{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Short description|Grammy Award Category}} {{Infobox award | name = Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album | awarded_for = Quality progressive R&B music albums | image = | caption = ''Bloom'' by Durand Bernarr is the most recent recipients | presenter = The Recording Academy | country = United States | year = 2013 | holder = Durand Bernarr – ''Bloom'' (2026) | most_wins = Beyoncé & The Weeknd (2) | most_nominations = Terrace Martin (4) | website = [http://www.grammy.com/ grammy.com] }}
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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/recording_academy/|title=Overview|access-date=May 14, 2011|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027163924/http://www.grammy.com/recording_academy/|archive-date=October 27, 2009 }}</ref>
In 2013, this was one of the three newly created categories for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards as '''Best Urban Contemporary Album'''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gonzales |first=Erica |date=June 10, 2023 |title=The Grammy Awards Rename Their Urban Contemporary Category |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a32823111/grammy-awards-remove-urban-label/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2020, the Recording Academy announced a renaming and redefining of the category.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hissong |first=Samantha |date=June 10, 2023 |title=The Grammys' 'Urban Contemporary' Category Is Now 'Progressive R&B' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/recording-academy-grammy-changes-2021-1012347/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> 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."<ref name="BPRBA">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/recording-academy-announces-changes-63rd-annual-grammys-releases-rules-and-guidelines|title=The Recording Academy Announces Changes For 63rd Annual GRAMMYs, Releases Rules And Guidelines|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> 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."<ref name="BPRBA"/>
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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bethany|last=Minelle|url=https://news.sky.com/story/republic-records-drops-term-urban-to-describe-music-made-by-black-artists-12002912#:~:text=The%20term%20%22urban%22%20has%20frequently,since%20taken%20on%20negative%20undertones|title=Republic Records drops term 'urban' to describe music made by black artists|work=Sky News|date=June 8, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/sites/com/files/bluebook_awards_certs_and_grammy_tickets.pdf|title=Grammy Blue Book (edition 2021)|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>
== 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".<ref>{{Cite web|first=Sophie|last=Lewis|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grammy-awards-rename-controversial-urban-category/|title=Grammy Awards renames controversial "urban" category|work=CBS News|date=June 11, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite web|first=Toyin|last=Owoseje|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/27/entertainment/tyler-the-creator-grammys-intl-scli/index.html|title=Tyler, The Creator slams Grammys' 'urban' category as a politically correct version of the n-word|work=CNN|date=January 27, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>
== Recipients == [[File:Frank Ocean 2022 Blonded.jpg|thumb|207x207px|Frank Ocean was the first recipient in 2013]] [[File:FEQ July 2018 The Weeknd (44778856382) (cropped).jpg|thumb|199x199px|The Weeknd is the first artist to win this award twice, in 2016 and 2018]] [[File:Beyoncé - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - 1st June 2023 (6 of 118) (52945304172) (high cropped).jpg|thumb|218x218px|Beyoncé is the first female artist to win this award twice, in 2017 and 2019]] ===2010s=== {| class="wikitable" ! width="10%" | Year ! width="45%" | Work ! width="45%" | Artist |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=3, style="text-align:center;"| 2013 <br/><ref name="winners">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/294|title=GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Urban Contemporary Album|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|access-date=September 5, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200905122547/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/294|archive-date=September 5, 2020}}</ref> | ''Channel Orange'' | Frank Ocean |- | ''Fortune'' | Chris Brown |- | ''Kaleidoscope Dream'' | Miguel |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2014 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees|title=56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|access-date=September 11, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209111415/http://www.grammy.com/nominees|archive-date=December 9, 2013}}</ref> | ''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 |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2015 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Oldenburg, Ann|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/12/05/2015-grammy-nominations-announced/19938541/|title=2015 Grammy nominations roll out|work=USA Today|date=December 5, 2014|access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''Girl'' | Pharrell Williams |- | ''Beyoncé'' | Beyoncé |- | ''Mali Is...'' | Mali Music |- | ''Sail Out'' | Jhené Aiko |- | ''X'' | Chris Brown |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2016 <br/><ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6785974/grammy-nominations-2016-full-list|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees|magazine=Billboard|date=December 7, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''Beauty Behind the Madness'' | The Weeknd |- | ''Blood'' | Lianne La Havas |- | ''Ego Death'' | The Internet |- | ''Wildheart'' | Miguel |- | ''You Should Be Here'' | Kehlani |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2017 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Johnston, Maura|author-link=Maura Johnston |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/dec/06/grammy-awards-2017-nominations-drake-rihanna-beyonce-adele |title=Grammy nominations 2017: Beyoncé and R&B artists shine while rock suffers|work=The Guardian|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''Lemonade'' | Beyoncé |- | ''Anti'' | Rihanna |- | ''Malibu'' | Anderson Paak |- | ''Ology'' | Gallant |- | ''We Are King'' | King |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2018 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/60th-grammy-awards-full-nominees-list|title=60th GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees List|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|date=November 28, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202160927/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/60th-grammy-awards-full-nominees-list|archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''Starboy'' | The Weeknd |- | ''American Teen'' | Khalid |- | ''"Awaken, My Love!"'' | Childish Gambino |- | ''Ctrl'' | SZA |- | ''Free 6lack'' | 6lack |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2019 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Snapes, Laura|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/07/grammy-nominations-2019-cardi-b-kendrick-lamar-drake-lead|title=Grammy nominations 2019: Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and Drake lead the pack|work=The Guardian|date=December 7, 2018|access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''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=== {| class="wikitable" ! width="10%" | Year ! width="45%" | Work ! width="45%" | Artist |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2020 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|author=Beaumont-Thomas, Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/20/lizzo-billie-eilish-and-lil-nas-x-top-2020-grammy-nominations|title=Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X top 2020 Grammy nominations|work=The Guardian|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name="winners"/> | ''Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)'' | Lizzo |- | ''Apollo XXI'' | Steve Lacy |- | ''Being Human in Public'' | Jessie Reyez |- | ''Overload'' | Georgia Anne Muldrow |- | ''Saturn'' | NAO |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2021 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2021-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-list|title=2021 GRAMMYs: Complete Winners and Nominees List|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020}}</ref> | ''It Is What It Is'' | Thundercat |- | ''Chilombo'' | Jhené Aiko |- | ''Free Nationals'' | Free Nationals |- | ''Fuck Yo Feelings'' | Robert Glasper |- | ''Ungodly Hour'' | Chloe x Halle |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"| 2022 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list|title=2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|date=November 23, 2021|access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> | ''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 |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2023 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Moreau|first=Jordan|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/grammys-2023-winners-list-1235508557/|title=Grammy Winners 2023: Full List|work=Variety|date=February 5, 2023|access-date=February 8, 2023}}</ref> | ''Gemini Rights'' | Steve Lacy |- | ''Drones'' | Terrace Martin |- | ''Operation Funk'' | Cory Henry |- | ''Red Balloon'' | Tank and the Bangas |- | ''Starfruit'' | Moonchild |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2024 <br/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/66th-annual-grammy-awards-2023|title=66th Annual Grammy Awards|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> | ''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 |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2025 <br/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Monroe|first=Jazz|date=2024-11-08|title=Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2025-see-the-full-list-here/|access-date=2024-11-08|website=Pitchfork}}</ref> | ''So Glad to Know You'' <small>(TIE)</small> | AverySunshine |-style="background:#FAEB86;" | ''Why Lawd?'' <small>(TIE)</small> | NxWorries |- | ''Bando Stone & the New World'' | Childish Gambino |- | ''Crash'' | Kehlani |- | ''En Route'' | Durand Bernarr |- |-style="background:#FAEB86;" ! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"| 2026 <br/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2025-11-07 |title=Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar Leads With Nine as Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas Land Among Top Nominees |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/grammy-nominations-2026-complete-list-kendrick-lamar-gaga-1236572363/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> | ''Bloom'' | Durand Bernarr |- | ''Access All Areas'' | FLO |- | ''Adjust Brightness'' | Bilal |- | ''Come as You Are'' | Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon |- | ''Love on Digital'' | Destin Conrad |- |} <sup>{{note|1|[I]}}</sup> 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)<ref name="beyonce">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/beyonce-knowles/12474|title=Beyoncé|access-date=November 26, 2019|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy}}</ref> * The Weeknd
==Artists with multiple nominations== {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} ;4 nominations * Terrace Martin
;3 nominations * Beyoncé (one as The Carters)<ref name="beyonce"/> * Steve Lacy (one with The Internet)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/steve-lacy-moya/19144|title=Steve Lacy Moya|access-date=November 26, 2019|website=Grammy.com|publisher=The Recording Academy}}</ref> * Miguel{{col-break}}
;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
{{col-end}}
==See also== * Grammy Award for Best R&B Album * Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album * Progressive soul
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.grammy.com Official site of the Grammy Awards]
{{Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporany Album}} {{Grammy Award years}} {{Grammy Award categories}}
* + Urban Contemporary Album Urban Contemporary Album Category:Album awards Category:Progressive soul {{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Award for Best Progressive RandB Album}}