Joe is preparing his first album since 2016’s My Name Is Joe Thomas, the BMG release he once described as his final statement. That album, which arrived on November 16, 2016, debuted atop Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart, marking his third consecutive No. 1 following Doubleback: Evolution of R&B (2013) and Bridges (2014), and reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200. Anchored by the chart-topping single ‘So I Can Have You Back’, alongside ‘Lean Into It’ and a reimagined take on Adele’s ‘Hello’, the record underscored Joe’s enduring presence in midtempo soul and adult R&B.
Now twelve albums deep, Joe recently faced Donell Jones in a Verzuz battle that drew over 3 million viewers, reaffirming his influence. While the new project remains untitled, with Dress Accordingly and Maybe My Name Is Joe Part 3 both under consideration, Joe will release the album independently with distribution support and a vinyl edition planned. The first single is slated for release before the end of 2026, with a full rollout targeted for 2027.
Joe took full creative control on the new album, writing and producing the material himself and recording with live musicians, including an 80-piece orchestra from Budapest. In recent conversations with Complex’s Jordan Rose and on the R&B Money podcast with J. Valentine, he emphasized an R&B foundation, while allowing the sessions to branch into broader stylistic territory. The result is eclectic yet rooted in feel.
‘Dress Accordingly’ stands out as a potential title track, with arrangements that nod to Prince, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder: lush live strings, space for the vocal to lead the ensemble, and a deliberate move away from the programmed polish that defines much of today’s adult R&B.
Listen to ‘I Wanna Know‘:
