That’s right: The 61st Annual Grammy Awards airs live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST, with 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys as host. Looking back at 2018, it proved to be an exciting year for music veterans and newcomers of all genres.
Ahead of the 2019 show, many current R&B nominees earned rare distinctions with their nominations, including PJ Morton in the Best R&B Album category. Charlie Wilson has another chance to win his first trophy, with Grammy-favorite Lalah Hathaway, while Toni Braxton, H.E.R. and Ella Mai go after the Best R&B Song award.
As the biggest in music gets on its way, Rated R&B gets down to the wire to pick winners in R&B categories. In December, The Recording Academy announced the 2019 nominees. To refresh your memory, below is a list of the nominees for the R&B categories.
Best R&B Performance
(For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.)
“Long As I Live” — Toni Braxton
“Summer” — The Carters
“Y O Y” — Lalah Hathaway
“Best Part” — H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar
“First Began” — PJ Morton
Best Traditional R&B Performance
(For new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.)
“Best Ain’t Worth the Hand” — Leon Bridges
“Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight” — Bettye LaVette
“Honest” — MAJOR.
“How Deep is Your Love” — PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
“Made for Love” — Charlie Wilson featuring Lalah Hathaway
Best R&B Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
“Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
“Come Through And Chill” — Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)
“Feels Like Summer” — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)
“Focus” — Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“Long As I Live” — Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B.)
Everything Is Love — The Carters
The Kids Are Alright — Chloe x Halle
Chris Dave And The Drumhedz — Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
War & Leisure — Miguel
Ventriloquism — Meshell Ndegeocello
Best R&B Album
(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.)
Sex & Cigarettes — Toni Braxton
Good Thing — Leon Bridges
Honestly — Lalah Hathaway
H.E.R. — H.E.R.
Gumbo Unplugged (Live) — PJ Morton
Keithan’s Predictions:
Best R&B Performance
“Long As I Live” – Toni Braxton
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Made For Love” — Charlie Wilson featuring Lalah Hathaway
Best R&B Song
“Focus” — Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
The Kids Are Alright – Chloe x Halle
Best R&B Album
H.E.R. — H.E.R.
Follow Keithan on Twitter @iamKeithan.
Antwane’s Predictions
Best R&B Performance
“Best Part” — H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Made for Love” — Charlie Wilson featuring Lalah Hathaway
Best R&B Song
“Long As I Live” — Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
The Kids Are Alright — Chloe x Halle
Best R&B Album
H.E.R. — H.E.R.
Follow Antwane on Twitter @9thwonderofPR.
Danielle’s Predictions
Best R&B Performance
“Long As I Live” — Toni Braxton
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“How Deep is Your Love” — PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
Best R&B Song
“Focus” — Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Everything Is Love — The Carters
Best R&B Album
H.E.R. — H.E.R.
Follow Danielle on Twitter @OnlyDaniB.
Edward’s Predictions
Best R&B Performance
“Best Part” — H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Best Ain’t Worth the Hand” — Leon Bridges
Best R&B Song
“Long As I Live” — Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
War & Leisure — Miguel
Best R&B Album
Sex & Cigarettes — Toni Braxton
Follow Edward on Twitter @Eddy_564.
