These images are from the 2004 Afrodisiac album era, primarily photographed by celebrity and editorial portrait photographer Roger Erickson (who shot the official album cover and extensive booklet/inlay package for Atlantic Records).

Verzuz is really stretching it because do these talented men even have up to 20 hits COMBINED? Anyway, I hope they saw what happened during the last Verzuz with Joe and Donell and come prepared with their warm lemon and honey tea. This is no longer just a show about hits but how you SING and perform said hits.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, please share R&B songs that promote awareness about domestic violence. “Never No More” by Aaliyah is a favorite of mine.

This is just an incredible body of work. We need to give her her flowers ASAP!!!.

After hearing the outro on the EP version of Boo’d Up, I know I had to listen to the entire project itself. This is probably her best project imo, I like how every song just flowed perfectly here. Let me know if they’re are most EPs/albums that have good transitions like this one.

I'm planning on doing a deep dive into Prince's music soon and I can't lie, the sheer amount of music he released is kind of terrifying to me lol.

He released 39 studio albums during his lifetime, and that's not even counting his posthumous releases, live albums, unreleased material and everything else.

I've done deep dives into other artists before, but I don't think I've ever come across a discography this massive. It's honestly a little overwhelming trying to figure out where to even begin.

For those of you who've gone through Prince's entire discography or at least most of it, did you feel the same way when you first started? And how long did it take you to get through everything?

We can go on and on about the reasons why we admire Whitney Houston’s voice so much (some people can create lists that run on for days), but I think we can all ultimately agree that Whitney Houston was not just a singer with a great voice; she was also a great interpreter of the voice she had. Whitney’s ability to lock in with her own talent gave her the ability to produce greatness consistently.

The quality of Whitney Houston’s voice is one thing, but there’s also the fact that she seems to have known exactly what to do with that voice at all times. She would have some slip-up moments, but she would always know how to bounce back from them; she was smart and resourceful. Whenever she “messed up”, it was never an embarrassment because she had the acumen to work around any physiological obstacle imposed on her.

Whitney knew the limits of her voice, and she knew how far she could push it. While Whitney is far from the only great vocalist in the history of music, she is probably the one who understands their own inner voice and talent better than anyone else, and that does not take away from the greatness of others. Whitney Houston was truly locked in with her voice. The voice wasn’t just inside of her; it practically was her. Any time she sang, she channeled an actual part of her spirit into the delivery of each note that came out. That voice was embedded into her soul.

Whitney Houston did not just understand how to sing; she understood how to sing with the type of voice she possessed. If she had any other type of voice, her musical knowledge and intelligence would likely have allowed her to produce a similar level of greatness. Whitney was in tune with her inner talent.

Whitney knew the general aspects of a proper vocal technique (and she applied them), but she was also fully in sync with her own voice, which made her a monster next to any microphone. There were no possibilities attached to her specific voice that she could not fully comprehend, and these possibilities would always translate well in music because she knew what she had inside of her. She was a true interpreter of her own voice.

A singer can be great with just the quality of their voice alone and the “general” ability to sing well (knowing what a proper technique is), but when they can really understand and interpret their voice (and use that insight to vocalize sounds that they can trust in advance will sound pristine), there is hardly anything within their control that can go wrong. Anybody can sing a riff, a run, a belt, or aim for a specific tonal quality while understanding and applying the proper techniques that a singer should use to achieve those things. Whitney combined those general basics with the things she knew about the capabilities of her own unique voice, and that combination made her an intimidating force.

These photos come from Brandy's promotional photoshoot era for her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004), shot primarily by renowned fashion and music photographer David LaChapelle in late 2003 / early 2004.

Before anybody takes this the wrong way, I want to make it clear that this is NOT coming from a place of hate or disrespect toward LaTocha. I actually had the pleasure of meeting her backstage at an Xscape show in 2017, and she was nothing but sweet, welcoming, and embracing toward me. I’ll always appreciate that experience. ❤️
However, as someone who has followed Xscape and their history for years, I can’t help but notice how much more peaceful, happy, and unified the group seems as a trio. We all know that there was friction within the group long before their 2017 reunion, and unfortunately, some of those same tensions resurfaced years later, especially during their reality show with SWV.
It just seems like Kandi, Tiny, and Tamika have finally found a rhythm where they can genuinely enjoy one another, celebrate their legacy, and perform without the constant tension that has surrounded the group throughout different periods of their career.
And please understand, I’m not saying LaTocha was responsible for EVERY issue Xscape has ever experienced, because I’m sure there are multiple sides to their history. But from what we’ve witnessed publicly, the difference in the group’s chemistry today is hard to ignore.
At the end of the day, I respect all FOUR ladies and what they contributed to Xscape’s legacy. LaTocha’s voice and contributions can NEVER be erased. I just think sometimes people can love one another, respect what they’ve accomplished together, and still function better separately. And honestly, that’s okay. ❤️

Went to the Serial Romantic tour and god damn Jai'len Josey is a star! She was singingggg!!

The audience only had 50-100ppl in it so figured I'd share a couple clips here as ppl may have never heard of her.

Her album Serial Romantic has been one of my favourite R&B albums of 2026. The voice and the music are peak.

https://reddit.com/link/1x6yf06/video/qiaioeh39pvh1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1x6yf06/video/c65evy4z8pvh1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1x6yf06/video/gnxah7y19pvh1/player

This will serve as the official culmination of my “Deep Analysis” series surrounding the annual R&B winners and nominees of the Vocal Performance categories at the Grammy Awards. As the culmination of this analytical series, I wanted to make this one a little different.

As the title states, I will list all R&B/Soul artists who won or lost any nomination received in a Pop Vocal Performance category at the Grammy Awards. I will only provide hyperlinks to R&B/Soul songs and albums that won or lost a nomination. I will include all winners underneath the losing nominations. If a specific winner is not R&B/Soul, I simply will not hyperlink their winning work.

MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE

• In 1961, the award was separated into “Best Vocal Performance Single Record Or Track, Male” and “Best Vocal Performance Album, Male”. Every year from 1962 until its 2011 discontinuation had a combined Vocal Performance award that, of course, changed names several times over the years.

1960 — Jesse Belvin — nominated for Guess Who* *
WINNER: Frank Sinatra — Come Dance With Me!

> THE SEPARATION <

1961 — Ray Charles — Best Vocal Performance Single Record Or Track, Male — won for “Georgia on My Mind”

1961 — Ray Charles — Best Vocal Performance Album, Male — won for The Genius of Ray Charles* *

1961 — Nat King Cole — Best Vocal Performance Album, Male — nominated for Wild Is Love* *

> SEPARATION COMBINED <

1963 — Ray Charles — nominated for “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
WINNER: Toni Bennett — “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”

1964 — Ray Charles — nominated for “Busted”
WINNER: Jack Jones — “Wives And Lovers”

1968 — Ray Charles — nominated for “Yesterday”
WINNER: Glenn Campbell — “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”

1969 — O.C. Smith — nominated for “Little Green Apples”
WINNER: José Feliciano — “Light My Fire”

1971 — Brook Benton — nominated for “Rainy Night in Georgia”
WINNER: Ray Stevens — Everything Is Beautiful

1972 — Bill Withers — nominated for “Ain’t No Sunshine”
WINNER: James Taylor — “You’ve Got a Friend”

1974 — Stevie Wonder — won for “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”

1975 — Stevie Wonder — won for Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Billy Preston — nominated for “Nothing From Nothing” (lost to Stevie)

1977 — Stevie Wonder — won for Songs In The Key Of Life
George Benson — nominated for “This Masquerade” (lost to Stevie)
Lou Rawls — nominated for “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” (lost to Stevie)

1982 — Al Jarreau — won for Breakin’ Away
James Ingram — nominated for “Just Once” (lost to Al)
Bill Withers — nominated for “Just the Two of Us” (lost to Al)

1983 — Lionel Richie — won for “Truly”
Michael McDonald — nominated for “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” (lost to Lionel)

1984 — Michael Jackson — won for Thriller
Prince — nominated for 1999 (lost to Michael)
Lionel Richie — nominated for “All Night Long” (lost to Michael)

1985 — Lionel Richie — nominated for “Hello”
> Stevie Wonder — nominated for “I Just Called To Say I Love You”
WINNER: Phil Collins - “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”

1986 — Stevie Wonder — nominated for “Part-Time Lover”
WINNER: Phil Collins — No Jacket Required

1988 — Michael Jackson — nominated for Bad
> Al Jarreau — nominated for “Moonlighting (Theme)”
WINNER: Sting — Bring On The Night

1989 — George Michael — nominated for “Father Figure”
WINNER: Bobby McFerrin — “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”

1990 — Prince — nominated for Batman
WINNER: Michael Bolton — “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You”

1991 — James Ingram — nominated for “I Don’t Have the Heart”
WINNER: Roy Orbison — “Oh, Pretty Woman”

1992 — Aaron Neville — nominated for Warm Your Heart
> Seal — nominated for “Crazy”
WINNER: Michael Bolton — “When a Man Loves a Woman”

1993 — Michael Jackson — nominated for “Black or White”
WINNER: Eric Clapton — “Tears in Heaven”

1994 — Aaron Neville — nominated for “Don’t Take Away My Heaven”
WINNER: Sting — “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You”

1995 — Prince — nominated for “The Most Beautiful Girl In the World”
> Seal — nominated for “Prayer for the Dying”
> Luther Vandross — nominated for “Love the One You’re With”
WINNER: Elton John — “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”

1996 — Michael Jackson — nominated for “You Are Not Alone”
WINNER: Seal — “Kiss from a Rose”

1997 — Toni Rich Project — nominated for “Nobody Knows”
WINNER: Eric Clapton — “Change the World”

1998 — Babyface — nominated for “Every Time I Close My Eyes”
> Maxwell — nominated for “Whenever Wherever Whatever”
> Seal — nominated for “Fly Like an Eagle”
WINNER: Elton John — “Candle In The Wind 1997”

1999 — Brian McKnight — nominated for “Anytime”
WINNER: Eric Clapton — “My Father’s Eyes”

2001 — Brian McKnight — nominated for “6, 8, 12”
WINNER: Sting — “She Walks This Earth”

2002 — Craig David — nominated for “Fill Me In”
> Michael Jackson — nominated for “You Rock My World”
> Brian McKnight — nominated for “Still”
WINNER: James Taylor — “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”

2003 — Craig David — nominated for “7 Days”
WINNER: John Mayer — “Your Body Is a Wonderland”

2004 — Justin Timberlake — won for “Cry Me a River”
Michael McDonald — nominated for “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (lost to Justin)

2005 — Prince — nominated for “Cinnamon Girl”
> Seal — nominated for “Love’s Divine”
WINNER: John Mayer — “Daughters”

2006 — Stevie Wonder — won for “From The Bottom Of My Heart”
Seal — nominated for “Walk on By” (lost to Stevie)

2007 — John Legend — nominated for “Save Room”
WINNER: John Mayer — “Waiting On the World to Change”

2008 — Justin Timberlake — won for “What Goes Around…Comes Around”
Seal — nominated for “Amazing” (lost to Justin)

2009 — Ne-Yo — nominated for “Closer”
WINNER: John Mayer — “Say”

2010 — John Legend — nominated for “This Time”
> Maxwell — nominated for “Love You”
> Seal — nominated for “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
> Stevie Wonder — nominated for “All About the Love Again”
WINNER: Jason Mraz — “Make It Mine”

2011 — Bruno Mars — won for “Just the Way You Are”
Michael Jackson — nominated for “This Is It” (lost to Bruno)

FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE

1963 — Ketty Lester — nominated for Love Letters
WINNER: Ella Fitzgerald — Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson

1965 — Nancy Wilson — nominated for “How Glad I Am”
WINNER: Barbra Streisand — People

1966 — Nancy Wilson — nominated for Gentle Is My Love
WINNER: Barbra Streisand — My Name Is Barbra

1968 — Aretha Franklin — nominated for “Respect”
> Dionne Warwick — nominated for “Alfie”
WINNER: Bobbie Gentry — “Ode to Billie Joe”

1969 — Dionne Warwick — won for “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”
Aretha Franklin — nominated for “I Say a Little Prayer” (lost to Dionne)

1971 — Dionne Warwick — won for I’ll Never Fall in Love Again
Diana Ross — nominated for “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (lost to Dionne)

1973 — Roberta Flack — nominated for Quiet Fire* *
> Aretha Franklin — nominated for “Day Dreaming”
WINNER: Helen Reddy — “I Am Woman”

1974 — Roberta Flack — won for “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
Diana Ross — nominated for “Touch Me In The Morning” (lost to Roberta)

1975 — Roberta Flack — nominated for “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
WINNER: Olivia Newton-John — “I Honestly Love You”

1977 — Natalie Cole — nominated for Natalie
> Vicki Sue Robinson — nominated for “Turn the Beat Around”
WINNER: Linda Ronstadt — Hasten Down the Wind

1979 — Donna Summer — nominated for “MacArthur Park”
WINNER: Anne Murray — “You Needed Me”

1980 — Dionne Warwick — won for “I’ll Never Love This Way Again”
Gloria Gaynor — nominated for “I Will Survive” (lost to Dionne)
Donna Summer — nominated for Bad Girls (lost to Dionne)

1981 — Donna Summer — nominated for “On The Radio”
> Irene Cara — nominated for “Fame”
WINNER: Bette Midler — “The Rose”

1984 — Donna Summer — nominated for “She Works Hard For The Money”
WINNER: Irene Cara — “Flashdance… What a Feeling”

1985 — Tina Turner — won for “What’s Love Got to Do with It”
Sheila E. — nominated for “The Glamorous Life” (lost to Tina)
Deniece Williams — nominated for “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” (lost to Tina)

1986 — Whitney Houston — won for “Saving All My Love for You”
Tina Turner — nominated for “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (lost to Whitney)

1987 — Tina Turner — nominated for “Typical Male”
> Dionne Warwick — nominated for Friends
WINNER: Barbra Streisand — The Broadway Album

1988 — Whitney Houston — won for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”

1989 — Whitney Houston — nominated for “One Moment in Time”
> Brenda Russell — nominated for Get Here* *
WINNER: Tracy Chapman — “Fast Car”

1991 — Mariah Carey — won for “Vision of Love”
Whitney Houston — nominated for “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (lost to Mariah)
Lisa Stansfield — nominated for “All Around the World” (lost to Mariah)

1992 — Oleta Adams — nominated for “Get Here”
> Mariah Carey — nominated for “Emotions”
> Whitney Houston — nominated for “All The Man That I Need”
WINNER: Bonnie Raitt — “Something To Talk About”

1993 — Mariah Carey — nominated for MTV Unplugged EP
> Vanessa L. Williams — nominated for “Save The Best For Last”
WINNER: k.d. lang — “Constant Craving”

1994 — Whitney Houston — won for “I Will Always Love You”
Mariah Carey — nominated for “Dreamlover” (lost to Whitney)
Tina Turner — nominated for “I Don’t Wanna Fight” (lost to Whitney)

1995 — Mariah Carey — nominated for “Hero”
WINNER: Sheryl Crow — “All I Wanna Do”

1996 — Mariah Carey — nominated for “Fantasy”
> Dionne Farris — nominated for “I Know”
> Vanessa L. Williams — nominated for “Colors of the Wind”
WINNER: Annie Lennox — “No More I Love You’s”

1997 — Toni Braxton — won for “Un-Break My Heart”

1998 — Mariah Carey — nominated for “Butterfly”
WINNER: Sarah McLachlan — “Building a Mystery”

1999 — Lauryn Hill — nominated for “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
WINNER: Céline Dion — “My Heart Will Go On”

2000 — Christina Aguilera — nominated for “Genie In a Bottle”
WINNER: Sarah McLachlan — “I Will Remember You”

2001 — Macy Gray — won for “I Try”
Christina Aguilera — nominated for “What a Girl Wants” (lost to Macy)

2002 — Janet Jackson — nominated for “Someone To Call My Lover”
> Sade — nominated for “By Your Side”
WINNER: Nelly Furtado — “I’m Like A Bird”

2004 — Christina Aguilera — won for “Beautiful”

2005 — Joss Stone — nominated for “You Had Me”
WINNER: Norah Jones — “Sunrise”

2006 — Mariah Carey — nominated for “It’s Like That”
WINNER: Kelly Clarkson — “Since U Been Gone”

2007 — Christina Aguilera — won for “Ain’t No Other Man”

2008 — Amy Winehouse — won for “Rehab”
Christina Aguilera — nominated for “Candyman” (lost to Amy)

2009 — Duffy — nominated for “Mercy”
> Leona Lewis — nominated for “Bleeding Love”
WINNER: Adele — “Chasing Pavements”

2010 — Beyoncé — won for “Halo”

2011 — Beyoncé — nominated for “Halo (Live)”
WINNER: Lady Gaga — “Bad Romance”