20 modern R&B songs that would’ve ruled in the ‘70s

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak surprised everyone when they teamed up as a duo named Silk Sonic and released their first single “Leave the Door Open.” Thanks to production from Mars and frequent collaborator D’Mile, this is the type of song that oozes with the old school Philadelphia soul sound that was evident during the ‘70s era. 

One of the cool things about the ‘70s era is that soul and R&B music could give great dance tunes just as good as it could give ballads. That’s the case with Leon Thomas’ single “Just How You Are.” Thomas is mostly known for his mid-tempos and slow jams, but “Just How You Are” gets people to the dance floor with its disco and funk-inspired sound. 

Ari Lennox has such a sultry and endearing vocal tone that could honestly thrive in any era. On her single “Under The Moon,” she actually uses a sample of The Flamingos’ “I Only Have Eyes for You,” (which was released in the ‘50s), however the guitar riffs on “Under The Moon” along with Lennox’s hypnotic vocals make for any easy '70s sound.

Some people may know PJ Morton as a member of pop group Maroon 5, other fans may know him as a singer and musician who also releases R&B and soul music outside of the group. On his 2021 single “Please Don’t Walk Away,” Morton is expressing how relationships will constantly have ups and downs but he’s not ready to give up on his love just yet. 

Singer and rapper Childish Gambino was inspired by Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s 1976 single “I’d Rather Be With You” on his 2016 single “Redbone.” With a smooth baseline, “Redbone” pays tribute to the psychedelic funk era and became a top 15 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In 2023, Victoria Monét released her long-awaited debut album Jaguar II, which featured the ending track “Good Bye.” With production from her frequent collaborator D’Mile and instrumentation including strings and horns, the song is easily a fan favorite and the perfect closer for her debut. 

Reuben James is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer whose music always leaves listeners captivated. In 2025, Reuben James released his third album Big People Music and one of the standout tracks is “Show Me Your Love.” The song is layered with smooth harmonies, vocoder effects, and a feature from jazz singer and pianist Jamie Cullum. 

In 2022, Beyoncé paid homage to the house, funk, and disco genres on her critically-acclaimed album Renaissance. On “Cuff It,” she teamed up with collaborators including Nile Rodgers, Raphael Saadiq, The Dream, and Nova Wav to bring the dance track to life. With Rodgers on guitar, Saadiq on bass, and Sheila E. on percussion, “Cuff It” is the perfect track that would’ve done numbers playing on a TV show like Soul Train.

When fans listen to GIVĒON’s sophomore album BELOVED, they can easily tell that the singer was inspired by a retro sound from decades ago. On his single “Rather Be,” the production is reminiscent of a sound made popular by groups such as The Delfonics and The Spinners. 

In 2024, soulful singer Andra Day released her long-awaited sophomore album CASSANDRA (cherith). One of the standout tracks is the funk-inspired “Midnight,” filled with guitar riffs that is perfect for Day’s piercing vocal tone. The end of the track also sounds like scratches heard from a record played on vinyl, which also gives listeners the retro feel. 

Fans who listen to Samm Henshaw’s album Untidy Soul will easily understand that he has a voice that is way beyond his years. One of album standout tracks is “8.16” in which Henshaw is declaring the love he has for a potential partner. The song’s adlibs and background vocals along with the production sounds like something legendary production-songwriting duo Gamble & Huff would be proud of. 

In 2024, Ravyn Lenae released her sophomore album Bird’s Eye, led by the hit single “Love Me Not.” On the track, Lenae mixes psychedelic soul and pop production as she lyrically describes being uncertain about her relationship with a lover. 

Producer and multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin has always been the type of artist who meshes soul with jazz, funk, and classical music, and he’s a master at creating music with artists that match his sound perfectly. He did just that when he teamed up with singer-songwriter Kenyon Dixon on their joint album Come As You Are. On the single “See You Later,” Martin and Dixon describe someone who has a special bond with another person, but their relationship can be complicated at times, to the point that other people don’t understand. 

An artist like Otis Kane just beams with a retro style, honestly, based on his name alone. However, he has the music to match it as well, which can be heard on his single like “Smile.” On the track, Kane reflects on how his lover knows just how to bring him joy whenever he needs it. 

Durand Jones & The Indications isn’t just a group that is inspired by the '70s era, but their entire sound embodies it, while adding their own twist to it. In 2021, they released their third album, Private Space, which featured the smooth song “Ride or Die.” a track that is reminiscent of groups like The Stylistics and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. 

Steve Lacy is the type of artist who dominates the alternative R&B space, which is evident on his Grammy Award-winning album Gemini Rights. One of the standout singles is the psychedelic and funk-inspired track “Helmet,” which finds Lacy describing a relationship that didn’t work out. 

Some people may know the Free Nationals as the backing band to Anderson .Paak, while other people are aware that the band also releases their own music, much to the liking of R&B fans. In 2019, the band teamed up with rapper JID, songstress Kadhja Bonet, and electro-R&B duo MIKNNA on their single “On Sight.” With production that is reminiscent of psychedelic soul, it’s the type of song that perhaps artists like Bootsy Collins and George Clinton would praise. 

Leon Bridges has the type of music that shows why people have often referred to his sound as reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. His retro style is dominant on his 2018 slow jam “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand,” a track in which Bridges lyrically describes his regret of not being able to commit to a lover. 

One thing that was evident about ‘70s music is how people were gifted great duets between two vocalists. Well, artists of today like Lucky Daye and Ari Lennox are keeping that magic alive on their collaboration “Access Denied.” On the track, they use a sample of Curtis Mayfield’s 1972 track “Give Me Your Love (Love Song),” as they lyrically describe how sometimes there can be a lot of back and forth in relationships. 

Although Doja Cat is mostly known as a rapper, she showcased her singing abilities and pop star status on her hit single “Say So.” Produced by Tyson Trax, the song beams with disco and psychedelic pop sounds as Doja encourages a potential partner to confess their love for her.