Yardbarker

Mya Singleton

Music Writer

Mya Singleton is a freelance music journalist and social strategist based in the Bay Area, with experience covering R&B and hip-hop. Her reporting has appeared in several publications including Yardbarker, The Sports Fan Journal, AXS, and Hollywood Unlocked. With a career spanning over ten years, she’s covered concerts across the West Coast and interviewed some of the entertainment industry’s leading figures including Anderson .Paak, Nonstop Da Hitman, Laurieann Gibson, and Floyd Mayweather. You can find her talking about all things music and sports on Twitter at @MyaMelody7.  

EXPERTISE:

R&B, Hip-Hop

The quintessential Kanye West playlist

Kanye has continued producing for some of the biggest names in music while also releasing his own hit records. Here are the essential tracks for any Kanye West playlist. 

20 producers that changed the R&B game

From creating chart-topping hits to breaking ground with sub-genres, here is a list of some of the most innovative R&B producers.

20 songs about living life to the fullest

Life can be crazy, wild, difficult, beautiful, and everything else. As people try their best to navigate life, it sometimes takes the right music to motivate them to make the most of it. Here are 20 tunes to inspire you to live life to the fullest.

20 iconic hip-hop party anthems

Hip-hop's inception came from house parties hosted in the Bronx in the1970s. Check out these 20 notable hip-hop songs that are sure to get any party started.

20 songs that represent Los Angeles

No matter how one may feel about the Southern California city, Los Angeles has always inspired musicians to tell stories about it—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The essential Alicia Keys playlist

From "Fallin'" to an "Empire State of Mind," here are 25 songs that every Alicia Keys fan should have in rotation. 

20 notable songs about school life

Whether you're starting a new school year, or simply find yourself reminiscing about simpler times, here are 20 songs that highlight school life. 

Ones we can depend on: 25 songs about friendships

True friends are always there for you in your time of need. Someone you can laugh with, cry with, party with, travel with—but more importantly, someone you can count on.

25 songs with “happy” in the title

From love to heartbreak, to dreams, to nights out, here is a list of songs that reflect different aspects of this emotion. 

20 of the best live R&B and hip-hop albums

Hearing the crowd cheer, listening to an artist's commentary, and being amazed by the musicianship all makes for a solid live experience. Here is a list of some of the best live R&B and hip-hop albums to date. 

It takes two: 25 of the best R&B duets

Artists have always joined forces throughout music history, but there's something special about the R&B duet. There's a magical symmetry between two

20 Black artists who deserve a documentary

Over the last few years, fans have watched documentaries on music legends such as Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Clarence Avant, Quincy Jones, and many more. Here is a list of Black artists that should tell their life stories in a documentary format. 

25 of the best rap-sung collaborations

Whether it was a rapper spitting a verse on a singer's track, or a singer lending vocals on a rapper's hook, the synergy between hip-hop and R&B has always been undeniable.

Summer jams: 25 songs that are synonymous with the season

There are certain songs that always get people ready for summertime. Here is a list of songs that should be on every summer playlist. 

The living is easy: 25 songs to heat up summer 2022

Although the sizzling season just started, here are 25 songs splashing their way into the conversation for song of the summer.

20 R&B and hip-hop concerts to attend in 2022

A jam session through a listener's headphones is one thing, but the energy from a live performance is unmatched.

Predicting the 2022 BET Awards winners

Hosted by Taraji P. Henson for the second year, the 2022 BET Awards will air on June 26. Before the show gets underway, check out our predictions for this year's winners.

22 hip hop songs turning 20 in 2022

To help reflect on the music that served as the soundtrack of 2002, here are 22 of the best hip-hop songs turning 20 this year. 

22 R&B songs turning 20 in 2022

It's safe to say a number of songs that were released two decades ago are considered classics today. Here are 22 of the best R&B songs from 2002 that are turning 20 this year. 

I wanna be down: The essential Brandy playlist

Nearly 30 years into her career, she's cemented her status as one of the most influential artists in R&B and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Keep it CrazySexyCool: The essential TLC playlist

To celebrate the best-selling US girl group of all time, here are 20 songs that every TLC fan should have in rotation. 

Year in review: The ultimate playlist for saying goodbye to 2021

From superstars forming new supergroups, to veteran artists breaking the Internet, to summer song battles—these are the songs that kept people going through another trying year.

Year in review: The best R&B albums of 2021

There's a reason why R&B continues to be one of the most consumed genres on an annual basis, even if mainstream outlets don't always give the artists their proper praise.

Year in review: The best hip-hop albums of 2021

In no particular order, here is a list of the best hip-hop albums of 2021. 

On and on: The ultimate Erykah Badu playlist

The Soulquarian member has always beamed with a sound to showcase how much of a student she is to Motown and jazz. She's often been compared to the likes of Billie Holiday with a voice that is reminiscent of the blues era. She's an old soul with a young spirit who can easily combine her soulful tone with a few rap bars.