"Rhythm & Blues" is a song by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr from her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21 (2024). She co-wrote it with Uzoma Samuel Onyenucheya and Ayomikun Emmanuel Aro; Sparrq produced the track, and Johnny Drille handled engineering and mixing. An afropop and R&B song, "Rhythm & Blues" features Starr's mezzo-soprano vocals over an upbeat, danceable groove that critics characterized as a "mood-setter" and a "late-summer soundtrack." In the lyrics, Starr uses the song's title as a term of endearment for her lover, a thematic departure from the assertive persona she had cultivated on earlier releases.[1]
The music video, directed by Peter "Earthboi" Famosa, premiered on Complex on 10 October 2023.[1] Shot in the rural English countryside, it depicts Starr navigating a romantic relationship before leaving her original love interest for a new suitor. Starr debuted the song live at Webster Hall in New York City on 2 September 2023, during the North American leg of her first headlining concert tour, 21: The World Tour.[3]
Following the success of her debut album 19 & Dangerous (2021) and its single "Bloody Samaritan", as well as "Rush" from the album's deluxe edition, Ayra Starr announced her first headlining concert tour in July 2023.[4] She co-wrote "Rhythm & Blues" with Uzoma Onyenucheya and Emmanuel Ayomikun, and it was produced by Sparrq. Starr has said that the song "was quite easy to make" while collaborating with the trio, describing her approach as "adding the Ayra Starr colour to Afrobeats with the melodies, riffs and runs and overall delivery."[1] Starr debuted the then-unreleased track at Webster Hall in New York City on 2 September 2023, during the North American leg of 21: The World Tour.[5] Ten days later, she announced the song's release on the red carpet of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in an interview with Billboard's Walaa Elsiddig, telling viewers to "expect Afrobeats, expect beauty, expect positive music that makes you feel good."[6] Lyrically, the song signaled a departure from Starr's established persona. She explained in a press statement:
"I consider myself a hard girl void of vulnerability. I would say love songs were cheesy and wouldn't think of making one, but I've finally found a balance. I've put myself out there and I'm allowing myself to receive and give love through music, and it's safe to say I've let my guard down with 'Rhythm and Blues'.[1][6]
She added that the song demonstrated she "can be vulnerable while still being a strong woman embracing my emotions."[1] In the liner notes for her second studio album The Year I Turned 21 (2024), on which the song was included, Starr reflected on her initial uncertainty about releasing it: "When I released 'Rhythm & Blues' [in 2023], I didn't know if it was the right time. The headspace I was in was a lot of work. I remember recording this song for the first time and how beautiful it was." She also discussed a specific lyric, explaining: "There is a lyric that goes, 'My jigga, my muse', which I wrote because you don't expect girl singers to refer to a male love interest as a muse."[7]
"Rhythm & Blues" is an afropop and R&B song with a runtime of two minutes and twenty-four seconds.[8] Composed in the key of C-sharp major and set in 4 4 common time, the track moves at a brisk tempo of approximately 109 beats per minute in half-time feel.[8] The production, handled by Sparrq, centers on an upbeat two-chord progression alternating between F♯ and G♯ (IV–V), which underpins the song's danceable groove.[9] Starr delivers the melody in her mezzo-soprano range, using melismatic runs and emotive inflections throughout, and shifting from a warm chest tone into a light chest-mix as phrases climb.[9] The lyrical content explores themes of romance and devotion, with Starr using the song's title as a term of endearment for her lover. In the chorus, she declares "My rhythm and blues / So many things you dey do, nobody do me like you do," framing her partner as the source of an irreplaceable emotional connection. Writing for The Native, one critic observed that the lyrics carry a nostalgic sensibility reminiscent of classic R&B ballads, with the overall message conveying adoration for a lover who forms "the soundtrack of her happiness."[10]
Critical reception
"Rhythm and Blues" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Starr's vocal delivery and emotional vulnerability. Clash Magazine's Robin Murray found it contained "some of her most personal lyrics yet," concluding that "softness can be your strength."[2] Will Schube of uDiscover Music called it a "mood-setter" with "signature warm vocal tones," deeming it the "perfect late-summer soundtrack."[11] Writing for Complex, James Keith described the single as a "soulful Afrobeats gem" with "a rich and detailed sound."[1] Joel Campbell from The Voice similarly called it "soulful," adding that it "marks a new chapter" for Starr.[12]That Grape Juice's Sam said it was "infectious," referring to Starr as an "Afro-Pop princess."[13]
Nigerian publications responded enthusiastically. Anjolaoluwa Abiosun of The Netng declared Starr "has a hit on her hands," praising her "airy vocals over a romantic ballad."[14] Writing for NotJustOk, Peter Okhide called it "a splendid creation," crediting producer Sparrq's "expert craftsmanship" as "the perfect canvas" for Starr's "resplendent vocals."[15] Betty Godson, also of NotJustOk, described it as "a quintessential afrobeats song with a catchy melody and deep bounce."[3]Style Rave's Collins Badewa found it a "captivating track" showcasing Starr's "evolution as an artiste."[16]
Other reviews drew comparisons to Tiwa Savage. In The Culture Custodian, one reviewer argued that the song "crowns Ayra Starr as Nigerian pop's princess," lauding how she "handles the song's soundscape with all the grace of an olympic gymnast."[17] The publication observed both artists share "delicately strung lyrics of affecting emotion" woven into "thumping beats," concluding that Starr "makes an irrefutable claim for successorship."[17] A separate piece from the outlet termed the production "electrifying yet crisp."[18]
Chart performance
In Nigeria, "Rhythm & Blues" debuted at number 29 on the TurnTable Top 100 for the week of 15–21 September 2023. The song climbed steadily over the following weeks, reaching a peak of number 12 on the chart dated 13–19 October 2023, where it tallied 453,000 on-demand streams and 47.7 million in radio reach.[19] On 5 January 2025, it was certified gold by the TurnTable Certification System.[20]
In the United States, the song entered the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart at number 29 on the issue dated 2 October 2023. It reached a peak of number 20 on the chart dated 4 November 2023, and matched this position again on 18 November. The song spent 20 weeks on the chart.[21] In the United Kingdom, "Rhythm & Blues" debuted at number 11 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart for the week ending 30 September 2023. It peaked at number nine on its fifth week and spent 13 weeks on the chart.[22]
Music video
Starr and her love interest leaning against a stacked hay bale as they watch a kite soar, with the opening between the hay creating a natural frame.
The music video for "Rhythm & Blues" was filmed primarily in Buckinghamshire, England and was directed by photographer and filmmaker Peter "Earthboi" Famosa, a previous collaborator of Starr's. It premiered on Complex on 10 October 2023, nearly a month after the song's release.[1]
Synopsis and reception
The video opens with a kite bearing the initials "R&B" drifting across a cloudy sky before cutting to Starr in a rural countryside setting. Shot during golden hour, the visual follows Starr and a male love interest with a rose-tattooed face as they share intimate moments across wheat fields, hay bales, and beside a vintage blue car. Starr appears in multiple looks: a green fur hat paired with a black floral dress and a black oversized puffer jacket with a blue patterned headscarf for the outdoor sequences. Intercut scenes show Starr inside a warmly-lit restobar, where she wears a denim hooded jacket, as well as a dramatic white gown while seated on a draped couch inside a room. The kite serves as a recurring visual motif during the beginning segment, appearing in a number of scenes as the couple watches it soar overhead.[23]
The video concludes with a twist: a new lover appears and serenades Starr, who leaves her original love interest behind. James Keith of Complex commented that the video maintains "a certain level of intimacy" despite the open setting, rendered in a "rich, autumnal colour palette."[1]NotJustOk's Utere Naomi called it a "visual masterpiece" that explores the sacrifices individuals make to sustain a relationship, praising the seamless interplay between music and storytelling.[24] Sam from That Grape Juice described the visual as showing Starr "in the throes of love with her boo."[13]
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