Black Gay Agenda RAW: The State of R&B in 2026 | Legends, Hype & The Future Welcome to Black Gay Agenda RAW, our off-season live series bringing the conversations you love from The Black Gay Agenda into a more unfiltered, unscripted space. Premiering live on YouTube every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, RAW brings together our hosts, special guests, and the PUSHERS for candid conversations about love, relationships, music, pop culture, and the issues shaping our community. No scripts, no polished answers. Just honest opinions, genuine disagreements, and conversations worth having. For our series premiere, we’re asking one question: What’s really happening to R&B in 2026? Micah B is joined by special guests Michael Anthony and Jay Penn for an in-depth conversation about the legends, the hype, and the future of R&B. Is the genre evolving, or are today’s artists relying too heavily on samples and nostalgia? Where are the next generation of male R&B superstars? And are record labels doing enough to develop artists with lasting careers? The conversation explores Kehlani’s growing recognition and live performances, Destin Conrad’s musical versatility, whether Chlöe x Halle separated too soon, and what’s next for Coco Jones and Leon Thomas. But not everybody is getting their flowers. The panel gets into the hype surrounding Mariah the Scientist, Chris Brown’s musical consistency, Miguel’s latest album, and whether some of today’s most celebrated artists are actually delivering the music and performances to match their reputations. And when it comes to R&B legends, nothing is off the table. Is Aaliyah overrated? Are we giving Lauryn Hill too much credit? Should Usher embrace his status as a legacy artist? And who truly deserves the titles of King and Queen of R&B? From Brandy and Jazmine Sullivan to Whitney Houston, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, and more, the panel examines how we measure musical greatness through vocals, songwriting, influence, longevity, and cultural impact. We also highlight underrated artists, discuss the changing sound of R&B, and consider what the genre needs to remain relevant for the next generation. PUSHERS, now it’s your turn. Who’s carrying R&B in 2026? Which artists deserve more recognition? And are we being honest enough about the music we love? Join the conversation in the comments and let us know where you stand. CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS Jay Penn
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