Best Urban Contemporary Album:

Free 6LACK — 6LACK
“Awaken, My Love!” — Childish Gambino
American Teen — Khalid
Ctrl — SZA
Starboy — The Weeknd

Our Take: If you were to ask listeners and aficionados of R&B what’s the best album in this section, eyes would turn to SZA’s Ctrl. But if common sense and deductive reasoning is a factor you can’t be nominated for Album of the Year and lose Best Urban Contemporary Album. Gambino it is.

Best R&B Album:

Freudian — Daniel Caesar
Let Love Rule — Ledisi
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
Gumbo — PJ Morton
Feel The Real –Musiq Soulchild

Our Take: Much like the Best Urban Contemporary Album category, reasoning comes into play here. Daniel Caesar is the winner in public opinion but Bruno has some higher billing. We know the real R&B MVP.