There are five categories devoted to R&B nestled in the R&B, rap and spoken poetry field at the 67th annual Grammy\u00a0Awards. Lets preview tbest R&B album and best progressive R&B album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The upcoming Grammy cycle marks the 30-year anniversary of the best R&B album category, and this year\u2019s contenders range from seasoned veterans to new-gen stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two previous winners \u2014\u00a0Chris Brown\u00a0(2012) and\u00a0Lalah Hathaway\u00a0(2017) \u2014 are in contention this year. Brown is seeking his third nomination in this category with\u00a011:11 (Deluxe)<\/em>, which reached No. 9 on the\u00a0Billboard 200\u00a0and spawned hits such as \u201cResiduals,\u201d \u201cSensational\u201d (with Lojay and\u00a0Davido) and \u201cSummer Too Hot,\u201d which earned a best R&B performance nod at the 2024\u00a0Grammys. Hathaway is also looking for her third nod in this category with\u00a0Vantablack<\/em>, her first solo studio album in seven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between the Super Bowl and his blockbuster tour, Usher has had a very successful year, so a nod for Coming Home could be in play. Although he\u2019s never competed in this category, he has won best contemporary R&B album (before it was discontinued in 2012) twice (2005 and 2011). Muni Long, who collaborated with Usher on the remix for her Grammy-winning \u201cHrs & Hrs,\u201d is also a leading contender with her Revenge LP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though he won best progressive R&B album for Table for Two in 2022, Lucky Daye lost his previous bids in this category in 2020 (Painted) and 2023 (Candydrip). With Algorithm, his third studio album, the NOLA crooner could earn his third nod for best R&B album. Andra Day (Cassandra), Eric Ben\u00e9t (Duets), BJ The Chicago Kid (Gravy), Ledisi (Good Life) and Tyrese (Beautiful Pain) are all previous nominees in this category who are in contention this year \u2014 and all have yet to win. With four nominations to her name, Ledisi is tied with PJ Morton as the artist with the most nominations in this category without a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eric Bellinger (The Rebirth 3: The Party & The Bedroom) and Kehlani (While We Wait 2) have both been previously nominated for best progressive R&B album. A nod in best R&B album for either star would be their first in this category. Kenyon Dixon earned his first solo Grammy nod at the 2024 ceremony, and he could earn a bid here for The R&B You Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two more entries to keep an eye on:\u00a0Dopamine<\/em>,\u00a0Normani\u2018s long-awaited debut LP, and\u00a0The Color Purple (Music From And Inspired By<\/em>), which features contributions from Grammy winners such as\u00a0Alicia Keys,\u00a0Fantasia,\u00a0Tamela Mann, Usher,\u00a0H.E.R.,\u00a0Coco Jones,\u00a0Megan Thee Stallion,\u00a0Missy Elliott,\u00a0Mary Mary,\u00a0Rodney \u201cDarkchild\u201d Jerkins,\u00a0Mary J. Blige\u00a0and\u00a0Black Thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re betting on: Coming Home<\/em> (Usher), Revenge<\/em> (Muni Long), 11:11 \u2013 Deluxe<\/em> (Chris Brown), Good Life<\/em> (Ledisi) and Vantablack<\/em> (Lalah Hathaway).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since this category was first established in 2013 (originally as best urban contemporary album), four artists have emerged as its most-nominated acts.\u00a0Beyonc\u00e9,\u00a0Steve Lacy,\u00a0Terrace Martin\u00a0and\u00a0Miguel\u00a0have each earned three nods. Queen Bey and\u00a0The Weeknd\u00a0are tied as the all-time winners in this category, with two wins each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Martin can pull off a nomination for his Alex Isley joint album, I Left My Heart In Ladera, he would become the sole most-nominated artist in the category\u2019s history (four). Given his track record here, Martin is a surefire contender, as is NxWorries, the duo comprised of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge; .Paak is an eight-time Grammy winner, including a win for best R&B album (2019, Ventura) and a nomination for best progressive R&B album (2017, Malibu). Hiatus Kaiyote (Love Heart Cheat Code), Childish Gambino (Bando Stone and The New World) and Kehlani (Crash) are all previous nominees in this category who could each earn their second bids. Chl\u00f6e has been nominated here twice as a part of Chloe x Halle, and though her debut LP, 2023\u2019s In Pieces, was passed over for a nod, she could earn her first solo nomination here for Trouble In Paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Partynextdoor is one of the few artists to send an R&B album to the Billboard 200\u2019s top 10 this year; a nod for Partynextdoor 4 would be his first Grammy nomination since 2017. Bryson Tiller (Bryson Tiller) and Tinashe (Quantum Baby) both had big hits this year with \u201cWhatever She Wants\u201d and \u201cNasty,\u201d respectively; both are looking for their first nomination in this category. Also keep an eye on Rae Khalil, a .Paak prot\u00e9g\u00e9 who\u2019s vying for a nod with her debut LP Crybaby, and Ravyn Lenae, a critical darling who\u2019s in contention with Bird\u2019s Eye. And never count out Black Pumas, a band that has reaped seven Grammy nominations \u2014 though none have been in the R&B field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur Fearless Forecast<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Progressive R&B Album<\/h2>\n\n\n\n