R&B — very similar to Hip Jump over the previous, effectively, three many years — has come beneath loads of scrutiny in recent times. Again in 2022, Diddy boldly declared that the style was “useless,” sparking impassioned responses from everybody from Chris Brown and Usher to Tank and Lloyd.
The Dangerous Boy boss has since tried to take credit score for single-handedly reviving R&B along with his star-studded challenge, The Love Album: Off The Grid. However Puff hasn’t accomplished it alone.
2023 has seen an array of artists, each new and previous, carry the torch for the beloved style whereas illuminating new territory. From SZA’s utter dominance and Sampha’s long-awaited return to Coco Jones and Victoria Monét’s breakout campaigns and Brent Faiyaz giving Future one other run for his cash as essentially the most poisonous man in music, the notion that R&B is on life assist is unfortunately misguided.
With that stated, discover under HipHopDX’s nominations for Greatest R&B Albums of 2023, and you may evaluate the remainder of our 2023 Hip Hop Award classes right here.
Editor’s Notice: Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.
Greatest R&B SINGERS Of 2023 NOMINATIONS
Brent Faiyaz
Brent Faiyaz’s 2022 album WASTELAND was the success that many followers had hoped it will be. Boasting big-name collaborations with Drake, Tyler, The Creator and The Neptunes whereas fueling his poisonous heartthrob mystique, the challenge marked a brand new business peak for the DMV native and was named probably the greatest R&B albums of the yr by this very publication.
When you wouldn’t blame Brent for basking in his glory and touring the globe to advertise the album (which he did), he proved in 2023 that there’s nonetheless loads of fireplace in his stomach. In Could, he inked a reported $50million cope with Steve Stoute’s UnitedMasters, permitting him to stay impartial whereas beginning his personal label and artistic company, ISO Supremacy.
That offered the launch pad for the shock launch of Bigger Than Life in October, a “mixtape” fusing the affect of Brent’s DMV heroes (Missy Elliott, Timbaland and The Neptunes) with quite a few native up-and-comers. Missy and Timbo even make small cameos on the challenge, which may be very on-brand for a person who’s recognized to make even the largest flex sound effortlessly cool.
Coco Jones
Coco Jones was virtually born to be a star. By the point she was in her mid-teens, the Tennessee-raised singer and actor had visitor starred within the Disney Channel collection So Random!, carried out on Maury and performed the lead function in Let It Shine, the most-watched Disney Channel film of 2012.
The years following had been something however a fairytale, although, as Coco was compelled by her label (who later dropped her) into making cookie-cutter music and skilled colorism whereas auditioning for movie and TV roles. Finally, using TikTok to showcase her singing skills unlocked a brand new chapter in her profession, resulting in a cope with Def Jam.
Though Coco Jones had tasted success earlier than, nothing matches as much as the heights that she reached in 2023. The standout from her What I Didn’t Inform You (Deluxe) EP, the sonically wealthy, vocally highly effective but emotionally difficult “ICU,” turned each her first Billboard Scorching 100 hit and platinum single.
Having already taken dwelling silverware on the BET Awards, Soul Prepare Awards and NAACP Picture Awards, Coco Jones might add extra trophies to her assortment at subsequent yr’s Grammys the place she’s up for 5 awards – together with Greatest New Artist.
Sampha
Six lengthy years after his Mercury Prize-winning debut Course of, Sampha descended from whichever Heavenly cloud he had been serenading angels on and blessed us mere mortals along with his new album Lahai — and the wait was value it.
Whereas Course of was impressed by the dying of his mom, Lahai – which is each his center title and his grandfather’s first title – is partly fueled by fatherhood (Sampha welcomed a daughter in 2020) in addition to existential subjects like time, nature, science, mortality and the necessity for human connection.
These themes are current within the music itself, increasing Sampha’s sonic palette in alluring new methods. Heat, lush melodies are juxtaposed with jittery drum & bass percussion, and whereas his candy falsetto stays the centerpiece, the South London native even showcases his rapping capability with occasional lyrical thrives. The result’s one other intimate and exquisite hear that tugs on the heartstrings in ways in which few up to date singers can.
Outdoors of his solo return, 2023 additionally noticed Sampha proceed his streak of A-list collaborations (see: Kendrick Lamar“Father Time,”Kanye West“Saint Pablo,” Drake “4422”) by lending his delicate voice to Travis Scott’s UTOPIA observe “My Eyes” alongside Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon.
SZA
Few artists in the whole music trade have had a much bigger yr than SZA. In truth, perennial pop juggernaut Taylor Swift is likely to be the one one. Launched final December after years of delays and anticipation, the singer’s sophomore album SOS has confirmed to be a blockbuster success, changing into her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 whereas demolishing quite a few chart data – together with these beforehand held by icons like Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige.
In the meantime, singles “Kill Invoice” and “Snooze” solidified Solána Imani Rowe as a licensed hitmaker, ending 2023 as two of the preferred and highest-certified songs throughout all genres. In addition they function a snapshot of SZA’s creative vary: one, a increase bap-flavored anthem in regards to the twisted needs of a jealous ex; the opposite, a young and exquisite ode to being in love and never desirous to miss a single second.
Coupled together with her visitor appearances on Drake’s For All of the Canines, Travis Scott’s UTOPIA and Lizzo’s “Particular” – plus a headlining North American area tour – the previous highschool outcast confirmed in 2023 what many TDE followers have lengthy suspected: that SZA is a bona fide star.
Victoria Monét
Invoice Withers, Danny Brown, Willie Nelson, 2 Chainz, Sia — all artists whose careers didn’t take off till they had been of their 30s (or older). Victoria Monét at 34 turned the most recent title on this esteemed record in 2023, additional proving that there’s no such factor as lacking the boat in music.
Previous to this yr, the Sacrament-via-Atlanta native had spent over a decade writing songs for hitmakers like Chris Brown, Rodney Jerkins and Ariana Grande. She’d additionally loved modest success as a solo artist, cracking the Billboard Scorching 100 with “Monopoly,” a collaboration with Grande, in 2019 earlier than dropping her debut album Jaguar the next yr.
However this was the yr that Monét lastly stepped out of the shadows and into the highlight, solidifying herself as a star in her personal proper. The polished and empowering “On My Mama” turned her greatest solo hit on the Scorching 100 (No. 48) whereas her sophomore album Jaguar II marked an identical peak on the Billboard 200 (No. 60).
Placing a bow on her breakout marketing campaign, Victoria Monét is up for a formidable seven awards on the 2024 Grammys, together with the coveted Report of the Yr.
Return to our 2023 Hip Hop Awards web page for extra classes or try the nominees for Greatest R&B Songs, Greatest R&B Albums and Greatest Rookies.
Try our earlier R&B Singer of the Yr award winners.
Paintings and Graphic Design by JR Martinez.
Paragraphs written by Andy Bustard
