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May 15, 2024 · Revel in the soulful allure of rhythm and blues as we journey through the best R&B artists of all time. Ranked by fans and critics, this list spotlights popular music artists and legends who have significantly influenced the spectrum of R&B.
Jan 3, 2024 · Many of this century’s epochal blockbuster albums are R&B records: from Usher’s 10-times platinum Confessions, to Beyonce’s Lemonade, to Mariah Carey’s The...
- Channel Orange – Frank Ocean
- Mother – Cleo Sol
- Ctrl – Sza
- Black Messiah – D’Angelo and The Vanguard
- A Seat at The Table – Solange
- Freudian – Daniel Caesar
- Malibu – Anderson .Paak
- House of Balloons – The Weeknd
- Chasing Summer – Sir
- Shea Butter Baby – Ari Lennox
Frank Ocean is certainly one of the most influential artists in contemporary R&B. His 2012 album, Channel Orange is widely regarded as a masterpiece of modern R&B. Channel Orange followed his seminal EP, Nostalgia, Ultra. The album features a blend of soulful ballads and experimental tracks, all anchored by Ocean’s rich and emotive vocals. Stand-ou...
Across featherlight tones Cleo decorates her second solo album, Mother. A tribute to herself as a mother, her mother and in doing so, encapsulates generational truths of women. This beautifully orchestrated project is brought to cinematic life through producer, Inflo – one of the real heroes of music in 2021. Cleo is truly sensational. Since the re...
SZA made her mark as a cult favourite in R&B with her debut album Ctrl, a stunning showcase of her songwriting and vocal abilities. The album explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, with SZA’s raw and vulnerable lyrics paired with innovative production that draws from a range of influences. Standout tracks include the introspective “Drew...
After a 14-year hiatus, D’Angelo returned withBlack Messiah, an album that showcased his pioneering blend of Soul, Funk and R&B. Notably, this pioneering sound spawned the Neo-Soul movement that continues to wax strong till today. Black Messiah features a range of collaborators, from Questlove to Kendra Foster, and explores themes of social justice...
Solange’s A Seat at the Table is a stunning work of art that explores themes of black womanhood, identity, and empowerment. Furthermore, this R&B album placed Solange in an elite artistic league. The album blends R&B, Jazz, Funk and even Hip Hop influences creating a rich and textured sound. Standout tracks include the dreamy Cranes in the Sky, the...
Daniel Caesar’s Freudian is a soulful and introspective masterpiece album. Daniel Caesar brings his church kid background to the fore on Freudian. Moreover, Freudian masterfully uses R&B devices like nay-hoos and doo-wops. The blend of R&B and Gospel influences creates a lush, heavenly sound. The standout tracks including the soulful Get You, We Fi...
With his 2016 debut, Anderson .Paak’s Malibu was solidified in stunning debut R&B albums. Malibu is a funky, yet eclectic album that showcases that .Paak is both a powerful vocalist and exceptional multi-instrumentalist. The album’s blend of R&B, Hip-Hop and Funk creates a unique and immersive sound. Again standout tracks include the soulful The Bi...
The Weeknd’s House of Balloons is one of the landmark R&B albums that helped to define the sound of modern R&B. The album’s dark and moody production, paired with The Weeknd’s seductive vocals, creates a deeply atmospheric listening experience. Standout tracks include the hauntingHigh For This, the seductive Wicked Games, and the emotionalThe Knowi...
Born and raised in Inglewood California, singer, songwriter and record producer, SiR’s project Chasing Summer, indicated by the name, is a bonafide summer jam project.
Born in Washington D.C, 28-year-old, Ari Lennox is singed to J-Cole’s record label, Dreamville Records. On the Cole-featured single, Shea Butter Baby, Ari effortlessly oozes sultry passion and the album with the same monicker delivers.
- Beyoncé. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is highly regarded as one of the biggest stars of the last two decades, and will likely continue on the same trajectory for the rest of her career.
- Mary J. Blige. The ‘Queen of R&B’, i.e. Mary J. Blige, broke onto the hip-hop-soul scene in the early nineties with her debut studio album What’s the 411?
- Chris Brown. Chris Brown, who has earned the title of the “King of R&B”, is a singer whose music is a mash-up between pop and hip-hop, to form an intriguing sub-genre of R&B.
- The Weeknd. The Weeknd, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye in Canada, is an extremely popular singer who is best known for his R&B tunes and falsetto register.
- Try Again’ – Aaliyah. Released as the lead single for the 2001 film ‘Romeo Must Die’, ‘Try Again’ quickly became much more than just a track associated with a film soundtrack.
- Say My Name’ – Destiny’s Child. Let’s be clear; most of Destiny’s Child’s back catalogue could sit comfortably on this list but ‘Say My Name’ is quintessential R&B with its digs at a cheating boyfriend, theatrical synth strings and Beyonce’s syncopated vocal delivery.
- Waterfalls’ – TLC. While ‘No Scrubs’ is undoubtedly an R&B classic, ‘Waterfalls’ deserves praise for not only being a phenomenal track that allows Left Eye to truly shine, but also one that provides moving commentary on subjects like violence, drugs and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- No Diggity’ – Blackstreet. From the Bill Withers sample and those prominent piano notes to Queen Pen’s fiery verse and each member of Blackstreet’s icy confidence, ‘No Diggity’ is arguably one of the best collabs to come out of the 90s.
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The Best Contemporary R&B Albums of All Time. View reviews, ratings, news & more regarding your favorite band.
