It’s no secret that R&B groups aren’t as common as they used to be. In recent years, we’ve seen an uptick in groups, particularly driven by Gen Z. Fort Worth-based group 2BYG is part of this new wave of acts restoring the collective spirit fans have been craving.
After making their introduction in 2025 with their debut mixtape, The Yearbook, the quartet — consisting of Matt Brown (19), Nixx (20), Tourè (20) and KD (21) — is back to add a few more pages: The Yearbook (Extended Version), out via Def Jam.
The deluxe edition includes five additional songs that signal the group’s move toward a more mature sound, reflective of their own journey. Many of the new tracks find them yearning for romance, whether it’s cutting through mixed signals on “WYW (What You Want)” or claiming their stake on the standout ballad “Be Mine.”
In conversation with Rated R&B, 2BYG discusses their origins, navigating their growing brotherhood, stepping into their grown-man era and The Yearbook (Extended Version).
Matt, Nixx and Tourè, you three met while in high school and formed as a trio before KD later joined. What was the dynamic like going from three to four members?
MATT BROWN: It was still early when we started, when our management suggested we get a fourth member. But we did give him some rookie treatment when he came because we three dark skins and we got this light-skinned fella coming in who don’t know any music we know of at all (laughs). KD’s just his own person and great at what he does. As time went on, we continued to get to know each other and grow in our brotherhood and in our musicality. I feel like the source of any problem in the world is communication. So, working on communicating with each other and always together as a unit and as individuals could only grow the brotherhood and dynamic even more.
KD: There was definitely a separation, not just musically, but almost a cultural separation. I grew up heavily religious in the sense that I couldn’t listen to a lot of the music that these three guys had been listening to. Immersing myself in the music and culture they grew up in, and them welcoming me in that way, has allowed me to become more acclimated to the group.
What sort of music did you guys grow up listening to?
MATT BROWN: A lot of gospel and R&B, but my dad exposed me to a lot of different music, like Philip Phillips, The Rascal Flatts, and just all different types of music from country, R&B, gospel, pop, classical, and so forth.
TOURÈ: It was kind of the same. A lot of gospel and a lot of old school R&B.
NIXX: I’m going to say the same thing: gospel and R&B. I remember a lot of Michael Jackson playing in the house, Kirk [Franklin], a lot of Biggie playing in the house — just that realm of Black excellence.
KD: I remember there was a little Tye Tribbett, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, but it was rare. Outside of that, it was a lot of music played in movies we were allowed to watch. And then whatever school introduced you to, so a lot of the big songs people were playing, but I still would never learn the whole song because I never got to hear it all the way.
All of you grew up singing in church. There have been ongoing debates among traditionalists that many of the newer generation of R&B singers lack that foundation. What do you say to that?
NIXX: I feel like that’s really something you got to be born into or grow up into for real, because that’s years of experiencing church and just getting that feel — waking up early, getting your suit on and going to church and doing what you got to do there, even if you don’t feel like it.
TOURÈ: The discipline that comes from it. As far as the music right now in our generation, from the TrapSoul era with the transition from old-school R&B to now, it’s become a lot of “less is more” type of music. You don’t have to do all that to be mainstream. Belting isn’t commercial; it’s not really that anymore. And then not only that, they have their opinion: “Oh, AutoTune, it just don’t hit the same.” And some of the artists from back in the day who still make music have the AutoTune and they still have that church background.
KD: I do think there’s a transition starting now. I heard Kehlani talking about how Flo was the turning point for her as an R&B artist that helped her realize, “Maybe y’all are starting to want real R&B where it’s real singing and it’s possible for it to become mainstream.” I do think that turn is happening and it’s the perfect time. Those are things we will be bringing to the table and not just following whatever the trend is. To become a pillar in R&B is to really do what’s true to you and have people come to that rather than the other way around.
For those who may not know, 2BYG stands for To Be Young and Gifted. What does the name represent for each of you?
TOURÈ: 2BYG is a pillar for music that can help our generation express love.
NIXX: I always go back to the feeling of being able to make people understand and feel what we sing and present to them.
KD: In our music, we want to talk about life, love, and the problems within and outside of that. We’ve had many conversations about the state of the world and all the things that are going on. We want to bring value to what we do — the reason people want to live — and express that in the music.
MATT BROWN: We are some cool-ass swagged-out yearners. We’re four different people. You have four different seasons in life, and then you have four corners of the world: north, south, east and west. You’re getting different meanings of love because we are all different people with different backgrounds, from different parts of Fort Worth, Texas. We are young and gifted, and we all want to express our love in different ways.
You guys dropped The Yearbook last fall. Knowing that a yearbook is a time capsule of moments, what did you want to capture when you were making that project?
NIXX: I feel like we were representing almost a part of each stage of R&B, time-wise — the middle of the ‘90s with the new jack swing, a little 2000s with “What’s Up,” so elements of that.
KD: The Yearbook was to capture where we were and what was happening at that time. In contrast, [the deluxe] is more to bring people into our world with the feelings we have. Sonically, you’ll definitely hear a difference like with “Be Mine.” I feel like it’s a great example of when it comes to harmonies and things of that nature.
Where was your headspace when making the original project versus the deluxe?
KD: They were just out of high school, but I was working for a little bit before being signed. So, as Matt said, it’s not just different pockets of R&B but also pockets of topics. When you look at what we’re talking about, it shows the different parts of our lives we were in. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I was in two different phases at the same time, where I’m upset at the world because things aren’t going my way in a sense, and that frustration bleeds into everything. On the other hand, it’s easy to be naive and fall into that, “Oh, I want this one person. I want a good love that they talk about in R&B, that they talked about back in the day.”
“Be Mine” expresses that desire to be with someone. Where did you all pull from when making that record?
TOURÈ: That was sparked off of a genuine conversation of us talking about where we are in our lives. So, even back to your other question, when it comes to The Yearbook, [“Be Mine”] wouldn’t have made The Yearbook based on where we were in our lives at that time, because we weren’t having that conversation with each other like, “I want this girl to be mine.” So now we’re being much more hands-on with our music, intentional and even more personable.
Which song from the deluxe was the most seamless to make?
TOURÈ: “WYW” was probably one of the fastest songs I wrote and the most fun for sure. To get the base of it, it probably took a good 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, as days go along, you get back on, fix things and make it a full song.
KD: After the base of it, he sent it to me and asked me to pull up. That’s how we write a lot of the time: different people start an idea, and then you can come in and finish it. It didn’t take long at all.
What do you want listeners to take away from The Yearbook (Expanded Edition)?
KD: Hits! The quality of the music is remaining high and it’s only getting better. It’s just a matter of discovery now.
MATT BROWN: I hope they see through this music, “Damn, these boys are transitioning, they’re becoming better.” Just really getting to find out who we are through our music that makes them want to tune in even more. And like KD said, the goddamn hit because all you need is one.
TOURÈ: I hope that the audience will allow us to be their voice. For me, there are certain people I listen to when I feel a certain way, which attaches me to them. Stevie Wonder, for example, I feel like it’s a relationship I have with him because he’s able to give me a certain feeling — pause — whenever I’m feeling a certain type of way. I feel like putting this music out will be different for the audience.
NIXX: I hope they hear our music and hear the development.
Stream 2BYG’s The Yearbook (Extended Version) here.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Ro.Lexx
