Women are going to dominate the R&B categories at this year’s Grammys, and several of the genre’s most popular females (such as Ella Mai, H.E.R. and Lizzo) may all walk away as the number ones. In fact, H.E.R. and Lizzo both have a shot at winning more than one R&B Grammy, and they’re both nominated outside this field as well, which makes them frontrunners already.
Here are my predictions for the R&B categories.
Best R&B Album
Nominees:
Anderson .Paak – Ventura
BJ the Chicago – 1123
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Lucky Daye – Kid Painted
PJ Morton – Paul
Should Win:
Anderson .Paak – Ventura
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Will Win:
Anderson .Paak – Ventura
This one is a real toss-up between Ella Mai and Anderson .Paak, and there are reasons why both deserve to claim the trophy (in addition to the fact that they both delivered fantastic full-lengths). Both musicians collected their first Grammys last year, and while Mai is one of the most promising newcomers to arrive in a long time, .Paak has been churning out some of the most interesting and boundary-pushing art for years now. Since I have to choose just one (though it could wind up in a tie, which is how .Paak collected his first piece of gold), I’ll give it to Ventura.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Nominees:
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Overload
Jessie Reyez – Being Human in Public
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
NAO – Saturn
Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
Should Win:
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Will Win:
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Best Urban Contemporary Album is a weird category, as it’s tough to define. Some of the titles here, such as Lizzo’s latest, could easily have fit into the Best R&B Album vertical as well, but by submitting them in this arena, some acts stand a better shot at being nominated, or perhaps even winning.
This is surely going to Lizzo, who is the biggest star of the group and who enjoyed a spectacular breakout year.
Best R&B Performance
Nominees:
Anderson .Paak – “Come Home (ft. André 3000)”
Daniel Caesar & Brandy – “Love Again”
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
Lizzo – “Exactly How I Feel (ft. Gucci Mane)”
Lucky Daye – “Roll Some Mo”
Should Win:
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
Lizzo – “Exactly How I Feel (ft. Gucci Mane)”
Will Win:
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
Grammy voters have shown love to H.E.R. before, and she racked up an impressive number of nominations this year, so I’m leaning more toward her and Bryson Tiller, who will score his first win alongside the genre’s powerhouse. Lizzo and Gucci Mane (a first-time nominee) stand a chance, and if voters are completely enamored with the “Truth Hurts” star, she may completely dominate the R&B field…but this is a chance to mix things up and reward someone whose name isn’t Lizzo.
Best R&B Song
Nominees:
Chris Brown – “No Guidance (ft. Drake)”
Emily King – “Look at Me Now”
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
Lucky Daye – “Roll Some Mo”
PJ Morton – “Say So (ft. JoJo)”
Should Win:
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
Will Win:
H.E.R. – “Could’ve Been (ft. Bryson Tiller)”
H.E.R. has a shot at losing Best R&B Performance to Lizzo, but this honor is hers. “Could’ve Been” is a phenomenal track, and it’s beautifully written, and that’s exactly what voters are looking for. Also, it doesn’t hurt that she’s not competing against Lizzo for this one.
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Nominees:
BJ the Chicago Kid – “Time Today”
India.Arie – “Steady Love”
Lizzo – “Jerome”
Lucky Daye – “Real Games”
PJ Morton – “Built for Love (ft. Jazmine Sullivan)”
Should Win:
Lizzo – “Jerome”
Will Win:
Lizzo – “Jerome”
Of all the Grammys Lizzo is nominated for in 2020 (she’s the most-nominated artist this time around, with eight chances to walk away a winner), this is perhaps her greatest shot at earning the music industry’s most prestigious honor. She sounds so wonderfully soulful on “Jerome,” taken from her recent album Cuz I Love You, and voters will have an easy time selecting her over less successful names like Lucky Daye and PJ Morton.
FORBES