To say the least, 2016 has been an interesting year for R&B. When you cover the music all day long, 7 days a week, it’s often hard to step outside of the circle and see how today’s R&B is impacting the world of music as a whole, but from our perspective–over the past couple of years–there appears to be a stronger push to return certain elements of traditional R&B to the mainstream public, and younger generations. However, the genre is still evolving, continuing to grow and change, and progression is good creatively.
So, what we’ve found, and heard, is a vast variety of R&B sounds, styles, and inspirations across many releases this year, from new breakout voices to mainstream megastars to long overdue comebacks from some of our most beloved singers. 2016 was the year for it all, whether you love buttery smooth soul, gritty blues, sinfully dark seduction, dance and sing-along anthems, retro funk and anything in-between, there was something for every taste in many of the albums that were released this year.
In the past we’ve given you our critical picks and choices for the best R&B albums of the year, and that may still be coming, but for now we want to hear from you, the real listeners! This is our first-ever readers’ poll for the Best R&B Albums of the Year, and we are excited to see your picks. Below you will find a poll that includes all of the mainstream (and some indie) R&B albums (full LPs only no EPs included) of 2016, you can pick as many as you would like and vote for your top favorites more than once. The final results will be released next week.
Share your vote with the poll below, and continue the conversation in the comments section!
[polldaddy poll=9615217]
Childish Gambino, Awaken My Love but it’s not on the list.
Yes! LOVE that album! But it’s hard to consider it R&B.