The Best R&B Songs to Get You Through a Bad Breakup

The year 2021 was a great time to be an R&B fan. Old favorites like SZA and The Weeknd made their way back into our lives with some fresh new tracks. If you're feeling down because of a breakup, here's a list of songs from some R&B favorites that will make your spirits rise.

“I Deserve” by Smino feat. NOS

In the moments following the introduction of Smino and NOS's latest hit, a warm and soulful sample wraps around the instrumentals, and a heavy 808 kick begins to rumble through the track.

“I Deserve,” is a smooth record with a Houston bounce, which is supported by a melancholy piano theme and a smooth vocal performance.

“I Hate You” by SZA

SZA is back with a vengeance! Her unique voice and honest lyrics have made her one of the most sought-after artists in today's music industry.

She released an unheard collection that included “I Hate You,” which quickly rose to popularity on TikTok before reaching number 1 for R&B songs this summer – becoming Sza's first solo chart-topping hit as well!!

This beautiful ballad bares Sazaa's soul while delivering a compelling yet straightforward composition that will leave you trapped inside your own emotions.

Her music is full of heartache and regret but also hope. It's anguish at its most fundamental level, and it's impossible to separate.

If you want to take your emoting to the next level, try listening to R&B live and feel the music possess your body as you listen to the original artists sing your favorite songs. You can book your tickets through SeatGeek, Gametime, or StubHub.

“I Can Escape” by Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean's fans are in luck, though, because every day, they wake up to see his name trending on Twitter. They can't help but hope that this means he has released new music—only for their hopes to be crushed when it turns out the person who started the trend was just tweeting about how much of an injustice it would've been if we didn't get any new tracks from our favorite R&B singer-songwriter!

On Christmas Day in 2021, he treated fans to an eight-minute freestyle. Frank goes into God and grief, among other things, with gruff rap stanzas laid over the top of delightfully simple piano chords that draw you close.

On “I Can Escape,” Frank's pen is as powerful as ever.

“Smokin' Out The Window” by Silk Sonic

The raw, unadulterated emotion of “This Bitch” by Bruno Mars is something that can really resonate with listeners. He screams about how she's been cheating on him and then goes into detail about everything he did for this past lover before realizing she was a cheater.

To be cheated on is to feel like your world has come crashing down. Considering the time and energy put into building up this relationship, it's devastating when things go south.

This experience is illustrated in the music video of “Smoking Out The Window,” which stars Mars and Anderson. Mars represents the jilted lover, while Paak expresses disappointment in his love interest's behavior during their relationship.

Final Thoughts

We hope you've found some songs to help keep your head up and remind you that better days are ahead. When life throws us curveballs, it can be easy to feel like we'll never love again or find someone who will make our lives complete. But the truth is there's always more than one person in this world for everyone!

What are some of your favorite breakup songs?