Best progressive R&B album is always a fun category to watch, and some of this year’s biggest presumed contenders aren’t even in the running.
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Steve Lacy (Oh Yeah?) and Erykah Badu & The Alchemist (Before the Wind Blows?) were widely expected to compete in this category with their respective albums, but both opted to enter their projects in best alternative music album. That opens up two spots in best progressive R&B album, which already boasts a dizzying lineup of formidable competition.
Which artists are closest to a lock for a nomination? Durand Bernarr, FLO and Leon Thomas. After taking home the trophy for BLOOM at the 2026 ceremony, Bernarr is the defending champion in this category. He dropped BERNARR. on the heels of that win, delivering more breathtaking vocal performances that helped anchor his supporting set on Kehlani’s ongoing world tour. British girl group FLO earned its first Grammy nod in this category last year for Access All Areas, and will likely be back with Therapy at the Club, which reached No. 22 on Top R&B Albums. Finally, Thomas scored two Grammys earlier this year for MUTT, including best R&B album, so it’s not a stretch to expect him to snag a nod in this category for his PHOLKS EP.
That leaves a smorgasbord of additional artists to sift through. Thundercat won this category in 2021 for It Is What Is, and is back in contention with Distracted; Jessie Reyez earned a nod here in 2020 for Being Human In Public, and could get another for A Little Vengeance.
Chloe x Halle earned two nominations in this category as a duo, and both sisters are competing with solo entries this year. Halle submitted her debut solo album, Love?… or Something Like It, while Chlöe entered her Timbaland-assisted Resurrection mixtape in best R&B album. Moonchild (Waves) and Tank and the Bangas (The Last Balloon) both earned best progressive R&B album nominations in 2023, and both groups could add to those tallies with their respective entries. 6LACK, a two-time nominee here, also has a strong submission with Love Is the New Gangsta.
Several Grammy-nominated artists are seeking their first bid in this particular category. Daniel Caesar, who won best R&B performance for “Best Part” (with H.E.R.) in 2019, entered Son of Spergy, which marked his third consecutive Billboard 200 top 10 album (No. 6) and first R&B Albums chart-topper. Notably, Spergy also netted Caesar his first solo Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Who Knows” (No. 52). Brent Faiyaz earned a best rap/sung performance nod for his featured turn on Goldlink’s “Crew” (with Shy Glizzy) back in 2018. He could make his Grammy comeback in this category with Icon (Director’s Cut), which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200. And Jorja Smith, a 2019 best new artist nominee, is contending with What Are the Odds, a garage and Afrohouse-infused set that topped the dance charts in the U.K.
Best progressive R&B album is often a place where voters show love to rising stars and celebrated musicians who sit just left of the mainstream — think: Destin Conrad (Love on Digital) last year, or Cory Henry (Something to Say) and Masego (Studying Abroad: Extended Stay) in 2022. British-Sudanese crooner Elmiene could pop up with Sounds for Someone; Broadway star-turned-R&B diva Jai’Len Josey has a strong shot with Serial Romantic, which was executive produced by three-time Grammy winner Tricky Stewart, and GENA (the dynamic duo of Liv.e and Karriem Riggins) could ride the robust critical acclaim for The Pleasure Is Yours to a first-time nomination. Leven Kali earned an album of the year nod in 2023 for his songwriting contributions to Beyoncé’s Renaissance, and he could reap a bid for his LK99 LP. Amber Mark, who opened for Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour last year, could also find her way into the final lineup of nominees with Pretty Idea. Of this crop, if anyone emerges as the spoiler, it’ll be Elmiene or GENA.
There’s also Ravyn Lenae, a longtime favorite in R&B circles, who scored a massive pop breakthrough last year with the Hot 100 top five hit “Love Me Not” (No. 5) — and followed it up with an acclaimed album that failed to enter any Billboard chart. Blue Island, a terrific collection of songs that includes a best R&B duo/group performance contender in the Doechii-assisted “Babygirl,” is textbook progressive R&B. And Lenae says so herself, even though she, for much of the initial Blue Island press run, became a lightning rod for discourse surrounding race, genre and Black women’s claim to the “pop star” label in contemporary music. There’s certainly buzz around Lenae’s name, and voters may want to make good on blanking her and “Love Me Not” at the 2026 ceremony.
Here are some other artists to look out for: Fridayy (Tension), Rakiyah (My Collection of Boy Tears), Syd (Beard) and Tone Stith (The Edge).
Our Fearless Forecast
Our predictions are: PHOLKS EP (Leon Thomas); Blue Island (Ravyn Lenae), Sounds for Someone (Elmiene); BERNARR. (Durand Bernarr); Therapy at the Club (FLO)
