Top DMV R&B Artists
List of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC R&B Artists
The land of Go-Go music and the region that bred one of the greatest hip-hop and R&B producers all-time, Timbaland, the man behind the production of Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, and Ginuwine, Washington DC R&B artists alongside DMV R&B artists have been part of a culture of music that dates back decades.
The birthplace of one of the very first jazz and blues icons Ella Fitzgerald, the place of one of the all-time best soul singers Marvin Gaye, the place of hip-hop legend Missy Elliot, the DMV has always been a leader. In rhythm and blues, DMV R&B artists like Ginuwine, Mya, Johnny Gill, Dru Hill, Kenny Lattimore, D’Angleo, Amerie, and Raheem DeVaughn have continued the legacy of music in the communities of Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Transitioning into a new era and generation, today’s DMV music scene consists of singers like Chris Brown, Ari Lennox, Kali Uchis, Brent Faiyaz and several others.
Top 15 DMV R&B Artists
Chris Brown
Debut: 2005
Top Songs: “With You” “No Guidance” “Forever” “Run It!” “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” “Look at Me Now” “Say Goodbye” “Take You Down” “Deuces” “Loyal” “I Can Transform Ya” “Yeah 3x” “Kiss Kiss” “Wall to Wall” “She Ain’t You” “Turn Up the Music” “Don’t Wake Me Up” “New Flame” “Party” “Pills & Automobiles,” and more.
Projects: Chris Brown (2005), Exclusive (2007), Graffiti (2009), F.A.M.E. (2011), Fortune (2012), X (2014), Royalty (2015), Heartbreak on a Full Moon (2017), Indigo (2019), Breezy (2022), 11:11 (2023)
Chris Brown’s debut single “Run It!” rapidly climbed to the top of the music charts in 2005, and ever since Chris Brown has been a dominant force in R&B. Being a singer, songwriter, a gifted dancer, and sometimes an exceptional actor, Chris Brown’s talent benefits, above all, its versatility, which has led him to be one of the all-time greats in the rhythm and blues category.
Kali Uchis
Debut: 2014
Top Songs: “After the Storm” “Moonlight” “Telepatía” “Igual Que Un Ángel” “Labios Mordidos”
Projects: Isolation, Red Moon in Venus, and Orquídeas.
Years creating and being on a steady rise, the Northern Virginia native Kali Uchis received her breakthrough with the song “After the Storm,” which featured Bootsy Collins and Tyler the Creator. Since, she has become one of the top R&B artists, whether performing in the English or within the Spanish markets, Kali Uchis has remained one of today’s most celebrated R&B artists.
Brent Faiyaz
Debut: 2013
Top Songs: “Trust,” “Rehab,” “Dead Man Walking,” “Poison,” “Clouded,” “Been Away,” “All Mine,” “Wasting Time,” “Jackie Brown,” “Best Time,” “Forever Yours,” and more.
Projects: Sonder Son (2017), Lost (2018), Wasteland (2020), Fuck the World (2020), Larger than Life (2023),
Maryland R&B star Brent Faiyaz originally started his career as a rapper. The 25-year-old pop star came to the music scene after releasing the single “Crew” with fellow DMV artists GoldLink and Shy Glizzy, which was nominated for a 2018 Grammy award. One thing that is clear, you can not doubt the creative and artistic abilities of Brent Faiyaz; the rapper turned R&B singer is versatile in his style and delivery.
Ari Lennox
Debut: 2013
Top Songs: “Shea Butter Baby,” “Pressure,” “Up Late,” “Whipped Cream,” “BMO,” and more.
Projects: Pho (2016), Shea Butter Baby (2019), Age/Sex/Location (2022), and Away Message EP (2022)
This soulful female R&B artist may have just come onto some fans’ radar after signing to J.Cole’s Dreamville and the release of Shea Butter Baby (2019), but this DMV R&B artist has been mastering her craft as a neo-soul and rhythm and blues artist for some time now.
Mario
Debut: 2002
Top Songs: “Let Me Love You,” “How Do I Breath,” “Just a Friend 2002,” “Crying Out for Me,” “How Could You,” “Somebody Else” with Nicki Minaj, “Main One” with Lil Wayne, and more.
Projects: Mario, Turning Point (2004), Go (2007), D.N.A. (2009), Dancing Shadows (2018),
A veteran in the industry that was originally a teen sensation with his first appearances during the early 2000s with the songs “Just a Friend” and “Let Me Love You”. Mario has now grown with many of his fans and listeners, from our high school days and teenage years to days as adults and grownups, Mario has stayed with many fans throughout the journey.
Trey Songz
Debut: 2002
Top Songs: “Let Me Love You,” “How Do I Breath,” “Just a Friend 2002,” “Crying Out for Me,” “How Could You,” “Somebody Else” with Nicki Minaj, “Main One” with Lil Wayne, and more.
Projects: I Gotta Make It (2005), Trey Day (2007), Ready (2009), Passion, Pain & Pleasure (2010), Chapter V (2012), Trigga (2014), Tremaine (2017), Back Home (2020)
Having been compared to the greats by many lovers of R&B, Trey Songz made his debut in 2005 with I Gotta Make It. The album reached number 20 on the charts and sold over 300,000 records. As of the 2020s, Trey Songz has a total of eight studio albums, along with dozens of chart topping and platinum and gold selling singles, only to leave him being considered one of the best in R&B.
Shelley FKA DRAM
Debut: 2015
Top Songs: “Broccoli,” “Cash Machine,” “Cha Cha,” “Cute,” “The Lay Down,” “Caretaker” with SZA, and more.
Projects: 1EpicEP (2015), Gahdamn! (2015), Big Baby DRAM (2016), Shelley FKA DAM (2021), What Had Happened Was… (2022), DRAM&B (2024)
Formerly known as DRAM, this Virginia R&B artists was a rising rap star that released 2016’s biggest hit “Broccoli,” featuring Lil Yachty. Before switching gears and becoming Shelly, fka DRAM, his music was always a combination of hip-hop, rhythm and blues, with a touch of soul and funk, bringing out good feelings and good vibes. By 2019, DRAM reinvented himself into Shelley, FKA DRAM, releasing the project Shelley FKA DRAM.
Kevin Ross
Debut: 2015
Top Songs: “Long Song Away,” “Sweet Release,” “Looking for Love,” “Don’t Go,” “Ready For It,” and more.
Projects: Audacity Vol. 1 and 2 (2020), Drive 2 (2021),
Multitalented singer and songwriter, Kevin Ross saw his beginning in the industry contributing to some of the biggest names in R&B as a songwriter for artists like Toni Braxton, Trey Songz, Jamie Foxx, and others. As an artist, Kevin Ross introduced himself to fans with the Dialogue In The Grey EP of 2014.
Gallant
Debut: 2013
Top Songs: “Gentlemen,” “Cave Me In,” “Compromise,” “Doesn’t Matter,” “Weight In Gold,” “Sleep On It,” “Talking To Myself,” and more.
Projects: Zinc. (2024), Neptune (2021), Sweet Insomnia (2019), Ology (2016), and more.
Washington DC R&B artist and Grammy nominated Gallant has been making waves in music for quite some time now. Debuting in 2013 with the EP Zebra, Gallant’s music quickly found success following the release of the album Ology, which became Grammy nominated and featured the hit “Weight in Gold.”
Alex Vaughn
Debut: 2017
Top Songs: “So Be It,” “Mirage,” “The Next One,” “IYKYK,” “Demon Time,” and more.
Projects: The Shift (2018), The Hurtbook (2022)
Alex Vaughn, a promising R&B vocalist from Maryland, has been gaining much recognition of late. The talented singer and songwriter Alex Vaughn initially began her time in music covering music’s most popular songs on social media before making her official introduction. From her early releases of several singles and an EP in 2017 to her recent acclaimed album The Hurtbook of 2022, Alex Vaughn is a rising star in R&B.
rum.gold
Debut: 2018
Top Songs: “Waiting For,” “Call It What You Want,” “AM/FM,” “Thank You,” “Human,” “Hazel Chandeliers,” and more.
Projects: yaRn EP (2019), aiMless (2020), Thicker Than Water (2021), U Street Anthrology (2023)
DMV artist rum.gold first made waves in R&B in 2018, gradually gaining fans with his smooth and soulful tunes. Known for his laid-back sound, rum.gold has steadily built an impressive repertoire that showcases his unique style. Some of his standout tracks include “Waiting For,” “Call It What You Want,” and “AM/FM,” each one reflecting his ability to blend emotion with rhythm seamlessly.
Since his debut, Rum Gold has released several impactful projects, marking his growth and evolution as an artist with his distinct sound and profound storytelling.
Baby Rose
Debut: 2018
Top Songs: “So Be It,” “Mirage,” “The Next One,” “IYKYK,” “Demon Time,” and more.
Projects: To Myself (2020), Through and Through (2023), and more.
Baby Rose, who has been nominated for a Grammy Award, is one of the up and coming singers in R&B who has all of the talent to shape the future of the genre. Since her official debut in 2018, Baby Rose has gradually gained a loyal fan base by exhibiting her remarkable, soulful, and alluring vocals, especially with a host of releases of singles and albums over the last few years.
Reggie Becton
Debut: 2018
Top Songs: “Rm. 143,” “Traffic,” “Call,” “Sway,” “Issues,” and more.
Projects: Phases (2018), California (2021), Sadboy Vol.1 (2023), Sadboy Vol.2 (2024)
The smooth sounds of Reggie Becton has been building momentum with the release of several albums, EPs, singles, and visuals. Not your typical mainstream rhythm and blues artists, Reggie Becton has definitely emphasized his original take on R&B with his imaginative visuals and songwriting skills.
King Sis
Debut: 2020
Top Songs: “Yeah You (Thinkin Bout You),” “Where R U?,” “Encore,” “Hiatus,” and more.
Projects: Ascension (2021), Ascension D’Luxe (2024), and more.
King Sis began singing and performing at a very young age in Alexandria, VA. Growing up in a musical family, she made her official debut as a DMV R&B artist in 2020. Before, she spent numerous years mastering her craft. This included doing voiceover work for BET commercials, recording music in high school, performed for local events and radio stations, and even winning first place at the Apollo.
Summer Dennis
Debut: 2019
Top Songs: “Dancing Alone,” “So Unnecessary,” “Ain’t Nothing New,” and more.
Projects: Mr Wonderful is Dead (2023), Pandemic Prolific (2021), Something Gotta Change (2020),
Summer Dennis grew up in a Christian household and was introduced to music through her mother and father, beginning her musical journey in the church. She has since found her niche in the R&B genre and made a splash with her breakout single “Everything” that reached 30th on the Billboard charts. Summer Dennis, an up-and-coming R&B artist, is reviving the 90’s vibe in her music.
DMV R&B Artists Related Topics
1 Top 20 DMV Rappers
2 Top 20 Atlanta R&B Artists
3 Top 30 New York R&B Artists
4 Top 25 Female R&B Singers
5 Top 25 Male R&B Singers
*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