AllMusic 2016 Year in Review
Favorite R&B Albums
R&B took some fascinating turns in 2016, highlighted by boundary-pushing releases like Frank Ocean's Blond, Childish Gambino's divergent "Awaken, My Love!", and Esperanza Spalding's progressive Emily's D+Evolution, along with more traditional releases from Usher, Maxwell, K. Michelle and Bruno Mars.
A set of stimulating originals, all co-written by the New Orleans legend, produced by retro-R&B specialist Eric Krasno.
The singer/songwriter's first completely self-produced album finds him balancing his earthy folk sound with a contemporary R&B and '70s soul vibe.
High and hard times resonate deeply on the stellar second LP from the multidimensional madcap.
A surprisingly diverse yet hardly aimless album from the Georgia native, made with early collaborator Eddie Stokes.
Over four years after his previous studio LP, one of the era's most remarkable singers returns beside Mark Batson for more modern red-dirt soul.
On her fearless sixth album, Mrs. Knowles Carter confronts adultery, and grieves and works her way toward healing with a dizzying array of collaborators.
Long overdue Motown debut from a gospel- and soul-rooted singer and songwriter who appeared on several high-charting albums during 2014 and 2015.
An all-out R&B affair with references that span the '80s and scrape the '90s, from post-disco boogie to new jack swing.
Retro-soul vocalist is in great, powerful form on this third album, which finds him covering Black Sabbath on the title track.
Featuring several collaborations with Paris and Amber Strother of King, a rejuvenating set of glistening folk-soul and sophisticated funk.
Another solid addition to the Chicago native's deep discography of gospel-rooted soul, made with much of the crew that worked on Angie Stone's Dream.
The proudly defiant conclusion to the expectation-defying singer and songwriter's "heart trilogy."
Among the singer's best work, a sturdy set of high-stepping sophisticated funk, impeccable slow jams, and moving ballads.
The Grammy-winning bassist/vocalist's ambitious, poetic, prog rock-infused concept album.
The proper follow-up to the Grammy-winning Channel Orange is a challenging, undiluted work dominated by atmospheric ballads.
Intense left-field R&B from an up-and-comer equipped with sharp hooks and a knockout falsetto.
More fine modern soul from the New Jersey native, featuring a handful of great ballads, some side-splitting lines, and a little dirty talk.
James Hunter / The James Hunter Six
On the band's Daptone debut, they deliver ten dynamic, soulful originals cut in mono and live from the studio floor with producer Gabriel Roth.
Modern, family-man soul from the singer and producer, assisted by musicians including Daru Jones and Pino Palladino.
The Academy Award winner's fifth album, produced by Blake Mills, is a fully evolved synthesis of gospel, folk, R&B, and adult pop.
Pate's third album doesn't stray far from the candid songwriting and traditional-meets-contemporary R&B productions that drove her two Top Five LPs.
Lee Fields / Lee Fields & the Expressions
The veteran soulman and his crack band switch up to deliver a varied set about the transformational power of love.
Seven years after the preceding release -- 20 years after the debut -- the Grammy winner delivers relatively raw yet sculpted modern soul.
The London native's sophomore LP is a dark and graceful expansion outward from his retro-soul roots.
Dazed soul loops from Knxwledge and freewheeling wordplay from Anderson Paak, released by the label that brought Madvillainy and Champion Sound.
Easygoing set of deep R&B from the occasional studio collaborators.
Promising debut from a modern, soul-rooted R&B singer whose label is rightfully confident enough to refrain from guest rapper recruitment.
Robert Glasper / Robert Glasper Experiment
This quartet explores new directions by composing and producing collectively for the first time, without sacrificing their accessibility.
Keyboardist/producer Glasper and a large supporting cast create new material using disparate elements from Davis' Columbia multi-track recordings.
Potent, cathartic, and tender, the third album from the expectation-defying singer, songwriter, and producer weighs a ton and levitates.
Inspirations for the tight retro-soul octet shift from the fiery '60s ballads of their debut to the more socially conscious era that followed.
Seemingly designed for unwinding, a warm mix of soul, funk, and jazz featuring Lalah Hathaway, Robert Glasper, and Thundercat.
Recorded live in analog and pressed on vinyl lacquers, this riotous live-in-studio date is the band's finest recorded moment.
Debut album from ten-piece R&B machine from Houston is clever and eclectic, a great showcase of their many talents.
A decade after her second album, the soft-voiced yet 100-percent soul singer makes a pleasingly relaxed and intimate return.
The R&B superstar's most pleasing album in over a decade, highlighted by work with Pop & Oak, the-Dream, and PartyNextDoor.
Adrian Younge Presents Something About April II
Another dose of engrossing cinematic soul from Adrian Younge and his collaborators, including Bilal, Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier, and Raphael Saadiq.
Beatific electronic soul, all about plush grooves and rich harmonies, slow-cooked to perfection.
A bold and infectious sophomore outing from the jazzy-voiced, genre-mingling indie stylist.
Native Detroiter continues to evangelize sophisticated late-'70s and early-'80s funk and soul with a modern perspective and extensive supporting cast.