The 10 Best R&B Songs of 2019

YK Osiris loves to talk his shit. As he started racking up streams, he laid claim to the “King of R&B” title, and the entire promotional campaign for his Def Jam debut, The Golden Child, inevitably devolved into one long troll against Jacquees and anyone else eyeing the crown. “Jacquees ain’t really on my level,” Osiris told Rolling Stone earlier this year when asked about his competitor. “Vocally, yes. But music-wise, nah.” 

The moment that cut through the bluster was “Ride,” Osiris’ duet with Kehlani. Everything about the song harkens back to a time when R&B was built on the pillars of extreme horniness and unabashed goofiness. The track’s entire concept is YK wondering if a woman can ride him “like the last rodeo, baby,” while sincerely going “beep, beep” before wondering if his shawty can “ride it like my Jeep.” Yes, it comes off just as absurd in audio form as it does written out for an end-of-the-year blurb. Nevertheless, “Ride” succeeds, because it manages to be as cocky and self-assured as YK is in his daily life.

Featured via: Rollingstone