Ty Dolla $ign Returns to His Roots: Why ‘girl music’ is the R&B Reset We Needed
Ty Dolla $ign & Leon Thomas Reunite for “miss u 2” Ahead of New R&B Project ‘girl music vol. 1’
In an era of R&B defined by atmospheric trap beats and cynical “toxic” lyricism, Ty Dolla $ign is stage-managing a pivot back to the soul. The 2X-Diamond-certified hitmaker and EZMNY Records chief has spent the last decade as the industry’s ultimate glue—the man whose gravelly tenor can turn a standard hook into a global anthem. But for his next act, the Los Angeles native is stripping away the artifice.
“miss u 2” finds Ty teaming up with his protégé, 3X GRAMMY winner Leon Thomas, for a masterclass in vocal synergy. Produced by Keyz, the track serves as the opening volley for Ty’s forthcoming six-song project, girl music vol. 1, arriving March 6th just in time for International Women’s Day.
The genesis of the project wasn’t a high-stakes board meeting, but a dinner in Manhattan. “The DJ at the restaurant was playing all the right music and it got us thinking about the music that girls really want to hear,” Ty shares. “Everything about this project has been organic. From the name to the sequence to the collaborators. It all just fell into place.”
For fans who have followed Ty since his Beach House mixtape days, girl music represents a homecoming. While 2025’s star-studded TYCOON—which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 hit “DON’T KILL THE PARTY”—cemented his status as a high-octane curator, this new volume prioritizes the “real R&B vibes” of a live band.
“This project was a natural return back to my musical sound, back to performing with a live band,” Ty says. “This is really some of my favorite music I’ve made in a long time. And this is only volume one….”
The release follows a victory lap for Ty’s EZMNY Records. Last month, the mogul hosted the EZMNY JammJam, a late-night marathon presented by Amazon Music that felt less like a concert and more like a changing of the guard.
With his father, Tyrone Griffin Sr., on trumpet, Ty led a sprawling set that bridged the gap between legends (Ne-Yo, Lalah Hathaway, T.I.) and the future of the genre (Destin Conrad, Joyce Wrice, Alicia Creti). It was a reminder that while Ty is a chart-topping rapper and singer, he is, at his core, a musician’s musician.
Designed with specific “get ready with me” energy in mind, the project aims to capture the full spectrum of the female experience—from the pre-club ritual to the late-night overthinking of a new crush.
Release Date: March 6, 2026
Track Count: 6 Songs
Mood: Simplicity, live instrumentation, and classic R&B melodies.
As Ty prepares to drop what he calls his most “natural” work to date, it’s clear he isn’t just chasing the charts anymore; he’s chasing the feeling. In 2026, Ty Dolla $ign isn’t just a tycoon—he’s R&B’s most reliable romantic.
LISTEN: “miss u 2 (with Leon Thomas)”
PRE-SAVE girl music vol. 1 arrives March 6th.