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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined R&B Performance.

14 ceremonies, 2012–2025. 14 different winners.

Who won most recently?
Muni Long in 2025 for Made for Me (Live on BET).
Who has won the most?
Muni Long, 2 wins (2023, 2025).
  1. Made for Me (Live on BET)Muni Long
  2. ICUCoco Jones
  3. Hrs & HrsMuni Long
  4. Leave the Door OpenSilk Sonic
  5. Black ParadeBeyoncé
  6. Come HomeAnderson .Paak featuring André 3000
Years explored
2012–2025
Different winners
14
Category leader
Muni Long · 2
About this record

Best R&B Performance was first awarded in 2012, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It took over from Best Urban/Alternative Performance, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

2012–2025

14 ceremonies

20122025

01 / The reigns

14 winners shaped this category.

The timeline turns the 2012–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Muni Long2 wins
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.
Corinne Bailey Rae'12
Usher'13
Snarky Puppy featuring Lalah Hathaway'14
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z'15
The Weeknd'16
Solange'17
Bruno Mars'18
Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R.'19
Anderson .Paak featuring André 3000'20
Beyoncé'21
Silk Sonic'22
Muni Long'23
Coco Jones'24
Muni Long'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 3 wins, 2012–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony3 wins
Universal3 wins
Supergiant2 wins
12 Tone1 win
Golden Child1 win
High Standardz1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony321%
  2. Universal321%
  3. Supergiant214%
  4. 12 Tone17%
  5. Golden Child17%
  6. High Standardz17%
  7. Other321%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2012–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Ledisi
    3 noms
  2. 02
    SZA
    3 noms
  3. 03
    Chris Brown
    2 noms
  4. 04
    Lucky Daye
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Tamar Braxton
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

Beyoncé performing on the Renaissance World Tour in London
06Beyoncé1 losses · 1 wins
  1. 01
    Ledisi
    3L · 0W
  2. 02
    SZA
    3L · 0W
  3. 03
    Chris Brown
    2L · 0W
  4. 04
    Lucky Daye
    2L · 0W
  5. 05
    Tamar Braxton
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2012–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Muni Long (Made for Me (Live on BET))
beat 4 others
  • Jhené Aiko (Guidance)
  • Chris Brown (Residuals)
  • Coco Jones (Here We Go (Uh Oh))
  • SZA (Saturn)
Supergiant/MPR
2024Coco Jones (ICU)
beat 4 others
  • Chris Brown (Summer Too Hot)
  • Robert Glasper featuring Sir and Alex Isley (Back to Love)
  • Victoria Monét (How Does It Make You Feel)
  • SZA (Kill Bill)
High Standardz/Def Jam
2023Muni Long (Hrs & Hrs)
beat 4 others
  • Beyoncé (Virgo's Groove)
  • Mary J. Blige featuring Anderson .Paak (Here With Me)
  • Lucky Daye (Over)
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Hurt Me So Good)
Supergiant/MPR
2022Silk Sonic (Leave the Door Open)tieJazmine Sullivan (Pick Up Your Feelings)
beat 3 others
  • Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon (Peaches)
  • Snoh Aalegra (Lost You)
  • H.E.R. (Damage)
Aftermath/Atlantic
2021Beyoncé (Black Parade)
beat 4 others
  • Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend (Lightning & Thunder)
  • Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign (All I Need)
  • Brittany Howard (Goat Head)
  • Emily King (See Me)
Parkwood/Columbia
2020Anderson .Paak featuring André 3000 (Come Home)
beat 4 others
  • Brandy and Daniel Caesar (Love Again)
  • H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller (Could've Been)
  • Lizzo featuring Gucci Mane (Exactly How I Feel)
  • Lucky Daye (Roll Some Mo)
12 Tone/Aftermath
2019Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R. (Best Part)
beat 4 others
  • Toni Braxton (Long as I Live)
  • The Carters (Summer)
  • Lalah Hathaway (Y O Y)
  • PJ Morton (First Began)
Golden Child/RCA
2018Bruno Mars (That's What I Like)
beat 4 others
  • Daniel Caesar featuring Kali Uchis (Get You)
  • Kehlani (Distraction)
  • Ledisi (High)
  • SZA (The Weekend)
Atlantic
2017Solange (Cranes in the Sky)
beat 4 others
  • BJ the Chicago Kid (Turnin' Me Up)
  • Ro James (Permission)
  • Musiq Soulchild (I Do)
  • Rihanna (Needed Me)
Saint/Columbia
2016The Weeknd (Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey))
beat 4 others
  • Tamar Braxton (If I Don't Have You)
  • Andra Day (Rise Up)
  • Hiatus Kaiyote (Breathing Underwater)
  • Jeremih featuring J. Cole (Planez)
Republic
2015Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z (Drunk in Love)
beat 4 others
  • Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross (New Flame)
  • Jennifer Hudson featuring R. Kelly (It's Your World)
  • Ledisi (Like This)
  • Usher (Good Kisser)
Parkwood/Columbia
2014Snarky Puppy featuring Lalah Hathaway (Something)
beat 4 others
  • Tamar Braxton (Love and War)
  • Anthony Hamilton (Best of Me)
  • Hiatus Kaiyote featuring Q-Tip (Nakamarra)
  • Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar (How Many Drinks?)
Ropeadope
2013Usher (Climax)
beat 4 others
  • Estelle (Thank You)
  • Robert Glasper and Ledisi (Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.))
  • Luke James (I Want You)
  • Miguel (Adorn)
RCA
2012Corinne Bailey Rae (Is This Love)
beat 4 others
  • Marsha Ambrosius (Far Away)
  • Ledisi (Pieces of Me)
  • Kelly Price and Stokley (Not My Daddy)
  • Charlie Wilson (You Are)
Capitol