R&B/Hip-Hop

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Now that Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop team has posted its Grammy predictions for four of the R&B categories in the 68th annual race — best R&B performance, best traditional R&B performance, best R&B song and best R&B album — it’s time to review the top prospects in the fifth and final category: best progressive R&B album.

Recent winners in the category include Lucky Daye (Table for Two, 2022), Steve Lacy (Gemini Rights, 2023) and SZA (SOS, 2024). Thanks to a tie, two winners took home the gramophone in 2025: longtime independent artist Avery Sunshine (So Glad to Know You) and the R&B/hip-hop super duo NxWorries comprised of Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge (Why Lawd?).

Formerly known as best urban contemporary album, the category was renamed best progressive R&B album in 2020. In recognizing “excellence in albums of progressive R&B vocal tracks,” per the Recording Academy’s definition, such entries are rooted in many of the elements comprising R&B but also embrace additional sounds including hip-hop, rap, pop, dance and electronic music. The rulebook further defines the category’s music as having “an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, often through unconventional song structures, dynamic production techniques and multi-genre influences that challenge traditional R&B conventions.”

Albums released between Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025 fitting this category include familiar vets like Bilal (Adjust Brightness), Gallant (Zinc), Jessie Reyez (Paid in Memories), Kali Uchis (Sincerely) and Allen Stone (Mystery). A host of upstarts also waved the progressive banner in their own inimitable styles, such as SAILORR (From Florida’s Finest), Laila! (Gap Year), Jordan Adetunji (A Jaguar’s Dream) and Cautious Clay (The Hours: Morning).  

In addition to those on-the-cusp contenders, there are others of note to consider. Chief among them is the group FLO (Access All Areas), KWN (With All Due Respect), Destin Conrad (Love on Digital), Fridayy (Some Days I’m Good, Some Days I’m Not), UMI (People Stories) and Kelela (In the Blue Light).

With such a cornucopia of projects to choose from, predicting the nods in this category isn’t an easy task. One scenario could have Kali Uchis, Destin Conrad, Fridayy and Jessie Reyez fighting for the last spot. Or perhaps there could be another surprise from left field a la Avery Sunshine at the 67th annual ceremony.

So which five albums will score nods for best progressive R&B album when the Recording Academy unveils its slate on Nov. 7? Check out Billboard’s predictions below.

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