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20 R&B and hip-hop concerts to attend in 2022
Samir Hussein/WireImage

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

Live music is back in full swing! When the pandemic shut everything down in 2020, fans were deprived of seeing their favorite artists on stage, and artists had to get creative and find new ways to deliver virtual shows. But this year seems to be a turning point in the music industry—artists and promoters are back with tour announcements and fans have the chance to attend concerts in person again. 

Over the past two years, fans and artists had to deal with show cancellations and postponements, but the future is looking a little brighter. A jam session through a listener's headphones is one thing, but the energy from a live performance is unmatched. Here is a list of R&B and hip-hop artists hitting the road this year. 

 
1 of 20

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige
Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

The queen of hip-hop soul a.k.a. Mary J. Blige has a career spanning three decades and she still’s going strong. Her recent album Good Morning Gorgeous marked her 14th album to date and featured collaborations with artists such as Dave East, Anderson .Paak, and Usher. To support the album, Blige is taking her talents across America alongside R&B newcomers Queen Naija and Ella Mai. For fans who enjoy hearing songs about life, love, and relationships, this is a must-see show.

 
2 of 20

Usher

Usher
Paul Morigi/Getty Images

It’s been six years since Usher released his last studio album Hard II Love, but as an artist with a discography that spans nearly three decades, he continues to be an in-demand artist for shows. In 2021, Usher had a residency in Las Vegas that became one of the city’s most talked-about events. Well, Usher is back for a second residency leg starting this July and going through October. Hopefully, this next stint also means fans will hear new music from him soon. 

 
3 of 20

Alex Isley

Alex Isley
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

Alex Isley comes from a family lineage of music heroes—yes, she is the daughter of Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers. However, she’s been carving her own lane in R&B for about a decade. Alex’s sweet and soothing voice makes her a standout in the R&B world. Once she released her latest album Marigold earlier this year, fans were curious if she would announce a tour soon. Well, the wait is over! Kicking off in August, fans can catch Alex on the Marigold Tour alongside LAYA, Gwen Bunn, and Zyah Belle. 

 
4 of 20

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar
Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

After taking some time away from the spotlight for a few years, Kendrick Lamar put the world on notice with the release of his highly-anticipated album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The number one album brought a lot of discourse on social media, such as comparisons to his previous projects and thoughts of a tour set. Well, fans got their wish since Lamar is hitting the road this summer. His Los Angeles tour stop sold out so quickly, that organizers added three more LA dates. Since Lamar doesn’t tour very frequently, fans should score tickets to this show ASAP. 

 
5 of 20

Kehlani

Kehlani
Jason Mendez/Getty Images

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Kehlani showcased her visual creativity with her album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. Kehlani returned this year with her third studio album Blue Water Road and fans raved about her collaborations with artists such as Blxst, Jessie Reyez, Thundercat, and Justin Bieber. In support of the album, Kehlani is bringing Rico Nasty and Destin Conrad along for her tour, set to kick off in July.

 
6 of 20

Silk Sonic

Silk Sonic
John Esparza via Getty Images

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak surprised fans when they joined forces as Silk Sonic and released their single “Leave the Door Open.” Once fans caught their performances at shows like the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, they noticed how much Silk Sonic brings electric showmanship and creativity to each stage. Fans can catch the duo in Las Vegas for their residency, however, be prepared because phones aren’t allowed in the venue—a great way to allow fans to be present at the moment. 

 
7 of 20

Nas and Wu-Tang Clan

Nas and Wu-Tang Clan
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

For fans who prefer to celebrate hip-hop legends in the game, then attending the NY State of Mind Tour is the way to go. Wu-Tang Clan and Nas are teaming up on this one-in-a-lifetime type of show. While Nas continues to bring fans new music, like his recent work with producer Hit-Boy, Wu-Tang’s debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was recently archived in the Library of Congress—proving how much they continue to bring to the hip-hop world. The NY State of Mind Tour is set to run between August and October. 

 
8 of 20

Giveon

Giveon
Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Coachella

Over the past two years, Giveon has emerged as one of the newest R&B crooners to watch. From collaborations alongside artists like Drake and Justin Bieber to a couple of Grammy nominations—the singer is sure to have a bright future ahead. With the recent release of his debut album Give Or Take, his tour will kick off on Aug. 16. Joining him on tour are emerging artists Fana Hues, Saleka, Jenevieve, and Rimon. 

 
9 of 20

Post Malone

Post Malone
Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

In early June, Post Malone released his fourth studio album Twelve Carat Toothache. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and featured collaborations with Roddy Ricch, Doja Cat, and The Weeknd. Malone is set to kick off his Twelve Carat Tour alongside Ricch this September. 

 
10 of 20

PJ Morton

PJ Morton
Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images

To some fans, PJ Morton is a member of the pop band Maroon 5, and to others, he's known as an artist putting a lot of soul into his own discography. In April, the Grammy Award-winning singer released his album Watch The Sun which featured collaborations alongside Wale, JoJo, Stevie Wonder, and Nas. Morton's current tour is already underway and is set to go through November.

 
11 of 20

Jack Harlow

Jack Harlow
Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

Over the past two years, it seems like the hip-hop world is catching on to Jack Harlow. From his breakthrough hit song “What’s Poppin,” to being named a recipient of XXL’s 2020 Freshman Class, to earning a Grammy nomination alongside Lil Nas X on their hit song “Industry Baby”—Harlow is on his way to becoming a household name. In support of his sophomore album Come Home the Kids Miss You, he’s hitting the road with rap duo City Girls starting in September. 

 
12 of 20

Chris Brown

Chris Brown
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Drai's Nightclub

Just three years after releasing his previous album Indigo, Chris Brown is back with his tenth album Breezy, just in time for the summer. The album’s lead single “WE (Warm Embrace) is reminiscent of ‘90s R&B, thanks to the sample of Guy’s 1991 hit song, “Let’s Chill.” Brown is set to join Lil Baby on the road for the One of Them Ones Tour kicking off in mid-July. 

 
13 of 20

Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X
Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Ever since Lil Nas X had everyone singing about “Old Town Road” in 2019, his stardom has continued to rise. His debut song reached diamond-certified status, he won two Grammy Awards, and his debut album reached number two on the Billboard 200. As Lil Nas X gears up to the release of his sophomore project, he’ll be hitting the road on his Long Live Montero Tour that is set to start in September. 

 
14 of 20

Jade Novah

Jade Novah
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 Presented by Amazon Prime Video

Jade Novah is a singer-songwriter who got recognized for her song covers on YouTube, while also singing backup and writing songs for other artists. To many fans, she's known for her viral video impersonations of artists like Toni Braxton and Beyoncé. Just two years after her previous album Stages, Novah returns with her latest single, "Lost In You." As fans anticipate a new album on the horizon, Novah is bringing the Moon in Pisces Tour across North America starting in August.

 
15 of 20

Wiz Khalifa and Logic

Wiz Khalifa and Logic
Natasha Moustache/Getty Images

The first half of 2022 has been a year of collaborations for Wiz Khalifa. So far, he's released albums with Juicy J, as well as his latest project Full Court Press alongside Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, and Girl Talk. Well, this summer he's teaming up with Logic on their joint Vinyl Verse Tour. Khalifa and Logic will kick off their 28-city tour on July 27th and they will be joined by 24kGoldn, DJ Drama, C Dot Castro, and Fedd the Good.

 
16 of 20

Blxst

Blxst
Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Over the past two years, Blxst has emerged as an artist putting his stamp on the Los Angeles sound. With a style inspired by the likes of Ty Dolla $ign and the late Nate Dogg, Blxst is becoming an in-demand collaborator on hooks for other artists. With the release of his latest album Before You Go and recent performances at festivals like Dreamville and Something In The Water, Blxst is heading out on his own tour with Audrey Nuna and Buddy starting in July. The Before You Go Tour is set to take place in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and more. 

 
17 of 20

Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images

It was back in 2017 when Joey Bada$$ released his last album, and he took the next few years to focus more on his acting. Well, Joey is returning back to the music scene with his highly-anticipated album 2000. To celebrate the new release, as well as the 10th anniversary of his 1999 album, Joey is set to hit the road in July for his 1999-2000 Tour.

 
18 of 20

Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

After earning rave reviews with his 2021 album Gold-Diggers Sound, soulful singer Leon Bridges teamed up with eclectic trio Khruangbin on their joint EP Texas Moon. Following the releases, Bridges is heading out on The Boundless Tour alongside Swedish electronic band Little Dragon. While Bridges and Little Dragon may have differing fan bases, the tour is sure to be an intriguing show for fans who love soul, R&B, and dance music. The 23-stop tour is set to kick off in July. 

 
19 of 20

Kenyon Dixon

Kenyon Dixon
Robin L. Marshall/Getty Images

Kenyon Dixon may not be a household name just yet, but he is certainly not new to the R&B game. In addition to releasing his own music, Dixon has penned songs for artists like Mary J. Blige and Justin Timberlake and sang background for Usher and John Legend. Earlier this year, he received a Grammy nomination, released his latest album Closer, and actively uses social media to advocate for the R&B world. Dixon is set to embark on his Closer Tour this July.

 
20 of 20

Lil Durk

Lil Durk
Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Lil Durk garnered a following since he started releasing mixtapes back in 2013. However, it seems like the past two years have pushed Durk to more commercial success, thanks to his hit single "Viral Moment," as well as collaborations alongside Lil Baby, Pooh Sheisty, and Drake. Earlier this year, Durk released his seventh studio album 7220, and went on tour during the spring. However, if fans missed out, they can catch him on the second leg of The 7220 Deluxe Tour kicking off in September. 

Mya Singleton is a freelance writer and photographer based in Los Angeles. Her work has also been featured on The Sports Fan Journal and AXS. Feel free to follow her talking all things music on Twitter @MyaMelody7

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