(August 7, 2025) Creeping up the R&B charts this summer is a revived slow jam that’s turning heads and ears for all the right reasons. Houston, Texas-based R&B quartet Sentury, who are helping with the re-emergence of boy bands to the R&B music scene, have landed on “Only Human,” a smooth soul-pop staple originally released by former L.T.D. frontman Jeffrey Osborne in the fall of 1990 that climbed to number two on the Hot R&B Singles chart (rechristened as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs).
Now thirty five years later, the old school joint is being re-introduced to a whole new audience with CJ, Leo, AJ and Rico leading the way. With plenty of love at black radio, it recently took the number one spot on Mediabase Urban AC chart and reached the number two spot on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay.
Other than the metric success, this unique cover, draped in late-‘80’s synths and slick drum programming, has massive throwback appeal and completely honors the legacy of the original while also exposing the nuances and depth of Sentury’s baby-makin’ crooning and saucy ad-libs. It’s as if the vibes of After 7 merged with Jodeci, especially as their harmonies hit epic proportions on the song’s modulated climax near the end.
And the praise from newborn fans and industry giants are pouring in: Legendary producer Barry Eastmond (Whitney Houston, Anita Baker) sounded off his admiration and appreciation of the track in the comment section of their music video on YouTube, saying, “I’m absolutey honored that you covered this song that I produced and co-wrote with the great Jeffrey Osborne. You version is slamming.” Another gleeful commenter wrote, “Good job, Sentury. Jeffrey would be proud of you.”
And we at SoulTracks are proud of it too. Check it out and let us know your thoughts on this 21st century update by Sentury.
By J Matthew Cobb
