The Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for high quality works on albums in the urban contemporary subgenre within the R&B field. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the Recording Academy of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
In 2013, this was one of the three newly created categories for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards as Best Urban Contemporary Album. In June 2020, the Recording Academy announced a renaming and redefining of the category. Its new name was Best Progressive R&B Album, with immediate effect, "to appropriately categorize and describe this subgenre. This change includes a more accurate definition to describe the merit or characteristics of music compositions or performances themselves within the genre of R&B." Adding to this, the description of this category is now as follows: "[t]his category is intended to highlight albums that include the more progressive elements of R&B and may include samples and elements of hip-hop, rap, dance, and electronic music. It may also incorporate production elements found in pop, euro-pop, country, rock, folk, and alternative."
According to Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. in the same press release, these changes reflected "the current state of the music industry and how it's evolved over the past 12 months." In the weeks leading up to this decision, the label "urban" to indicate music made by African American musicians, songwriters and producers had come under fire.
The award goes to the artist, producer and engineer/mixer, provided they are credited with more than 50% of playing time on the album. A producer and engineer with less than 50% of playing time, as well as the mastering engineer, can apply for a "Winners Certificate".
Controversies Some African American musicians have disputed the use of the term "urban contemporary", seen as a "catchall for music created by Black artists, regardless of genre". In a backstage interview given after his first Grammy win (for Best Rap Album), artist Tyler, the Creator stated that "[i]t sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that's genre-bending or that's anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category", adding that "I don't like that 'urban' word — it's just a politically correct way to say the n-word to me".
Recipients
2010s Year Work Artist 2013 Channel Orange Frank Ocean Fortune Chris Brown Kaleidoscope Dream Miguel 2014 Unapologetic Rihanna Love and War Tamar Braxton New York: A Love Story Mack Wilds One: In the Chamber Salaam Remi Side Effects of You Fantasia 2015 Girl Pharrell Williams Beyoncé Beyoncé Mali Is... Mali Music Sail Out Jhené Aiko X Chris Brown 2016 Beauty Behind the Madness The Weeknd Blood Lianne La Havas Ego Death The Internet Wildheart Miguel You Should Be Here Kehlani 2017 Lemonade Beyoncé Anti Rihanna Malibu Anderson Paak Ology Gallant We Are King King 2018 Starboy The Weeknd American Teen Khalid "Awaken, My Love!" Childish Gambino Ctrl SZA Free 6lack 6lack 2019 Everything Is Love The Carters Chris Dave and the Drumhedz Chris Dave and the Drumhedz The Kids Are Alright Chloe x Halle Ventriloquism Meshell Ndegeocello War & Leisure Miguel
2020s Year Work Artist 2020 Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) Lizzo Apollo XXI Steve Lacy Being Human in Public Jessie Reyez Overload Georgia Anne Muldrow Saturn NAO 2021 It Is What It Is Thundercat Chilombo Jhené Aiko Free Nationals Free Nationals Fuck Yo Feelings Robert Glasper Ungodly Hour Chloe x Halle 2022 Table for Two Lucky Daye Dinner Party: Dessert Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder and Kamasi Washington Mood Valiant Hiatus Kaiyote New Light Eric Bellinger Something to Say Cory Henry Studying Abroad: Extended Stay Masego 2023 Gemini Rights Steve Lacy Drones Terrace Martin Operation Funk Cory Henry Red Balloon Tank and the Bangas Starfruit Moonchild 2024 SOS SZA The Age of Pleasure Janelle Monáe The Love Album: Off the Grid Diddy Nova Terrace Martin and James Fauntleroy Since I Have a Lover 6lack 2025 So Glad to Know You (TIE) AverySunshine Why Lawd? (TIE) NxWorries Bando Stone & the New World Childish Gambino Crash Kehlani En Route Durand Bernarr 2026 Bloom Durand Bernarr Access All Areas FLO Adjust Brightness Bilal Come as You Are Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon Love on Digital Destin Conrad Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Artists with multiple wins 2 wins Beyoncé (one as The Carters) The Weeknd
Artists with multiple nominations
4 nominations Terrace Martin
3 nominations Beyoncé (one as The Carters) Steve Lacy (one with The Internet) Miguel
2 nominations Jhené Aiko Durand Bernarr 6lack Chris Brown Chloe x Halle Childish Gambino Robert Glasper Cory Henry Kehlani Anderson Paak Rihanna SZA The Weeknd
See also Grammy Award for Best R&B Album Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album Progressive soul
References
External links Official site of the Grammy Awards