\n\tLeading up to the Grammy nominations on Nov. 16, Rolling Stone is breaking down 11 different categories. For each, we\u2019re predicting the nominees, as well as who will (and who should) win on Grammy night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe R&B genre is constantly evolving and welcoming new artists into the fold. Over the past few years, the Grammys helped speed that along by introducing new categories like Best Progressive R&B Album, offering the chance for artists across the rhythm and blues spectrum to have their work recognized. \u201cIt\u2019s a way to create more space for artists,\u201d says Nadeska Alexis, an Apple Music host, whose expertise is in the R&B and hip-hop genres. Evolution is in the DNA of R&B. One of the positive changes in the streaming era is more blurred lines and less pressure to fit neatly into traditional genre boxes. But the original Best R&B Album category still carries its own sense of cachet, and this year\u2019s field should include some awfully heavy hitters.<\/p>\n
\t\tBest R&B Albums \u2013 Our Predictions\u00a0\t<\/p>\n
\n\tBrent Faiyaz<\/a>, Icon \t\tWho Will Win\t<\/p>\n \n\tKehlani, Kehlani \t\tWho Should Win\t<\/p>\n \n\tKehlani, Kehlani \t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n \t\tForecasting the Field\t<\/p>\n \n\tWhile Kehlani is a strong contender for the category, the R&B space has absolutely expanded, while seeing the return of some of R&B\u2019s original icons. Jill Scott kicked off the year with To Whom This May Concern, her first album in over a decade. \u201cWe have newer artists \u2014\u00a0like Victoria Monet, Coco Jones \u2014 that do a beautiful job of spinning traditional R&B elements in fresh ways by leaning into their unique strengths,\u201d says Alexis. \u201cBut at the same time, we have legacy artists like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu who are delivering albums that feel very present, although they are built on a rich R&B lineage with influences that span everything from jazz to \u201990s hip-hop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kehlani<\/a>, Kehlani\u00a0
Bruno Mars<\/a>, The Romantic
Jill Scott<\/a>, To Whom This May Concern
Summer Walker<\/a>, Finally Over It<\/p>\n
Since emerging on the scene over a decade ago, Kehlani has continuously gained momentum both in her musical, and political, voice. Her hit song \u201cFolded\u201d peaked at Number Six on the Billboard Hot 100 and won her two Grammys already, for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance last year. Now, \u201cFolded\u201d appears on her self-titled, fifth studio project, and brings along its magic to the album, an LP that received more than 500 million streams on Spotify and includes some of the culture\u2019s giants, like Lil Wayne, Missy Elliot, Usher, and Brandy.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s a special artist and she\u2019s been doing this for such a long time,\u201d Alexis says. \u201cShe\u2019s always had this amazing blend of this \u201990s, early 2000s R&B, and over the years she\u2019s just been building the skill set.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kehlani is the rightful victor here. While this year\u2019s other nominees will no doubt be strong, Kehlani is setting milestones. Her album spent 11 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and, for the first time, propelled the artist to Number One on the Top R&B\/Hip-Hop Album Charts. Says Alexis: \u201cThe project felt very cohesive. The instrumentation on the album was exceptional. It just feels like she built up to this moment and like this album could have only happened at this point.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n