Known to the world as Jon B., but born Jonathan David Buck, he is the son of a music professor father and a concert pianist mother. Additionally, with siblings who played string instruments, he experienced early immersion that shaped his soulful style and genre-blending instincts. Then, in the early ’90s, Jon B. began shopping demos and caught the attention of Tracey Edmonds, CEO of Yab-Yum Records. From there, he was signed to Edmonds Record Group and soon collaborated with Babyface. A collaboration that would prove successful, Jon B. released his debut album Bonafide in 1995, and the single “Someone to Love” (featuring Babyface) earned a Grammy nomination. A launching point for a massive career, Jon B.’s rise was not just about talent—it was about timing, mentorship, and a deep-rooted musical lineage. Influenced by a blend of R&B, Soul, and Pop, he would even go on to write for Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, After 7, the Spice Girls, among others.
Now celebrating the 30th anniversary of his Bonafide debut in 2025, Jon B. has behind him his 1997 platinum-selling sophomore album (1997’s Cool Relax), his gold-selling 2001 album Pleasures U Like, and four more impressive albums leading up to 2012’s Comfortable Swagg. Now, after thirteen long years, Jon B. returns with a new album, Waiting on You. Delayed for numerous reasons, including a destructive studio fire, touring, and Jon B.’s desire to take time with creating something solid, Waiting on You arrived on March 21, 2025, through his own Vibezelect label. What is his eighth studio album, one might ask, who is the album dedicated to, because surely with a title like that, he had to have someone in mind. Actually, this is a loaded answer.
Jon B. has expressed that the album title has multiple meanings in that one’s “The You is myself,” as he was waiting on himself to be ready to deliver an album. On the flip side, the album is also described as a love letter to his fans, acknowledging the over-decade-long gap since his last release and valuing the relationships he has built with his audience. Additionally, the title song (featuring Tank) conveys that true love never grows old and is always on time. That clarity takes patience in a relationship, whether it is an established one or one that is just trying things out. Finally, he also expresses thanks to ‘the creator’ in an official documentary, Jon B – The Story of Waiting on You, about the album.
Altogether, Waiting on You is an 11-track, 50-minute album that makes you think of the ’90s as it takes on a journey through everything love, starting with “Chozen,” a sultry opener with haunting vocals and guitar licks, perfect for summer nights that sings about just what the song implies, that their relationship is not just a coincidence, This is while “Natural Drug” makes love the perfect addiction, wrapped in elegant soundscapes that harkens to Zapp’s 1985 “Computer Love” with background vocals. Moving forward, “Show Me” (featuring Alex Isley, the daughter of Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers) delves into the vulnerability and cosmic connection that soul mates can have, and “Still Got Love” affirms that forever affection.
As stated above, Jon B. waited patiently to release this album, so he engaged in self-reflection and emotional growth. This is also reflected in “Waiting on You” (with Tank), which carries dual meanings of enduring love and self-accountability. Furthermore, “Understand” (featuring Donell Jones) continues these themes while “Drift’n” rocks with soothing introspection.
As mentioned, from the beginning, Waiting on You evokes the 1990s. That being said, Jon B.’s ’90s roots mesh with 2020s sensibilities with cinematic ambitions in tracks like “Bandit in the Night,” which is a masterclass in melding OG ’90s R&B with 2025 sensibilities. It is cinematic, layered, and emotionally filled. Beyond this, “Pick Me Up” carries that nostalgic groove harkening back to Jon B’s earlier work, while “Hills to the Hood” (featuring Rick Ross) again bridges the upscale and street narratives, with Jon B the senior to Ross breaking out in the early 00s.
Although Waiting on You has not charted…yet, it has been lauded as a critical and fan-driven comeback. It is refreshing to hear music that is not pushing ghetto life or guy sluttery. For this, Cryptic Rock gives Jon B.’s Waiting on You 5 out of 5 stars.
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