Rhythm & Blues (Ayra Starr song)

"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.

Mavin Records released "Rhythm & Blues" on 12 September 2023, following Starr's announcement of the single at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. The song peaked at number 12 on the Nigeria TurnTable Top 100, where it was certified gold in January 2025, number nine on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart, and number 20 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. Critics praised Starr's vocal delivery and emotional vulnerability.

The music video, directed by Peter "Earthboi" Famosa, premiered on Complex on 10 October 2023. 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.