Have you ever been with someone who's so good in bed that they make you wanna just stay attached to them all the time? And the sex is so good that it makes you neglect or forget about your everyday responsibilities, like work or doing laundry or even picking up the kids from school? If so, then you can probably relate to "Lazy Love," the first official single from Ne-Yo's upcoming R.E.D. album. (The title, which stands for Realizing Every Dream, thankfully replaced the album's original name, The Cracks in Mr. Perfect.) On "Lazy Love," Ne-Yo sings about how being consumed with lovemaking has it's ups and downs (heh heh): "I gotta go, I got responsibilities I gotta take care of/that's when you wrap them legs around me, and I fall victim to that lazy love," he croons. "You got that I-don't-wanna-go-nowhere, that lazy love." This song's a little unexpected from Ne-Yo, since in recent years, his singles have mostly been electronic/dance numbers, not sensual ballads. But if this is the direction he's taking with R.E.D., it's a good one and a welcome change of pace. The album's due out Sept. 18, 2012, and you can stream the highly recommended "Lazy Love" via the top link below.

• "Lazy Love" audio stream (via soundcloud.com)
• R&B Artist Bio: Ne-Yo

If success in the contemporary music world was predicated upon an artist's ability to sing strongly and with conviction, then Soul crooner Ryan Shaw would be one of the best known, most successful vocalists in the industry. Because unlike many of his musical peers, Ryan doesn't hide behind production wizardry, studio tricks or guest vocalists on his songs. On his second album, Real Love, which is being released in the U.S. May 15, 2012, his rich, powerful and emotive voice is front and center, giving Real Love the type of warm, personal sound that's missing from much of today's R&B and Soul music. For more, click the link to check out the full review of Ryan Shaw's Real Love.

• Album Review: Ryan Shaw - Real Love
• Music: Ryan Shaw - "Karina"
• R&B Artist Bio: Ryan Shaw

Some of the more interesting R&B-related news and rumors from the past week:

• The former brother-in-law of singer-actress Jennifer Hudson has been found guilty of murdering Jennifer's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Prosecutors had alleged during the two-week trial that the shooter, William Balfour, committed the crimes because he was upset that his estranged wife -- Jennifer's sister Julia -- had been seeing another man.
• A reality show featuring members of the late Whitney Houston's family is in the works. "The Houston Family Chronicles" will focus on Whitney's former manager and sister-in-law, Pat Houston, but Whitney's mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick and daughter Bobbi Kristina, will also appear.
• Chris Brown has been added to the list of performers at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, which air live May 20 on ABC. Other scheduled performers include Usher and Cee-Lo Green.
• And speaking of Chris Brown, he reportedly upset Rihanna with a freestyle about an ex girlfriend that some people have interpreted as a thinly-veiled diss of her.
• R. Kelly has just dropped the latest single from his upcoming album, Write Me Back. The album, which is due June 19, is the sequel to his 2010 release, Love Letter.
• Bobby Brown is marrying his girlfriend in Hawaii during the weekend of June 15, which is about 10 days after his latest album, The Masterpiece, is due out.
• R&B one-hit-wonder Houston, best known for his 2004 song "I Like That" with Nate Dogg, was arrested in Southern California recently.
• The upcoming album by Soul singer Ryan Shaw can be streamed exclusively at essence.com up until it's May 15 release.

It's hard to believe that a highly successful global superstar like R. Kelly would still know what it's like to be played like a woman, but he does a good job of convincing us he does on his latest song, "Feelin' Single." The track, which is from his upcoming album Write Me Back, tells the tale of a man who's so fed up with a lover who's always out partying with her friends that he decides to follow in her footsteps and do his own thing, too: "If she wanna hit the town and party all night with her friends, if she wanna fool around, then two can play that game," she sings. "You got me feelin' single, 'bout to get out, find somebody who's gonna love me." And although the subject matter might ordinarily be cause for depression, this song actually goes the opposite route musically; it's actually an upbeat, optimistic tune at heart that has a strong subtext of self-affirmation. Kells' Write Me Back album isn't scheduled to drop until June 19, 2012, but you can stream the new single via the link below.

• "Feelin' Single" audio stream (via soundcloud.com)
• R&B Artist Bio: R. Kelly

Ryan Shaw, one of America's better young Soul singers, releases his sophomore album, Real Love, on May 15, 2012. The album's been a long time coming: his debut, This is Ryan Shaw, was released back in 2007. For those of us already familiar with his music, Real Love is a nice step forward for him vocally as he establishes his own distinctive identity as a singer and doesn't rely so much on the sounds of his idols and inspirations, which include Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Sam Cooke. If you're not familiar with the man or his classic Soul vibe, you're in luck: you have a chance to listen to the full album before it's release. Essence.com has an exclusive preview of all 12 of the album's songs, including the very impressive first single, "Karina." If you're a fan of old-school Soul or of modern artists who have a classic vibe, like Angie Stone, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings or either of Raphael Saadiq's two most recent albums, Ryan Shaw's Real Love is highly recommended. A review of it will be posted here the day before the album's release, but for now, you can stream the full thing via the link below.

• Ryan Shaw - Real Love full album stream (via essence.com)

On his fifth studio album, the R&B muscleman who goes by the stage name Tank gives us his best effort yet as a singer-songwriter. His This is How I Feel album, which was released in the U.S. May 8, 2012, is a well-rounded album of romantic-leaning songs. Although Tank, whose birth name is Durrell Babbs, does a solid job carrying most of the album by himself, it's actually the guest artists, including rappers T.I. and Busta Rhymes, as well as up-and-coming singer Kris Stephens, who bring with them the variety and diversity that helps push This is How I Feel to heights that it otherwise might not have reached. For more, click the link for the full review of Tank's This is How I Feel.

• Album Review: Tank - This is How I Feel
• R&B Artist Bio: Tank

The annual Essence Music Festival, which is always the biggest show of the year for R&B and Soul music, has announced it's official performance schedule for the 2012 event. The show, which takes place July 6-8 in at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, has rounded up yet another who's who of stars from the worlds of R&B, Jazz and Hip-Hop this year, headlined by D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin. The full lineup of scheduled musical performances for each day is as follows:

• Fri., July 6 - Main Stage: D'Angelo, Charlie Wilson, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, The Pointer Sisters. Superlounge Stage: Marsha Ambrosious, Q. Parker, Super Jay, Khris Royal, Kindred the Family Soul, Vivian Green, Stephanie Mills, Gary Clark Jr., Rebirth Brass Band, SWV, Goapele.
• Sat., July 7 - Main Stage: Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Tank. Superlounge Stage: Eric Roberson, Teedra Moses, The Stylistics, Robert Glasper, Dru Hill, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Stephanie Mills, Big Sam's Funky Nation.
• Sun., July 8 - Main Stage: Aretha Franklin, Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary. Superlounge Stage: Melanie Fiona, Carl Thomas, Alex Boyd, Eve, The Stooges Brass Band, Estelle, Luke James, Raheem DeVaughn, Bridget Kelly.

If you're thinking about going, single day tickets are on sale now and are priced from $50 to $300 per person per night. Also, weekend packages range from $150 to $900 per person. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at essence.com/festivals.

Some of the more interesting R&B-related news and rumors from the past week:

• Reality show veteran Keyshia Cole will be starring in yet another docu-drama, this time with her husband, NBA player Daniel "Boobie" Gibson. The six-part series, which has a working title of "Keyshia Cole: Family First" premieres on BET this fall.
• Omarion has signed with rapper Rick Ross' Maybach Music label and says he'll start releasing new songs in the next few months. This is his second go with a hip-hop label; he was briefly part of Lil Wayne's Young Money crew.
• D'Angelo and Trey Songz have been added to the lineup of the 2012 Essence Music Festival, taking place July 4 weekend in New Orleans. D'Angelo hasn't performed live in over 10 years.
• While testifying during a bitter custody fight for their two children, Usher's ex-wife, Tameka Foster, denied allegations that she threatened to kill him.
• The state of California has filed a $60,000 tax lien against Faith Evans, saying that she has failed to pay money she owed from 2008 to 2010.
• Jay-Z said that his and Beyonce's daughter, Ivy Blue, could turn into the "worst, spoiled little kid ever."
• Up-and-coming singer-musician Josh Xantus has just dropped his latest free mixtape.
• Legendary O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert has released his first official solo album.

Keyboard player and trombonist Brian Culbertson may be a Jazz musician, but he's had one foot firmly planted in R&B for years. For example, his last studio album, 2010's XII, featured collaborations with Brian McKnight, Faith Evans and Avant, among others. And his new four-song EP, Dreams, features two R&B-centric tunes, one with the lovely Vivian Green and the other with Stokley Williams, lead singer for the legendary band Mint Condition. The EP, which was released May 1, 2012, is sort of an appetizer to get people geared up for Brian's next full album, which is also called Dreams and is due out sometime this summer. The lead R&B single is the Vivian Green-featured song, "Still Here," a beautiful tale about how taking a risk on love can sometimes can have a happy ending. Check it out when you have a chance. It can be streamed via the top link below.

• "Still Here" feat. Vivian Green audio stream (via soundcloud.com)
• "Your Smile" by Brian Culbertson stream (via soundcloud)

May 2012 looks to be a bit slow as far as new albums by established R&B and Soul artists is concerned. The two biggest names on this month's list are Tank, the bodybuilding singer-songwriter-producer who releases his fifth studio album, This is How I Feel this month; and Bobby Brown, the infamous New Edition member and ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston. Bobby's first studio album in 15 years, The Masterpiece, comes out this month. Other noteworthy names include retro-Soul crooner Ryan Shaw who's dropping his sophomore album; and Earth, Wind and Fire, who are releasing a greatest hits album which also has some new material on it. For full details of the more noteworthy R&B/Soul albums releases in May 2012, click the link below.

• New R&B/Soul Music: May 2012