Ella Mai has cemented herself as one of R&B’s most compelling voices of her generation — a London-born, Los Angeles-raised artist whose music hits with that rare combination of vocal intimacy and modern production polish. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering her catalog, this curated list of the best songs of Ella Mai covers everything from her massive breakthrough hits to deep-cut gems that deserve far more airplay. Pour something warm, put on your best headphones, and let’s dig into what makes Ella’s music so undeniably addictive.
Boo’d Up
If there’s one track responsible for Ella Mai becoming a household name, it’s “Boo’d Up.” Released in 2018 and produced by Mustard, the song is a masterclass in slow-burn R&B — the kind of groove that wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cold afternoon. Ella’s vocal performance here is deceptively effortless; she lets the melody breathe, bending notes with just enough grit to feel lived-in rather than polished to sterility. The track peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Ella a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2019 — a well-deserved recognition. On headphones, you’ll catch the subtle vocal layering in the background harmonies, a textural detail that gives the mix remarkable depth for what initially sounds like a minimalist production.
Trip
“Trip” is, quite simply, one of the most emotionally honest R&B songs of the 2010s. Also produced by Mustard and released alongside “Boo’d Up” as part of Ella’s self-titled debut EP, “Trip” leans into vulnerability with a relentlessness that can catch you off guard. The bridge is where everything unravels beautifully — her voice cracks just slightly, a touch of rawness that no amount of vocal tuning could manufacture. Lyrically, the song explores the dizzy, obsessive early stages of romantic attachment, and Ella delivers every line with a specificity that makes it feel autobiographical. “Trip” also charted on the Hot 100 and helped establish Ella as more than a one-hit artist.
How (feat. Roddy Ricch)
Few collaborations in recent R&B have felt as organically matched as Ella Mai and Roddy Ricch on “How.” The track, from her 2020 album Heart On My Sleeve, blends Ella’s smooth melodic sensibility with Roddy’s distinctively punchy rap cadence, and the contrast never feels forced. Production-wise, the beat carries that understated West Coast energy — warm bass, crisp hi-hats, space for the vocals to dominate. Ella’s pre-chorus vocal run leading into the hook is textbook contemporary R&B arranging, setting emotional tension before the release. The song was a commercial and critical success, adding hip-hop crossover appeal to Ella’s already diverse fanbase.
Shot Clock
“Shot Clock” is the kind of track that sneaks up on you. What sounds on first listen like a breezy, mid-tempo R&B cut reveals itself over repeated plays to be a meticulously constructed earworm. The basketball metaphor woven through the lyrics — the pressure of running out of time in a relationship — is deployed cleverly without tipping into cliché territory. Ella’s melodic phrasing here sits right in that sweet spot between spoken-word intimacy and full-throated singing, giving the track a conversational texture. Produced under Mustard’s signature sonic umbrella, “Shot Clock” has become a fan-favorite live performance moment, typically generating one of the biggest crowd responses in her setlists.
DFMU
The title alone — an abbreviation that any millennial or Gen Z listener immediately understands — signals Ella’s comfort operating at the intersection of contemporary slang and timeless emotional storytelling. “DFMU” is one of the standout tracks from Heart On My Sleeve, layered with production that feels simultaneously lush and airy. The vocal melody on the chorus is constructed to land like a gut punch — deceptively simple on the surface, but the intervals she chooses create a sense of longing that lingers long after the track ends. It’s the kind of song that sounds perfect in the car at night, when city lights blur and the emotional weight of the lyrics hits differently.
Everything (feat. John Legend)
Ella Mai and John Legend sharing a studio was always going to produce something special, and “Everything” delivers on that promise completely. The song is a slow, reverent R&B ballad built around piano and strings, allowing both artists’ voices to exist at the forefront without any production clutter competing for attention. John Legend’s contribution elevates the track into a duet of complementary textures — his lower, warmer register sitting underneath Ella’s higher, more agile soprano in a way that feels genuinely harmonious. Released as part of Heart On My Sleeve, “Everything” represents Ella’s clearest artistic statement about where traditional soul songwriting and modern R&B production can meet.
Whatchamacallit (feat. Chris Brown)
Chris Brown’s vocal chemistry with Ella Mai on “Whatchamacallit” is impossible to deny. The track is built on a bouncy, funk-inflected production that gives both singers room to play — trading ad-libs, completing each other’s melodic phrases, clearly enjoying the creative exchange. Ella holds her own completely, which in a collaboration with an artist of Brown’s mainstream profile is a statement in itself. The production bridges early 2000s R&B nostalgia with contemporary mixing sensibility, making it feel both familiar and fresh simultaneously. If you haven’t heard this one through a quality pair of earbuds yet, you’re missing the fine detail work buried in the percussion arrangement.
Not Another Love Song
There’s a knowing wit to “Not Another Love Song” that distinguishes it from Ella’s other work. The title functions as both a joke and a sincere confession — yes, this is another love song, and yes, she knows exactly what she’s doing. Production on this track leans into neo-soul territory, with an organic warmth that recalls early-2000s Alicia Keys and Jill Scott while remaining squarely contemporary in its arrangement and mix. Lyrically, Ella explores the exhaustion of trying to describe an indescribable feeling, which is itself a deeply relatable premise. It’s a track that rewards close listening, each verse building thematic depth that the chorus then releases with genuine emotional payoff.
Gut Feeling (feat. H.E.R.)
When Ella Mai and H.E.R. appeared together on “Gut Feeling,” it felt like a natural alignment of two of the most gifted vocalists working in contemporary R&B. H.E.R.’s guitar work — always a signature element of her sound — weaves through the production in a way that gives the track a live, intimate quality rarely achieved in polished studio recordings. The lyrical theme — trusting your instincts in love even when logic argues against it — is delivered with a shared emotional authenticity that makes the collaboration feel genuinely personal. This is the kind of track that belongs at the top of any list of the best R&B songs of recent years.
Easy
“Easy” earns its title honestly. The production is stripped back to its essentials — a warm chord progression, a minimal beat, Ella’s voice carrying the full emotional weight of the track. What makes “Easy” remarkable is precisely what it doesn’t do: it doesn’t oversell, doesn’t over-produce, doesn’t push for an emotional response it hasn’t earned. Ella’s vocal performance is conversational and intimate, feeling like she’s singing directly to one specific person rather than performing for an audience. In the context of contemporary R&B, where maximalism is often the default setting, “Easy” stands out as a quiet confidence statement — an artist secure enough in her craft to let restraint do the heavy lifting.
Close
“Close” is one of those tracks that benefits enormously from headphone listening — the spatial mixing places Ella’s voice in a kind of intimate proximity that feels almost uncomfortably personal in the best possible way. The production architecture is careful and deliberate, with subtle textural elements that shift throughout the track, rewarding repeated listens. Thematically, the song explores the paradox of emotional closeness and physical distance, a tension that resonates with particular intensity in a post-pandemic cultural landscape. Ella’s control of dynamics here is exceptional — she knows exactly when to pull back and when to push forward, creating a vocal performance that functions almost like a conversation rather than a monologue.
Own It
There’s a confidence to “Own It” that feels earned rather than performed. The track carries a swagger in its production — a tighter, more assertive groove than much of Ella’s catalog — and her vocal approach matches it perfectly, leaning into a chest-voice directness that conveys ownership not just lyrically but sonically. The song functions as both a romantic declaration and a broader statement about self-possession, and those dual meanings give it a resonance that extends beyond any single listening context. “Own It” is the track that reveals Ella’s range as an artist — she’s as comfortable in this more assertive mode as she is in the softer vulnerability of “Trip” or “Easy.”
A Mess (feat. Lucky Daye)
Lucky Daye has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary neo-soul, and his collaboration with Ella Mai on “A Mess” delivers exactly the kind of emotionally complex duet both artists do best. The production has a late-night, slightly hazy quality — warm synths, unhurried rhythm — that perfectly frames a lyrical conversation about the messy, contradictory nature of falling for someone at the wrong time. Both vocalists bring interpretive depth to their respective parts, and the interplay between their performances in the song’s back half is genuinely thrilling. This is a deep cut that fans consistently cite as an underappreciated highlight of Ella’s catalog.
Power of a Woman
“Power of a Woman” finds Ella in explicitly celebratory mode, crafting a track that functions as both personal affirmation and broader cultural statement. The production draws on classic soul and gospel influences, creating a warmth and grandeur that feels aspirational without becoming overwrought. Vocally, this is one of Ella’s most ambitious performances — she pushes her range and dynamic scope in ways that the more understated tracks in her catalog don’t require. The song rewards comparison to classic anthems in the soul tradition, and it holds up exceptionally well under that scrutiny. It’s a reminder that great R&B has always been inseparable from questions of identity, community, and collective strength.
No Angels (feat. Kirk Franklin)
The collaboration with gospel legend Kirk Franklin on “No Angels” is one of the most creatively surprising moves in Ella’s catalog, and it pays off in ways that go beyond the novelty of the pairing. Franklin’s influence on the track’s production and arrangement is evident — there’s a choir-inflected grandeur to the sound that gives it a spiritual weight distinct from anything else in her discography. Ella’s vocal performance rises to meet the elevated stakes, delivering some of the most technically impressive singing of her recorded career. The song explores themes of imperfection and grace with a lyrical sincerity that feels earned, and the contrast between the track’s gospel production elements and Ella’s contemporary R&B sensibility creates a genuinely unique sonic space.
Sink or Swim
“Sink or Swim” is all about tension — musical and emotional. The production builds with deliberate patience, creating a sense of mounting urgency that mirrors the lyrical stakes of a relationship reaching a critical turning point. Ella’s vocal performance here carries an intensity that feels almost theatrical in the best sense, communicating the emotional extremity of the situation through changes in timbre, dynamics, and melodic choice that reward attentive listening. This is one of those tracks that sounds different depending on what you’ve been through — listeners navigating difficult relationship decisions will find in it something almost uncomfortably precise, while others will simply admire the craft of the storytelling.
Pieces
“Pieces” represents Ella at her most emotionally exposed. The track is built around a simple, repeated melodic figure that functions almost like a mantra — the repetition creates a meditative quality that draws the listener deeper into the emotional landscape rather than forward through a conventional song structure. Lyrically, the song explores the aftermath of a relationship that has left both parties fundamentally changed, and Ella communicates that complexity with a lyrical economy that marks real songwriting maturity. This is the kind of track that reveals new layers on each listen, a quiet masterwork that doesn’t announce its ambitions loudly but delivers them consistently.
Chasing Circles
There’s a melancholy intelligence to “Chasing Circles” that makes it one of the more intellectually interesting tracks in Ella’s catalog. The song examines the psychological loop of returning to the same emotional situations with different people — recognizing the pattern while feeling unable to break it — with a lyrical self-awareness that feels genuinely insightful rather than merely clever. Production here complements the theme: a slightly circular melodic structure that keeps returning to the same tonal center, a formal choice that reinforces the lyrical conceit without being heavy-handed about it. “Chasing Circles” is the kind of song that makes you feel understood in a very specific way.
Didn’t Say (feat. Latto)
“Didn’t Say” marks one of Ella’s most energetic and rhythmically assertive tracks, with the addition of Latto bringing a hip-hop sharpness that pushes the production into harder-hitting territory. The track operates at the intersection of contemporary R&B and rap in a way that feels current without chasing trends — Ella’s melodic foundation gives Latto’s contribution something genuinely interesting to respond to, and the result is a collaborative dynamic with real creative tension. The production is one of the more aggressive beats Ella has worked over, and she handles it with a confidence that demonstrates her comfort across a wider sonic range than early listeners might have expected.
Run My Mouth
“Run My Mouth” closes out this journey through Ella Mai’s catalog on a note of rhythmic confidence and lyrical directness. The track showcases her ability to ride a groove with effortless precision, her vocal delivery sitting right in the pocket of the beat without ever feeling confined by it. Lyrically, the song captures that specific feeling of saying more than you intended to someone you care about — vulnerability dressed up as bravado — and Ella communicates that duality with the kind of nuance that only comes from genuine artistic maturity. It’s a fitting final entry in any greatest hits playlist: a reminder that across every mood, tempo, and emotional register, Ella Mai simply delivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ella Mai’s most popular song?
“Boo’d Up” remains Ella Mai’s most commercially successful and culturally significant track. Released in 2018, it peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2019. Its warm, minimalist production by Mustard and Ella’s intimate vocal performance created a slow-jam template that influenced the broader direction of contemporary R&B.
What album is Trip by Ella Mai on?
“Trip” was originally released as part of Ella Mai’s self-titled debut EP in 2018, alongside “Boo’d Up.” It later appeared on her debut studio album Ella Mai, released in October 2018 via 10 Summers Records and Interscope Records.
Who produced most of Ella Mai’s hit songs?
The majority of Ella Mai’s breakthrough hits were produced by DJ Mustard (Dijon McFarlane), including “Boo’d Up,” “Trip,” “Shot Clock,” and several others from her debut album. Her 2020 album Heart On My Sleeve featured a broader range of producers while maintaining the sonic cohesion that defined her earlier work.
Has Ella Mai won any Grammy Awards?
Yes. Ella Mai won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for “Boo’d Up” at the 61st Grammy Awards in February 2019. The song was also nominated in the Best R&B Performance category at the same ceremony.
What is Ella Mai’s vocal range?
Ella Mai is generally classified as a mezzo-soprano with strong belt capability in her upper register. Her vocal style is notable for its conversational intimacy in the lower-middle range and its agility in passages that require melodic runs or sustained high notes, as evident in tracks like “No Angels” and “Power of a Woman.”
Where is Ella Mai from?
Ella Mai was born in London, England, and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her music career. She attended LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts) and gained initial recognition through covers posted on Instagram before signing with DJ Mustard’s 10 Summers Records.
Is Ella Mai still making music?
As of 2025, Ella Mai remains active as a recording and performing artist, continuing to build on the critical and commercial foundation established by her debut album and Heart On My Sleeve.