Favorite R&B Albums | AllMusic 2023 in Review

6LACK

Since I Have a Lover

Ricardo Valentine opens up lyrically and sonically more than ever on his third album, his most colorful work thus far.

Billy Valentine

Billy Valentine & the Universal Truth

Classic topical and spiritual soul rendered poignantly by the veteran Los Angeles-based singer and a cast of all-star session players.

Cautious Clay

Karpeh

Joshua Karpeh's second album -- his first for Blue Note -- is a pronounced and fascinating deviation from his debut.

Cleo Sol

Heaven

Third solo album of traditional and resonant soul-rooted R&B from the Sault singer/songwriter.

Dave Okumu / Seven Generations

I Came From Love

The genre-defying artist reflects on his family ancestry and Black history for a poetic, defiant album encouraging resistance and positive change.

Devon Gilfillian

Love You Anyway

Following up his pair of 2020 LPs, the Nashville-based singer/songwriter and guitarist refines his feel-good roots R&B with help from Jeremy Lutito.

Dinner Party

Enigmatic Society

Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, and Kamasi Washington reconvene for a warm and inviting second effort as a genre-blurring quartet.

Don Toliver

Love Sick

An engrossing follow-up to the number two hit Life of a DON, this features strong collaborations with Kali Uchis and James Blake, among many others.

Durand Jones

Wait Til I Get Over

A striking solo debut from the Indications frontman, this goes in many unexpected lyrical and sonic directions.

Eddie Chacon

Sundown

A lively follow-up to the singer/songwriter's intended farewell, this is another appealing collaboration with John Carroll Kirby (Solange, Steve Lacy).

Emily King

Special Occasion

Still joined by Jeremy Most, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter works through a breakup with an intimate set closer to roots music than art-pop.

Gabriels

Angels & Queens

All seven songs from 2022's "part one" are augmented by five new ones and a thumping hybrid of gospel-disco-funk, "Love and Hate in a Different Time."

Genesis Owusu

Struggler

The hard-to-define Australian's second LP is a wild, nervy concept album of defiance and existentialism.

Hit-Boy / Musiq Soulchild

Victims & Villains

One of the Grammy-nominated singer's most cohesive efforts, a strong affirmation of his self-classification as a hip-hop soul artist.

Incognito

Into You

Bluey Maunick and company keep the positive grooves flowing with a handful of new singers and players.

Ivan Neville

Touch My Soul

On his first solo album in 20 years, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist delivers the record that earlier ones only hinted at.

Jalen Ngonda

Come Around and Love Me

Strong Daptone album debut from a soul traditionalist with a distinctive tenor voice.

Jamila Woods

Water Made Us

Philosophical and personal examinations of romantic relationships that expand the singer/songwriter and poet's stylistic palette.

Janelle Monáe

The Age of Pleasure

Uninhibited and fueled by Nigerian, Jamaican, and Brazilian inspirations, the Wondaland crew beams down to play in the sunshine.

Jon Batiste

World Music Radio

The pianist and singer brings a heartfelt intimacy to his seventh album's message of healing and unity.

Jorja Smith

Falling or Flying

Decamped to her native Walsall, the singer/songwriter returns to open up her sound on the follow-up to her Mercury Prize-nominated debut.

Kali Uchis

Red Moon in Venus

The highly concentrated third album from the Grammy-winning singer is flush with supple slow jams and celestial ballads.

Kelela

Raven

The progressive R&B singer/songwriter and producer returns from a lengthy absence with a potent, emotionally open, sometimes pointed second LP.

Kiana Ledé

Grudges

Vivid, candid, emotionally complex album that subtly increases the contemporary R&B singer/songwriter's pop appeal.

Leon Thomas

Electric Dusk

Narcotizing first album from the former Nickelodeon star and songwriter/producer behind hits for Ariana Grande, Rick Ross, Drake, and SZA.

Liv.e

Girl in the Half Pearl

Expansive yet introspective second full-length from the boundary-pushing R&B artist.

Madison McFerrin

I Hope You Can Forgive Me

A remarkably varied and cohesive first album, this also displays the vocal dynamo's budding talent as a producer.

Mahalia

IRL

A more assured second proper album from the MOBO-winning singer/songwriter, this features strong collaborations with RAYE and JoJo.

Mayer Hawthorne

For All Time

Andrew Cohen's heady and contented sixth album bares vintage-soul likeness to his first with increased skill and finesse.

Meshell Ndegeocello

The Omnichord Real Book

The singer/songwriter and bassist's stellar first album as a leader for Blue Note, produced by Josh Johnson.

Niecy Blues

Exit Simulation

Haunting, ethereal debut full-length from a South Carolina-based artist channeling the spiritual qualities of ambient music and gospel.

Quantic

Dancing While Falling

All-out, wholehearted disco from Will Holland, featuring vocal turns from Andreya Triana, Connie Constance, and Rationale.

Sampha

Lahai

After years of background work and featured appearances, the singer/songwriter returns with a stirring follow-up to his Mercury Prize-winning debut.

Say She She

Silver

Rousing double-length follow-up to the harmonizing "discodelic" group's 2022 debut.

Secret Night Gang

Belongs on a Place Called Earth

The Manchester ensemble ups the ante on their sophomore date by adding street soul, acid jazz, funk, and more to their mix.

Summer Walker

Clear 2: Soft Life EP

Another between-albums set from the singer, this contains some of her sharpest, most insightful writing, and a humorously cutting duet with Childish Gambino.

The Budos Band

Frontier's Edge

The hard-swinging big band leaves Daptone, forms their own label, and returns with a dazzling, musically ambitious six-track EP.

Victoria Monét

Jaguar II

Long-anticipated debut album from a progressive R&B singer/songwriter known most for her Grammy-nominated work with Ariana Grande and Chloe x Halle.

Yazmin Lacey

Voice Notes

Enchanting LP debut from the jazz-R&B singer/songwriter, executive produced by Dave Okumu with funk, folk, lovers rock, and more in the mix.

The AllMusic 2023

YearInReview

New voices honoring retro vibes and established artists still breaking ground. Highlights from this year include Devon Gilfillian's feel-good roots, a return from Mercury Prize winner Sampha, and the ever-uninhibited Janelle Monáe (pictured). These are our favorite R&B albums of 2023.

Favorite R&B Albums ↓

Dave Okumu / Seven Generations

Hit-Boy / Musiq Soulchild

Jon Batiste

Year
In
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