Best R&B Albums of 2022

Let's take a look at our favorite R&B albums of 2022.

Let's make sure we're all on the same page before you start scrolling down the list of the 20 R&B albums of 2022, in no particular order and most likely without reading any of the words affixed to many of them:

This is our list, not yours. We don't expect or want you to agree with every album choice. We want you to listen to a few fantastic albums you may have missed over the last year.

Enjoy the show!

Honorable Mentions: Also Known As by DMo!, Diamond in the Desert by Sidibe, flora + fana by Fana Hues, Hello Poison by Arin Ray, Holy Body Roll by A. Billi Free & The Lasso, Hypnos by Ravyn Lenae, Lies About the War by Jacob Banks, My Journey Continues by LeVelle, Untidy Soul by Samm Henshaw, When Everything Is Better, I’ll Let You Know by Pip Millett

Amber Mark — Three Dimensions Deep

R&B would not sound the same without Amber Mark's visionary approach. Amber released two EPs in 2017 and 2018 and made a name for herself. Mark has released many singles over the past three years and has been able to improve her sound. After all this time, we finally have the freshman LP complete. The expectations have been far exceeded. Three Dimensions Deep deserves all the praise and more it has been getting. The only flaw is the runtime. Mark is talented enough to make a record consisting of seventeen songs and an hour of music, slightly longer than it needs to be, but I can still sit through it front to back and enjoy it for what it is. I'm excited to hear what's next for Amber because the future is bright for her. — Harry Percy Brown

Standout Selections: Most Men / Cosmic / Worth It

Lady Wray — Piece of Me

Lady Wray is a formidable force in the contemporary psyche. She has been composing music for a long time, yet it seems like she's just getting started when you hear her sing. She will persevere until every song is created from the heart and for your ears alone. Piece of Me is her most recent album, in which she ventures out of her comfort zone and explores new musical genres and styles. Wray's most recent release, a follow-up to her 2016 album Queen Alone, has a more refined sound inspired by analog soul. It's a new and refreshing spin on old soul music. It is a timeless expression of the singer's perseverance and energy, showcasing her still-powerful voice, natural showmanship, and keen songwriting abilities. She collaborated with her longtime colleague Leon Michels on this album. — Reginald Marcel

Standout Selections: Through It All / Piece of Me / Games People Play

Moonchild — Starfruit

While soothing music usually makes for a pleasant and bold piece, balancing it with real meat to chew on is a daunting task requiring even the strangest musicians. Moonchild knows how to do it, and when things are easy, the fourteen songs on the fifth album move slowly but deliberately to make one of the happiest listeners of the year. As you probably know, you have always wanted more. Starfruit already has enough to make it a great album: the rhythms are silky smooth and cozy, the thick drum patterns over tasty chord progressions, the mix of nu-jazz keyboards and instrumental effects with sweet acoustic Neo-Soul sounds, And neither of these two elements do not contradict each other. But what makes carambola so good is that it is no longer the only offshoot of their labor that thrives; no, Moonchild now focuses more on Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Vocal Jazz, adding new layers to their artistry. — LeMarcus Dontrell

Standout Selections: Tell Him / You Got One / Love I Need

Robert Glasper — Black Radio III

Black Radio III differs from and is similar to Robert Glasper's first two natural syntheses of R&B, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. The most evident change from the outset is that Black Radio III is not credited to Robert Glasper Experiment. More than half the cuts on the album feature Derrick Hodge on bass, with Chris Dave drumming on two of them. However, Robert Glasper is often flanked by other familiar associates such as Burniss Travis II and Justin Tyson. This volume was over a year in the making, enabled by small contributions, rather than knocked out within a week with everybody in a room. Each selection is either a love song in the traditional sense or at least filled with love. — Imani Raven

Standout Selections: Shine / It Don’t Matter / Forever

Lucky Daye — Candydrip

Lucky Daye's quick ascension to the top of his genre led to him being nominated for six Grammys, three in the traditional R&B category and three in the progressive R&B category, for his projects, Painted and Table for Two. In a close partnership with D'Mile, Daye made that album and a follow-up duet EP. The two visionaries are as compatible as ever on Candydrip; the pre-album singles indicated that the LP would be unique. Daye flirts and pleads with an evident desire to take the relationship to a higher level. The person he loves can't be blamed for waiting when indecisiveness is rewarded with such pleasures on his sophomore release. — Jamila Wamuiru

Standout Selections: Guess / Deserve / Cherry Forest / Ego

Alex Isley & Jack Dine — MARIGOLD

The combination of Alex Isley's beautiful vocals with Jack Dine's intimate sounds creates a fantastic match. The harmonizing duo can capture precious memories, current pleasures, and future dreams in their music, and MARIGOLD is a perfect example of this. From the beginning of the first song's phased-out guitar chords, the album's mood stays peaceful, with her vocal delivery and love yearnings as the focal point. The record's tempo is the quickest at a tour through tracks that contain the most frequent romantic abstractions. They plant the seeds for a harvest of contemplation, development, healing, and fulfillment worthy of praise. — Harry Percy Brown

Standout Selections: Such a Thing / Under the Moon / Still Wonder

Eric Roberson — Lessons

Eric Roberson continues to express his many fans’ wishes, moods, joys, and love. It explains how he made 16 albums over a decade-plus career, sold-out shows, and a long career as an independent musician. He's an artist who still has the pulse at resonating with his day ones and newcomers to his music. Roberson never takes these delicate situations lightly. Lessons tell the story of a man who looks at his life before the wedding and how all the mistakes in his previous relationship prepared him to correct it this time. — Philemon Hayes

Standout Selections: Start All Over Again / All I Want / Lessons

Syd — Broken Hearts Club

Singer, songwriter, and producer Syd continues to put out quality work, whether it be through her band The Internet or her solo efforts. Syd's second full-length release, Broken Hearts Club, still finds her pining over her heart's desires and detailing the hardships and rewards that can come from it. Although there aren't many significant changes sonically, it's great to hear Syd taking chances with her range and pulling everything together nicely with great melodies. There is some exploration into 80's synths and acoustic-based tracks. Broken Hearts Club demonstrates that Syd does not have to deviate too far from what she has done in the past to be successful. — Murffey Zavier

Standout Selections: CYBAH / Fast Car / BMHWDY

LAYA — Um, Hello

LAYA. That's the comment. Her creativity and music, which has a decidedly '90s vibe with a modern twist, collide. She caught the attention of Warner Records after grinding for years and making a name for herself, and they recently reissued her independent EP from 2019, Um, Hello, as her debut project on the label. This project, meticulously constructed and cohesively arranged, impacts like a chance encounter with a complex and compelling songwriter with a golden ear for picking beats. LAYA's appeal is unapologetic and understated, highlighting her hard-hitting yet honeyed appeal. The reissue features songs with minimalist yet booming production that invites the listener into another dimension. — Brandon O’Sullivan

Standout Selections: Crazy Down / Sailor Moon / Calling Me

Ria Boss — Remember

The live album Remember by Ghanaian Neo-Soul performer Ria Boss was just released. The 11-track album, which explores well-known subjects like pain, loss, truth, and love, is a window into Ria Boss's mind. Remember is Boss’s first body of work since her THANKGODITSRIA EP series. Her careful songwriting and honeycomb vocals are on full display in this album, guiding listeners through her wide melodic range. The album's expressive and profound lyricism, which is a testament to its quality, is present in every song because the songwriter wrote them all. — Nehemiah Dawson, Jr.

Standout Selections: Somali Rose / Damn / Equal Refix

PJ Morton — Watch the Sun

The vibes are immaculate. PJ Morton's latest album, Watch the Sun, brings us joy. His upbringing has influenced PJ’s musical career, and he has brought this influence into his albums, some of which are more free-spirited while others are more serious. PJ's tracks are always delightful, with depth, vibrancy, and captivating melodies, no matter the direction. Each album is a marvel to listen to. The project brings a beautiful cadence with its summery atmospheric textures, whimsical pieces, and vibrant production, masking some blemishes. The features bring their A-game, focusing more on tonal fit, but that doesn't take away that Morton is still the star of this album. — Ameenah Laquita

Standout Selections: Please Don’t Walk Away / My Peace / The Better Benediction

Kenyon Dixon — Closer

Upon the album's arrival, Kenyon Dixon declared that it delivered the kind of R&B people state they so dearly miss. The singer-songwriter aims to please with his latest album, Closer, and Dixon leaves nothing to be desired. This album is excellent from start to finish. He is excelling lyrically, sonically, and vocally. Although the album's central theme may be love and matters of the heart, what rises above all is his love for R&B. — Harry Percy Brown

Standout Selections: Marvin Gaye / Love On Replay / Here

Tank & the Bangas — Red Balloon

Jumping into a Tank and the Bangas albums is like opening a treasure chest. The content is unknown, but it glows with promise. If there's one word to describe them, it's maximalist. There is never just one shade of gemstone either; variety abounds. Their new record, Red Balloon, offers a more controlled showcase of the band’s magnetic style. The musicians arranging and honing textures around Tank must find her formidable badassery very hard to tame. She tries everything and is good at it. She is sure of her vision. Perhaps the secret to her success is having the right kind of noble confidence that needn't be questioned. Although Tank is best known as an actor, she also has a passion for poetry, and to the surprise of many, she has an incredible singing voice. The authenticity of Tank and the Bangas are what you love them for. You'll listen to the whole album, Red Balloon. You will be thrilled. This should not be listened to for free. Buy it. — Jamila Wamuiru

Standout Selections: Communion in My Cup / No ID / Easy Goes It

Yaya Bey — Remember Your North Star

Yaya Bey is one of the newest captivating storytellers in R&B. Using a combination of her ancestors' abilities and her self-actualization, the singer-songwriter navigates the obstacles and joys of life via music masterfully. Remember Your North Star, Bey's debut album, conveys this emotional rollercoaster with a soul-nourishing combination of hip-hop, R&B, jazz, reggae, and afrobeat. Bey's ability to tap into the bright kaleidoscopic personality of women, particularly Black women, is the album's essence. With themes of misogynoir, deconstructing generational trauma, carefree romance, parental bonds, women empowerment, and self-love, Remember Your North Star demonstrates that the path to healing is not a straight line. There are several lessons to be learned along the way. — Brandon O’Sullivan

Standout Selections: keisha / alright / reprise

Steve Lacy — Gemini Rights

Steve Lacy's Apollo XXI earned him a second Grammy nomination and triggered a partnership with big label RCA for his follow-up. Lacy, normally a collaborator, was less busy than usual and contributed to LPs by Patrick Paige II, Thundercat, and Ravyn Lenae over the years. He appeared to save a more significant amount of his energy for single endeavors. He adjusted his method by turning the tables and allowing colleagues of producers, composers, and instrumentalists to take seats to support him with Gemini Rights. There is no sign that Lacy is holding back his free-spirited, deep-feeling nature, and the songwriting is more purposeful and has more clarity and depth. Each song blends warmth, compassion, and grief occasionally combated with shrugging acceptance. Lacy scratches an itch from top to bottom with a hint of abrasiveness. — Murffey Zavier

Standout Selections: Helmet / Bad Habit / Sunshine

India Shawn — BEFORE WE GO (DEEPER)

India Shawn's debut album, BEFORE WE GO (DEEPER), was repurposed from the EP released late last year. The singer-songwriter has worked hard for over a decade, and her talent and tenacity have been recognized and rewarded. Shawn and executive producer D'Mile expertly weave in all songs from BEFORE WE GO and seven new tracks. She has stunning vocal versatility and superb songwriting skills showcased in the album's production from D'Mile. This album has excellent chemistry in abundance, which makes for great music. — Imani Raven

Standout Selections: SUPERFINE / CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE / SAME FLOOR

Ari Lennox — age/sex/location

Ari Lennox achieved goals with Dreamville’s in-house producer, Elite, by collaborating with R&B legends Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Johntá Austin, and Jai'Len Josey to create the lead single for her second album, Pressure. Badu's influence on Lennox is evident in age/sex/location, and the song, POF, showcases some of Lennox's most striking vocals and her strongest, pithiest writing. The slow jams that repurposed or evoked mellow R&B and jazz grooves from the late '70s are the most illuminating. This album was exceptionally well crafted, and it's rare to hear a bad song from Ari. — Ameenah Laquita

Standout Selections: Waste My Time / Mean Mug / Boy Bye

Sudan Archives — Natural Brown Prom Queen

Natural Brown Prom Queen is undeniably the product of an introverted extrovert putting her extroversion on display. This follow-up to Brittney Parks's debut as Sudan Archives, Athena, is funkier and friskier due to a unique recording approach that included stages of solitude and cooperation. Parks made more modifications and changes with the help of Dickey and his colleagues. The first album released by Parks was more than just a stepping stone; it was remarkable and original. Even if it has more low-end and higher BPMs with surprising rhythmic twists, Natural Brown Prom Queen is still a symbol of growth because of its sophisticated, expressive poetry and diverse voices. — Brandon O’Sullivan

Standout Selections: Home Maker / NBPQ (Topless) / ChevyS10 / Yellow Brick Road

DIXSON — 004DAISY

On his newest album, 004DAISY, DIXSON embraces modernity and forges a lovely unique R&B style. The Atlanta native is a well-known producer and songwriter who has worked with musicians such as Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams, Yebba, and Beyoncé. His work on RENAISSANCE demonstrates the sound he is developing for himself in 004DAISY, an intriguing new alternative R&B sound. It is intended to be genre-bending, forcing individuals to reconsider their belief that they have heard everything from the well-established and now broad genre. — Harry Percy Brown

Standout Selections: LA NOCTURNE / ONLY-1 / CHERRY SORBET

Durand Bernarr — Wanderlust

Durand Bernarr, an R&B singer, was born and nurtured in a musical family from Cleveland, Ohio. His latest release is Wanderlust, a combination of R&B, funk, and disco that praises the good old and better days. The album features 12 songs, each with its message, all going to the same conclusion: take a vacation and improve. The album's structuring has a go-with-the-flow element, with funk and disco tunes amid the emotional songs. This statement is unique and on-brand with Durand's evolutionary mission while crafting this album. The project features love, sorrow, and yearning themes across many genres. He always liberates and tames his falsetto to fit the song's atmosphere, ensuring its melody stays dark. Although there are innovative sounds for aficionados of 80s disco and 90s funk, Durand's monologues and ballads are the project's standouts. — LeMarcus Dontrell

Standout Selections: Lil Bit / Mango Butter / H.I / Intermission