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Every Grammys Best Contemporary R&B Album winner

9 ceremonies, 2003–2011. 6 different winners.

Best Contemporary R&B Album was first awarded in 2003, so it does not run the full 2000–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best R&B Album instead.

Beyoncé ×3Usher ×2
One band per year, because no winner has gone back-to-back in the years on record. Colored by label; scroll sideways for the full run.
Ashanti'03
Beyoncé'04
Usher'05
Mariah Carey'06
Beyoncé'07
Ne-Yo'08
Mary J. Blige'09
Beyoncé'10
Usher'11
Wins by label
  1. Music World333%
  2. Sony222%
  3. Universal222%
  4. Compound111%
  5. Murder Inc.111%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2003–2011.

Most nominated, never won

  • Brandy2 noms
  • Chris Brown2 noms
  • Janet Jackson2 noms
  • R. Kelly2 noms

Most losses

  • Brandy2L · 0W
  • Chris Brown2L · 0W
  • Janet Jackson2L · 0W
  • Ne-Yo2L · 1W
  • R. Kelly2L · 0W
  • Ashanti1L · 1W

The full list

YearWinnerLabel
2011Usher (Raymond v. Raymond)
beat 4 others
  • R. Kelly (Untitled)
  • Chris Brown (Graffiti)
  • Ryan Leslie (Transition)
  • Janelle Monáe (The ArchAndroid)
LaFace/Jive
2010Beyoncé (I Am... Sasha Fierce)
beat 4 others
  • Jamie Foxx (Intuition)
  • Pleasure P (The Introduction of Marcus Cooper)
  • Trey Songz (Ready)
  • T-Pain (Three Ringz)
Music World/Columbia
2009Mary J. Blige (Growing Pains)
beat 4 others
  • J. Holiday (Back of My Lac)
  • Karina (First Love)
  • Ne-Yo (Year of the Gentleman)
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Fearless)
Geffen
2008Ne-Yo (Because of You)
beat 4 others
  • Akon (Konvicted)
  • Keyshia Cole (Just like You)
  • Fantasia (Fantasia)
  • Emily King (East Side Story)
Compound/Def Jam
2007Beyoncé (B'Day)
beat 4 others
  • Chris Brown (Chris Brown)
  • Janet Jackson (20 Y.O.)
  • Kelis (Kelis Was Here)
  • Ne-Yo (In My Own Words)
Music World/Columbia
2006Mariah Carey (The Emancipation of Mimi)
beat 4 others
  • Amerie (Touch)
  • Destiny's Child (Destiny Fulfilled)
  • Mario (Turning Point)
  • Omarion (O)
Island
2005Usher (Confessions)
beat 4 others
  • Brandy (Afrodisiac)
  • Janet Jackson (Damita Jo)
  • Christina Milian (It's About Time)
  • Mario Winans (Hurt No More)
Arista
2004Beyoncé (Dangerously in Love)
beat 4 others
  • Ashanti (Chapter II)
  • Mary J. Blige (Love & Life)
  • Anthony Hamilton (Comin' from Where I'm From)
  • R. Kelly (Chocolate Factory)
Music World/Columbia
2003Ashanti (Ashanti)
beat 4 others
  • Brandy (Full Moon)
  • Faith Evans (Faithfully)
  • Floetry (Floetic)
  • Meshell Ndegeocello (Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape)
Murder Inc./Def Jam

More Grammys categories

Rap AlbumRock AlbumCountry AlbumAlbumSalsa AlbumMerengue AlbumSalsa/Merengue AlbumMexican-American AlbumRegional Mexican AlbumTejano AlbumBanda AlbumNorteño AlbumBanda/Norteño AlbumMúsica Mexicana AlbumJazz PerformanceJazz Vocal AlbumAll 152 categories

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