In a June interview with Rated R&B, Marsha Ambrosius recalled telling Dr. Dre she was ready to end her recording career. He urged her to rethink this decision, believing she still had one more album to share with the world.
Casablanco turned out to be that album, which arrived via Aftermath Records/Interscope Records. The Dr. Dre-produced project has now led to her first Grammy nomination in a decade.
The Recording Academy has recognized “Wet,” the album’s newest single, by nominating it for Best Traditional R&B Performance. This category highlights “new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.”
Here is the full list of 2024 nominees for Best Traditional R&B Performance:
- Marsha Ambrosius – “Wet”
- Kenyon Dixon – “Can I Have This Groove”
- Lalah Hathaway Featuring Michael McDonald – “No Lie”
- Muni Long – “Make Me Forget”
- Lucky Daye – “That’s You”
Prior to this, Ambrosius had not received a nomination from The Recording Academy since the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015.
That year, she was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “As” from The Best Man Holiday soundtrack. She duetted with Anthony Hamilton on the gorgeous remake of Stevie Wonder‘s 1976 classic.
Noticeably, Ambrosius’ return to the Grammy competition in 2025 marks her 10th career nomination. She scored her first nomination in 2003 as one-half of the duo Floetry.
At the 45th Grammy Awards, Floetry garnered three nominations, notably for their debut single “Floetic,” which achieved top 30 status on the Billboard charts and was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
The duo was also recognized in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category for their Floetic album.
After three additional nomination ceremonies shared with Natalie Stewart, also known as Floacist, Ambrosius received her first nominations as a solo artist for the poignant song “Far Away.”
This song earned nods for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012. “Far Away” was featured on her solo debut album, Late Nights & Early Mornings.
Returning to Ambrosius’ current single, “Wet,” when discussing its backstory, she exclusively told Rated R&B that “as soon as I heard the dramatics and the rain, it set a mood.” She added, “My pen was running away. It doesn’t belong to me sometimes. Whoever was speaking just said that’s what’s going to be said.”
Influenced in part by Minnie Riperton’s “Inside My Love,” Ambrosius expanded on her creative inspiration for the sultry song.
“It’s that moment for me to lend from different experiences that I’ve had throughout my life, and that ultimately comes back to me and my husband and how we [are] very intimate. I don’t want to give you too much, but just know that I’m happy,” she explained.
At the time of publication, “Wet” is No. 27 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart after two weeks. In contrast, Ambrosius’ previous single, “One Night Stand,” achieved a peak position of No. 2 in August. This sultry track even reached the top spot on Mediabase’s R&B radio chart.
The 67th Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. See the other 2025 nominees here.
Watch Marsha Ambrosius’ live performance of “Wet” below.
