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When it comes to name-dropping some of the most notable women in R&B, it’s hard to overlook Summer Walker.
The songstress, who turns 29 today, was born and raised in Atlanta before first gaining mainstream attention when she dropped her Last Day of Summer mixtape in 2018. First, Drake took notice, giving her a stamp of approval by remixing “Girls Need Love” right after it entered the Billboard Hot 100.
From there, she released her debut (and fan-obsessed) album, Over It, and the numbers proved the hype. It went triple platinum and earned her Album of the Year at the 2020 Soul Train Awards. It was spearheaded by lead singles “Playing Games,” “Stretch You Out,” and the nostalgic Usher-assisted “Come Thru.”
Walker has followed up her debut with 2021’s Still Over It, lending vocals to Grammy-nominated Kendrick Lamar’s “Purple Hearts” on Mr Morale and the Big Steppers and Clear 2: Soft Life in 2023 as we await the trilogy ending, Finally Over It album this year.
As part of the ‘real R&B is back’ crew, she credits Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo for her soulful approach to music. Above all, there’s Erykah Badu, whom Walker loves because of her “ability to just be herself and be free. She promotes that you say what you want to say, wear what you want to wear, and be who you want to be.”
When she’s not dropping music, she does post the occasional thirst trap.
Check out some of her hottest Instagram moments below.
