hollywood 2 (2022), Little Men (2021), PMD (2019), Gossip Columns (2017), East Hollywood (2015)
A mixture of pop and rhythm and blues, singer/songwriter Marc E. Bassy began during the late 2000s with the soulful pop band 2AM Club as the lead singer.
Since the groups last release, the Bay Area native has been transitioning into a career as a solo artist after years of songwriting for some of the world’s most notarized artists and performing as the lead for the once 2AM Club.
Marmar Oso
Debut: 2014
Top Songs: “You & Me,” “Plot Twist,” “Love Her Too,” “Some Things Never Change,” “Just My Luck,” and more.
Projects: Man Makes Plan 2 (2024), Folk Hero Funk (2023), Man Makes Plans (2022), East Hollywood 2 (2022), Little Men (2021), PMD (2019), Gossip Columns (2017), East Hollywood (2015)
This Sacramento native has been making his rounds through the R&B carousal. A mixture of hip-hop and R&B with a street edge, Marmar Oso is one of a kind artist, representing a new wave in R&B music.
With the smash hit “Ruthless” and the release of four albums, Good Intentions (2022), Marvin’s Room (2020), Love Don’t Cost a Thing (2020), and Oso Different (2019), there is a large enough sample size to come to the conclusion that Marmar Oso is a star in the making.
Adrian Marcel
Debut: 2012
Top Songs: “2AM,” “Timeless,” “My Life,” “Imagination,” “Take Your Time,” and more.
Projects: 7 Days of Weak (2013), Weak After Next Reloaded (2015), GMFU (2017), 98th (2019)
One of the top male Bay Area R&B artists, Adrian Marcel began making a name for himself during the early 2010s. Renowned for his craft and artistry, Adrian Marcel has become famously known for hits like “2AM,” “My Life,” and “Spending the Night Alone.”
Rayven Justice
Debut: 2011
Top Songs: “Why Me,” “Hit or Nah,” “Slide Thru,” “Favorite Song,” “Between Your Thighs,” and more.
Projects: I Have a Dream (2014), The Cassette Playlist (2015), Do It Justice (2016), Wavy Justice (2017), Wavy Justice (2018), ESO (2019), Do It Justice 2 (2020), Wavy Justice 3 (2020), Back to Slidin (2021), R&Bay Volume 1 (2021), R&Bay Volume 2 (2021), Late Nights Early Mornings (2021), Many Moons (2022), Ray (2022), Justice for All (2023), Wavy Motion (2024)
Well known and well respected within the music scene of the West Coast, the veteran and Oakland native Rayven Justice has become a seasoned artist.
Collaborating and working with some of the biggest names in the industry, while releasing classics like “Hit or Nah” and “Slide Thru,” Rayven is a balance between today’s R&B music and modern day West Coast hip-hop.
Elujay
Debut: 2011
Top Songs: “Luvaroq,” “Blu,” “1080p,” “Wasting My Time,” “Frequently,” “Starchild,” and more.
Projects: Jentrify (2016), Adojio (2019), Gems In The Cornerstone (2020), Circmvnt (2022), Gems In The Cornerstone II (2024)
Elujay is an R&B singer, rapper, and producer from Oakland, California. His music is characterized by its blend of soulful melodies and hip-hop beats.
Releasing some of his first official music during the late 2010s, Elujay’s lyrics often reflect on his experiences growing up in Oakland, providing a unique narrative that sets him apart from other artists in the genre.
Samaria
Debut: 2015
Top Songs: “Out The Way,” “Foolish,” “Still Got 4Ever,” “serial recluse,” “Shady Hills,” “Shy Girl,” and more.
Projects: Story of Right Now (2015), Adventures of Lovergirl EP (2019), Didn’t Start With You EP (2022), Even Paradise Rains (2024)
Samaria is another promising talent among the Bay Area R&B artists. She has been slowly broadcasting her talent with her vocals and emotive songwriting.
Her introduction was in 2015 with the project The Story of Right Now. Since, she has released songs like “Out The Way,” “Still Got 4ever,” “Foolish,” and “Shy Girl.”
Journee
Debut: 2019
Top Songs: “This and That,” “Options,” “Like That,” and more
Projects: 2020’s It’s Not You, It’s Me and 2023’s Out of Reach
With her debut through the 2019 hit “This and That,” she has been on a rise, slowly coming onto R&B lovers’ radar.
She has released two EPs, 2020’s It’s Not You, It’s Me and 2023’s Out of Reach, while her most famous songs have been tracks like “This and That,” “Options,” “Like That,” and several others.
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Bay Area R&B Artists Related Topics
1 Top 12 Oakland Rappers
2 Top 12 San Francisco Rappers
3 Top 10 Atlanta R&B Artists
4 Top 20 Los Angeles R&B Artists
*Unofficial Order. The more popular artists that have a combination of the most followers, streams, views, and most recent releases are near the top.
*If any artists are missing from the list email info@kltvltz.com