The American Music Award for Best R&B Album has been awarded since 1974. Years reflect the year in which the awards were presented, for works released in the previous year (until 2003 onward when awards were handed out on November of the same year). The all-time winner in this category is Michael Jackson with 4 wins. Beyoncé has the most nominations with 7. While the start and end dates for the usage of the category Favorite Black Album are unclear, in 1985 the name was used for the award Prince was given for his album Purple Rain. The award was previously known as Favorite Album – Soul/R&B until the 2026 ceremony, where the award was renamed to Best R&B Album.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Artist Album Ref 1974 Al Green I'm Still in Love with You Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On War The World Is a Ghetto 1975 Gladys Knight & the Pips Imagination Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On Stevie Wonder Innervisions 1976 The Temptations A Song for You Earth, Wind & Fire That's the Way of the World Ohio Players Five 1977 Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Earth, Wind & Fire Spirit That's the Way of the World 1978 Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Commodores Commodores Barry White Barry White Sings for Someone You Love 1979 Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever Earth, Wind & Fire All 'n All Teddy Pendergrass Life Is a Song Worth Singing
1980s Year Artist Album Ref 1980 Michael Jackson Off the Wall Commodores Midnight Magic Teddy Pendergrass Teddy 1981 Michael Jackson Off the Wall Diana Ross Diana Teddy Pendergrass Teddy 1982 Rick James Street Songs The Gap Band The Gap Band III Quincy Jones The Dude Stevie Wonder Hotter than July 1983 Aretha Franklin Jump to It Rick James Throwin' Down Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I 1984 Michael Jackson Thriller Gladys Knight & the Pips Visions Prince 1999 Lionel Richie Lionel Richie 1985 Prince Purple Rain Michael Jackson Thriller Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down 1986 Kool & the Gang Emergency Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Luther Vandross The Night I Fell in Love 1987 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Anita Baker Rapture Janet Jackson Control Run–D.M.C. Raising Hell 1988 Anita Baker Rapture LL Cool J Bigger and Deffer Luther Vandross Give Me the Reason 1989 George Michael Faith Gladys Knight & the Pips All Our Love Keith Sweat Make It Last Forever
1990s Year Artist Album Ref 1990 Bobby Brown Don't Be Cruel MC Hammer Let's Get It Started Karyn White Karyn White 1991 MC Hammer Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em Janet Jackson Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 Quincy Jones Back on the Block 1992 Luther Vandross Power of Love Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony Whitney Houston I'm Your Baby Tonight Various Artists New Jack City 1993 En Vogue Funky Divas Mariah Carey MTV Unplugged Michael Jackson Dangerous 1994 Whitney Houston The Bodyguard Janet Jackson janet Silk Lose Control SWV It's About Time 1995 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton Mariah Carey Music Box R. Kelly 12 Play 1996 Boyz II Men II Mary J. Blige My Life TLC CrazySexyCool 1997 Toni Braxton Secrets Mariah Carey Daydream Keith Sweat Keith Sweat 1998 Mary J. Blige Share My World Erykah Badu Baduizm Blackstreet Another Level Puff Daddy No Way Out 1999 Will Smith Big Willie Style K-Ci & JoJo Love Always Brian McKnight Anytime
2000s Year Artist Album Ref 2000 Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Whitney Houston My Love Is Your Love TLC FanMail 2001 Toni Braxton The Heat Destiny's Child The Writing's on the Wall Sisqó Unleash the Dragon 2002 Aaliyah Aaliyah Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Janet Jackson All for You 2003 Eminem The Eminem Show Ashanti Ashanti Ludacris Word of Mouf Nelly Nellyville 2003 Luther Vandross Dance with My Father Ashanti Chapter II Beyoncé Dangerously in Love R. Kelly Chocolate Factory 2004 Usher Confessions Alicia Keys The Diary of Alicia Keys Prince Musicology 2005 Destiny's Child Destiny Fulfilled Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi Fantasia Free Yourself 2006 Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi Jamie Foxx Unpredictable 2007 Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds Beyoncé B'Day R. Kelly Double Up 2008 Alicia Keys As I Am Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Mariah Carey E=MC² 2009 Michael Jackson Number Ones Beyoncé I Am... Sasha Fierce The Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D
2010s Year Artist Album Ref 2010 Usher Raymond v. Raymond Alicia Keys The Element of Freedom Sade Soldier of Love 2011 Rihanna Loud Beyoncé 4 Chris Brown F.A.M.E. 2012 Rihanna Talk That Talk Chris Brown Fortune Usher Looking 4 Myself 2013 Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience Rihanna Unapologetic Robin Thicke Blurred Lines 2014 Beyoncé Beyoncé John Legend Love in the Future Pharrell Williams Girl 2015 The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness Chris Brown X D'Angelo Black Messiah 2016 Rihanna Anti Beyoncé Lemonade Bryson Tiller Trapsoul 2017 Bruno Mars 24K Magic Childish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!" The Weeknd Starboy 2018 XXXTentacion 17 Khalid American Teen SZA Ctrl 2019 Khalid Free Spirit Chris Brown Indigo Ella Mai Ella Mai
2020s Year Artist Album Ref 2020 The Weeknd After Hours Doja Cat Hot Pink Summer Walker Over It 2021 Doja Cat Planet Her Giveon When It's All Said and Done... Take Time H.E.R. Back of My Mind Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales Queen Naija Missunderstood 2022 Beyoncé Renaissance Drake Honestly, Nevermind Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) An Evening with Silk Sonic Summer Walker Still Over It The Weeknd Dawn FM 2023 – 24 colspan="3" 2025 The Weeknd Hurry Up Tomorrow PartyNextDoor PartyNextDoor 4 PartyNextDoor & Drake Some Sexy Songs 4 U SZA SOS Deluxe: Lana Bryson Tiller Bryson Tiller 2026 Bruno Mars The Romantic Justin Bieber Swag Leon Thomas Mutt Mariah the Scientist Hearts Sold Separately Summer Walker Finally Over It
Category facts Multiple wins
4 wins Michael Jackson
3 wins Toni Braxton Rihanna The Weeknd
2 wins Beyoncé Mary J. Blige Whitney Houston Justin Timberlake Usher Luther Vandross Stevie Wonder Bruno Mars
Multiple nominations
7 nominations Beyoncé
6 nominations Mariah Carey Michael Jackson
5 nominations Whitney Houston The Weeknd Stevie Wonder
4 nominations Mary J. Blige Chris Brown Earth, Wind & Fire Janet Jackson Alicia Keys Rihanna Luther Vandross
3 nominations Toni Braxton Gladys Knight & the Pips Bruno Mars Teddy Pendergrass Prince R. Kelly Usher Summer Walker
2 nominations Ashanti Anita Baker Boyz II Men Commodores Destiny's Child Doja Cat Drake Khalid Marvin Gaye Rick James Quincy Jones MC Hammer PartyNextDoor Lionel Richie Keith Sweat SZA Justin Timberlake TLC
References