Doja Cat, Kaytranada, Ravyn Lenae and More Are Driving an ’80s Revival That’s More Than Recession Pop
The ’80s are back, but not as empty nostalgia. Right now, Black artists are resurrecting funk, disco, synth-pop and neo-soul, crafting them into emotionally rich music that resonates deeply in 2025.
From superstar pop to avant-garde R&B, this style revival is about vulnerability, identity and cultural reclamation.
Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type”: Confession on the Dance Floor
On Aug. 21, Doja Cat released “Jealous Type,” the lead single from her forthcoming album Vie. Produced by Jack Antonoff and Y2K, it pulses with disco-pop and funk, layered with slick, neon‑tinged production.
Yet at its heart lies emotional gravity: “Baby, I can’t hurt you, sure, but I’m the jealous type.” Her Outside Lands performance—zebra-print, VHS visuals, neon makeup—underscores how Black artists are using retro form as an emotional canvas.
Kaytranada: Reclaiming Beat and Groove
Montreal producer Kaytranada dropped Ain’t No Damn Way! on Aug. 15. A compact yet potent record steeped in ’80s sensibilities, it features the hypnotic house single “Space Invader” and creative reinterpretations of Tangerine Dream-style synthscapes.
It refashions electronic nostalgia through a Black, Afro-diasporic lens. His upcoming North American tour with Justice reinforces that disco and house are not just influences—they’re foundational.
Ravyn Lenae: Neo-Soul Through a ‘Bird’s Eye’ Lens
Chicago-born Ravyn Lenae added a profound layer to this revival with her second album, Bird’s Eye, released Aug. 9, 2024. Critics acclaimed it as a bold, genre‑blending suite that goes beyond her debut Hypnos. The album journeys through downtempo guitar, reggae-pop, experimental beats and R&B underpinnings, framed by Lenae’s soft, expansive soprano.
Her breakout track from the album, “Love Me Not,” exploded on TikTok before becoming her highest-charting single—peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entering the top five in several countries. Described as a fusion of R&B, soul-rock, indie, grunge and retro-pop, the song explores the emotional tension of love and independence.
Lenae describes Bird’s Eye as a return to self-trust and intuition, using music to revisit pivotal personal moments through a wide lens. The album balances reflection on relationships, grief and identity with a poised anticipation of what lies ahead.
Mýa: Funk for the Dance Floor
This June, veteran R&B star Mýa released “Give It To You,” a funk-laced anthem built for roller-rink euphoria. Heavy bass, synth stabs, her track channels the Minneapolis sound of Prince, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, emphasizing that legacy artists still shape today’s retro wave.
Lou Phelps: Family Legacy, Fresh Sound
Rapper Lou Phelps, Kaytranada’s brother, unveiled Chèlbè (2025), produced entirely by Kaytra. The album merges Montreal rap with funk-fueled grooves and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, offering another dimension to how the ’80s revival reaches across genres.
Other Black Artists in the Wave
Doja Cat — Vie (forthcoming): Confessional disco-pop with funk layers
Kaytranada — Ain’t No Damn Way! (Aug. 2025): Retro-inflected beats, modern soul
Ravyn Lenae — Bird’s Eye (2024): Eclectic soul framed by retrospection
Mýa — “Give It To You” (June 2025): Vintage funk revival
Lou Phelps — Chèlbè (2025): Rap over retro-funk bedrock
Beyoncé — Renaissance Legacy (2022–): House and disco soaked in Black queer tradition
What This Revival Reveals About the World in 2025
Seeking Comfort Amid Uncertainty: Economic and political unease has heightened our longing for soundscapes that feel secure. The ’80s revival gives us grooves that are both soothing and resonant.
Vulnerability Is Power: This wave isn’t shallow nostalgia. From Doja Cat’s confessions to Lenae’s introspection and Kaytra’s layered beats, today’s music allows emotional imperfection to coexist with joy.
Black Creativity Reclaimed: Back then, funk and disco were born in Black communities. Now, Black artists are reclaiming that lineage, steering the aesthetics and narrative, and refusing to be just the foundation—they are the future.
Recombining Eras, Not Recycling Them: This revival reinvents the past. Lenae fuses reggae-pop and downtempo guitar; Kaytra repurposes vintage synths into modern house. It’s a remixed culture grounded in identity.
Joy as Resistance: Echoing disco’s roots, today’s return to danceable music is both escape and defiance. It’s a reminder that joy can be revolutionary.
This isn’t “recession pop,” a label for a temporary vibe. Led by Black artists like Doja Cat, Kaytranada, Ravyn Lenae, Mýa and Lou Phelps, the ’80s revival is a bold reclamation. It weaves comfort, identity, artistic growth and emotional truth into every beat and lyric.
The ’80s aren’t being resurrected, they’re being reshaped, reimagined and re-energized for now.
