As part of NPR Music’s Black Music Month celebration, Tiny Desk is honoring the legacy of BET and the eras of Black music that helped shape our culture. R&B veteran Joe Thomas earned every chain and stripe on his body as he stepped behind the Tiny Desk. For every Usher, Ne-Yo, and Leon Thomas who has played in our office, fans of one of their archetypes wondered when he would get his shot. We saw the petitions and social media posts, but trust: We chased for years. Before the music started, the singer-songwriter and producer explained:

“Where have I been for the past few years? Well, I’ve been on the road touring. I’m here with you all today, and I wanna do a few songs throughout the catalog.”

And for the latest installment, they brought out one of the most consistent, smoothest, and most underrated voices in R&B: Joe Thomas.