2021 in rhythm and blues music

2021 in music By location

* Africa
* Asia
* Canada
* China
* Europe
* United Kingdom
* Japan
* Philippines
* South Korea
* United States

By genre

* classical
* country
* heavy metal
* hip hop
* jazz
* Latin
* rhythm and blues
* rock

By topic

* List of albums released

Overview of the events of 2021 in rhythm and blues music

List of years in rhythm and blues music

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* v
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This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in rhythm and blues for the year 2021.

## Events

[edit]

### January

[edit]

* On January 8, Jay W. McGee died at the age of 70.[1] On the same day, Michael Fonfara died at the age of 74.[2]
* On January 9, the 35th Golden Disc Awards were held. BTS won Disc Daesang (Album of the Year) for Map of the Soul: 7.[3]
* On January 16, Phil Spector died at the age of 81.[4] On the same day, Little Walter DeVenne died at the age of 73.[5]
* On January 18, Jimmie Rodgers died at the age of 87.[6]
* On January 29, Grady Gaines died at the age of 86.[7]

### February

[edit]

* On February 4, Jessie Smith died at the age of 79.[8] On the same day, Nolan Porter died at the age of 71,[9] and Gil Saunders died.[10]
* On February 8, Mary Wilson died at the age of 76.[11]
* On February 14, Ari Gold died at the age of 47.[12]
* On February 17, Gene Summers died at the age of 82.[13]

### March

[edit]

* On March 2, Chris Barber died at the age of 90.[14]
* On March 3, DJ Advicer died.[15]
* On March 14, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were held. H.E.R. won Song of the Year for "I Can't Breathe". Kaytranada won Best Dance/Electronic Album for Bubba. Kaytranada and Kali Uchis won Best Dance Recording for "10%". Beyoncé won Best R&B Performance for "Black Parade". Ledisi won Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Anything for You". Robert Glasper, H.E.R., and Meshell Ndegeocello won Best R&B Song for "Better Than I Imagined". Thundercat won Best Progressive R&B Album for It Is What It Is. John Legend won Best R&B Album for Bigger Love. Anderson .Paak won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Lockdown".[16]
* On March 15, Doug Parkinson died at the age of 74.[17]
* On March 17, Gerhard Augustin died at the age of 79.[18]
* On March 19, Margie Evans died at the age of 81.[19]
* On March 27, the 52nd NAACP Image Awards were held. Jhené Aiko won Outstanding Album for Chilombo. Doja Cat won Outstanding New Artist. Beyoncé won Outstanding Female Artist. Drake won Outstanding Male Artist. Chloe x Halle won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for "Wonder What She Thinks of Me" and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for "Do It". Beyoncé, Wizkid, Saint Jhn, and Blue Ivy Carter won Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for "Brown Skin Girl".[20]
* On March 29, Trisha Cee was killed at the age of 26.[21]

### April

[edit]

* On April 1, Quindon Tarver was killed at the age of 38.[22]
* On April 10, Bob Porter died at the age of 80.[23] On the same day, Quinton Claunch died at the age of 99.[24]
* On April 28, the APRA Music Awards of 2021 were held. The Kid Laroi won Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. Busby Marou won Most Performed Blues & Roots Work for "Over Drinking Over You". The Teskey Brothers won Most Performed R&B / Soul Work for "Rain".[25]
* On April 30, John Dee Holeman died at the age of 92.[26]

### May

[edit]

* On May 7, Cassiano died at the age of 77.[27]
* On May 11, the Brit Awards 2021 were held. Arlo Parks won Breakthrough Artist. The Weeknd won International Male Solo Artist. Little Mix won British Group.[28]
* On May 20, Roger Hawkins died at the age of 75.[29]
* On May 23, the 2021 Billboard Music Awards were held. The Weeknd won Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Album for After Hours, and Top Hot 100 Song, Top R&B Song, and Top Radio Song for "Blinding Lights". BTS won Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Social Artist, and Top Selling Song for "Dynamite". Saint Jhn won Top Dance/Electronic Song for "Roses". Doja Cat won Top R&B Female Artist.[30]
* On May 26, Red Top Young died at the age of 85.[31]
* On May 27, the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held. The Weeknd won Male Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Blinding Lights". Jhené Aiko won R&B Album of the Year for Chilombo. Doja Cat won Best New Pop Artist. H.E.R. won R&B Artist of the Year. Snoh Aalegra won Best New R&B Artist. Chris Brown & Young Thug won R&B Song of the Year for "Go Crazy".[32]
* On May 31, Lloyd Price died at the age of 88.[33]

### June

[edit]

* On June 6, the Juno Awards of 2021 were held. The Weeknd won Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Single of the Year for "Blinding Lights", and Album of the Year and Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for After Hours. Kaytranada won Dance Recording of the Year for Bubba. Savannah Ré won Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for "Solid".[34]
* On June 8, Dean Parrish died at the age of 78.[35]
* On June 17, the 2021 Libera Awards were held. Thundercat won Best R&B Record for It Is What It Is. Fantastic Negrito won Best Blues Record for Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?. Arlo Parks won Breakthrough Artist/Release. Mavis Staples won the Icon Award.[36]
* On June 20, Ike Stubblefield died at the age of 69.[37]
* On June 25, Lou Courtney died at the age of 77.
* On June 27, the BET Awards 2021 were held. Jazmine Sullivan won Album of the Year for Heaux Tales. H.E.R. won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. Chris Brown won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Giveon won Best New Artist. Silk Sonic won Best Group. SZA won the BET Her Award for "Good Days".[38]

### July

[edit]

* On July 1, Anthony Reynard Watson died at the age of 64. On the same day, Steve Kekana died at the age of 63.[39]
* On July 5, Raffaella Carrà died at the age of 78.[40]
* On July 7, Sam Reed died at the age of 85.[41]
* On July 11, Sound Sultan died at the age of 44.[42]
* On July 13, Bob Sargeant died at the age of 73.[43]
* On July 18, Winston Soso died at the age of 69.[44]
* On July 21, Clarence McDonald died at the age of 76.[45]

### August

[edit]

* On August 7, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas died at the age of 70.[46]
* On August 8, Bruce Conte died at the age of 71.[47]
* On August 9, Chucky Thompson died at the age of 53.[48] On the same day, Siti Sarah died at the age of 36.[49]
* On August 11, Mike Finnigan died at the age of 76.[50]
* On August 16, Clifford Coulter died.
* On August 21, Don Everly died at the age of 84.[51]
* On August 27, Sam Salter died at the age of 46.[52]

### September

[edit]

* On September 1, Waldo Holmes died at the age of 92.
* On September 2, Baron Browne died at the age of 61.[53]
* On September 8, Robin Russell died at the age of 69.[54]
* On September 12, Melvin Dunlap died at the age of 76.[55] On the same day, the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards were held. Doja Cat and SZA won Best Collaboration for "Kiss Me More". Silk Sonic won Best R&B and Best Editing for "Leave the Door Open".[56]
* On September 20, Sarah Dash died at the age of 76.[57]
* On September 23, Pee Wee Ellis died at the age of 80.[58]
* On September 27, Andrea Martin died at the age of 49.[59]
* On September 28, Dr. Lonnie Smith died at the age of 79.[60]
* On September 29, Julia Nixon died at the age of 66.[61]

### October

[edit]

* On October 11, Deon Estus died at the age of 65.[62] On the same day, Emani 22 died at the age of 22.[63]
* On October 25, Herbie Herbert died at the age of 73.[64]

### November

[edit]

* On November 4, the 2021 UK Music Video Awards were held. Celeste won Best R&B/Soul Video - UK for "Tonight, Tonight". Normani and Cardi B won Best R&B/Soul Video - International for "Wild Side". Bamao Yendé and Le Diouck and won Best R&B/Soul Video - Newcomer for "Marvin Gaye". Joy Crookes won Best Wardrobe Styling in a Video and Best Hair & Make-up in a Video for "Feet Don't Fail Me Now".[65]
* On November 11, Graeme Edge died at the age of 80.[66]
* On November 13, Philip Margo died at the age of 79.[67]
* On November 17, the 12th Hollywood Music in Media Awards were held. H.E.R. won Best Original Song — TV Show/Limited Series for "Change" from We Are People.[68]
* On November 18, Slide Hampton died at the age of 89.[69] On the same day, the J Awards of 2021 were held. Genesis Owusu won Australian Album of the Year for Smiling with No Teeth.[70]
* On November 21, the American Music Awards of 2021 were held. BTS won Artist of the Year. Doja Cat and SZA won Collaboration of the Year for "Kiss Me More". Doja Cat won Favorite Female Artist – R&B and Favorite Album – R&B for Planet Her. The Weeknd won Favorite Male Artist – R&B. Silk Sonic won Favorite Song – R&B for "Leave the Door Open". Kali Uchis won Favorite Song – Latin for "Telepatía".[71]
* On November 24, the 2021 ARIA Music Awards were held. Genesis Owusu won Album of the Year, Best Independent Release, Best Cover Art, and Best Hip Hop Release for Smiling with No Teeth. Budjerah won Breakthrough Artist. Archie Roach won Best Blues & Roots Album for The Songs of Charcoal Lane. Tkay Maidza won Best Soul/R&B Release for Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3).[72]
* On November 28, the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards were held. Yung Bleu won Best New Artist. Charlie Wilson won the Soul Train Certified Award. Jazmine Sullivan won Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and Album of the Year for Heaux Tales. Giveon won Best R&B/Soul Male Artist. Silk Sonic won Song of the Year, Video of the Year, and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award for "Leave the Door Open". Normani and Cardi B won Best Dance Performance for "Wild Side". Wizkid and Tems won Best Collaboration for "Essence".[73]
* On November 30, Kal Rudman died at the age of 91.[74]

### December

[edit]

* On December 3, Melvin Parker died at the age of 77.[75]
* On December 9, David Lasley died at the age of 74.[76] On the same day, the 2021 Music Victoria Awards were held. Hiatus Kaiyote won Best Victorian Song for "Red Room".[77]
* On December 12, the 8th African Muzik Magazine Awards were held. Wizkid won Artist of The Year, the Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, and Song of The Year for "Essence (Remix)" with Tems and Justin Bieber.[78]
* On December 13, Joe Simon died at the age of 85.[79]
* On December 14, Phil Chen died at the age of 80.[80]
* On December 15, Wanda Young died at the age of 78.[81]

## Released albums

[edit]

### January

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

5  | Rakiyah | Into The Cosmos[82] | Self-released
6  | SixTones | 1ST | Sony Japan
8  | Aaron Frazer | Introducing...[83] | Dead Oceans, Easy Eye
Jazmine Sullivan | Heaux Tales | RCA
11  | (G)I-dle | I Burn | Cube, Republic, Kakao M
15  | Zayn | Nobody Is Listening | RCA
18  | U-Know Yunho | Noir | SM, Dreamus
20  | Baekhyun | Baekhyun | Avex Trax, SM
22  | Ayra Starr | Ayra Starr | Mavin Records
Erick the Architect | Future Proof[84] | Self-released
29  | Arlo Parks | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Transgressive
Celeste | Not Your Muse | Both Sides, Polydor

### February

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

5  | Puma Blue  | In Praise of Shadows[85] | Blue Flowers Music
The Weeknd | The Highlights | XO, Republic
VanJess | Homegrown[86] | Keep Cool, RCA
12  | Dixson | Darling[87] | Roc Nation
JPEGMafia | EP2! | Republic
Lucky Daye | Table for Two[88] | Keep Cool, RCA
Pink Sweats | Pink Planet[89] | Atlantic Records
Robin Thicke | On Earth, and in Heaven | Lucky Music, Empire
Todrick Hall | Haus Party, Pt. 3 | Self-released
17  | NCT 127 | Loveholic | Avex Trax
19  | I.M | Duality | Starship
Tash Sultana | Terra Firma | Lonely Lands, Sony Music Australia
22  | Shinee | Don't Call Me | SM
24  | Ai | It's All Me, Vol. 2 | EMI, Universal
26  | Adrian Younge | The American Negro[90] | Jazz is Dead
C. Tangana | El Madrileño | Sony Spain
Madison Beer | Life Support | Access, Epic
Roosevelt | Polydans | City Slang, Greco-Roman
Wonho | Love Synonym #2: Right for Us | Highline, Kakao M

### March

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

5  | Gabrielle | Do It Again | BMG
Genesis Owusu | Smiling with No Teeth | Ourness, House Anxiety
Noemi | Metamorfosi | Sony Music
Sipho Dlamini  | Rhythms of Zamunda | Def Jam Recordings Africa
Tory Lanez | Playboy[91] | One Umbrella Records
8  | BDC | The Intersection: Discovery | Brand New Music, Kakao
10  | WayV | Kick Back | Label V, SM, Dreamus
12  | DPR Ian | Moodswings in This Order | Dream Perfect Regime
Giveon | When It's All Said And Done... Take Time[92] | Epic
Lake Street Dive | Obviously | Nonesuch
Nick Jonas | Spaceman | Island
Nubiyan Twist  | Freedom Fables[93] | Strut
Raissa | Herogirl[94] | Zelig, Columbia
Renata Flores | Isqun[95] | Self-released
Selena Gomez | Revelación | Interscope
15  | Pentagon | Love or Take | Cube
Purple Kiss | Into Violet | RBW, Kakao
Sananda Maitreya | Pandora's PlayHouse | Treehouse Publishing
18  | Paloma Mami | Sueños de Dalí[96] | Sony Music US Latin
19  | Jon Batiste | We Are | Verve
Justin Bieber | Justice | Def Jam, RBMG, Schoolboy
Madame | Madame | Sugar Music
26  | Budjerah | Budjerah | Warner Music Australia
Dante Bowe | Circles | Bethel Music
Gallant | Neptune[97] | Empire
Rod Wave | SoulFly | Alamo
Serpentwithfeet | Deacon | Secretly Canadian
30  | Baekhyun | Bambi | SM

### April

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

2  | Mr. P | The Prodigal | P.Classic Records
4  | Justin Bieber | Freedom | Def Jam
9  | Benny Sings | Music[98] | Stones Throw
Jordan Rakei | Late Night Tales: Jordan Rakei | Night Time Stories
Nick Waterhouse | Promenade Blue[99] | Innovative Leisure
13  | Wheein | Redd | RBW
16  | AJ Tracey | Flu Game | Revenge Records
23  | Alfa Mist | Bring Backs[100] | Anti
Steve Cropper | Fire It Up[101] | Mascot Label Group, Provogue
26  | Enhypen | Border: Carnival | Belift Lab, Genie, Stone
28  | Bibi | Life Is a Bi... | Feel Ghood
Morray | Street Sermons | Pick Six, Interscope
30  | Dawn Richard | Second Line | Merge Records
Itzy | GUE?? WHO | JYP, Dreamus
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. | Blackbird Lennon-McCartney Icons | BMG
Rochelle Jordan | Play with the Changes[102] | Young Art Records
Shelley FKA DRAM | Shelley FKA DRAM[103] | Atlantic, Empire

### May

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

3  | Yesung | Beautiful Night | SM, Label SJ
7  | Ailee | Lovin' | Rocket3 Entertainment, Dreamus
Natalie Bergman | Mercy[104] | Third Man Records
Rag'n'Bone Man | Life by Misadventure | Columbia
Tony Allen | There Is No End[105] | Decca Records France
Van Morrison | Latest Record Project, Volume 1 | Exile Productions, BMG
10  | NCT Dream | Hot Sauce | SM
14  | Jorja Smith | Be Right Back | FAMM
18  | Taemin | Advice | SM
21  | Abhir Hathi  | Lazos y Nudos | Dale Play, StepRecords
Audrey Nuna | A Liquid Breakfast[106] | Arista Records
Blxckie | B4Now | M4 Entertainment
Chai | Wink | Sub Pop, Otemayon
Erika de Casier | Sensational | 4AD
Georgia Anne Muldrow | VWETO III[107] | Foreseen, Epistrophik Peach
Qveen Herby | A Woman | Checkbook Records
Sinéad Harnett | Ready Is Always Too Late | Thairish Limited
26  | Mereba | Azeb[108] | Interscope
28  | Easy Life | Life's a Beach | Island
Mustafa | When Smoke Rises | Regent Park Songs

### June

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

1  | Monsta X | One of a Kind | Starship, Kakao
4  | Apollo Brown & Raheem DeVaughn | Lovesick | Mello Music Group
Fousheé | Time Machine | Trackmasters, RCA
Greentea Peng | Man Made[109] | AMF Records, Universal
Left at London | T.I.A.P.F.Y.H. | Fourth Strike
Mndsgn | Rare Pleasure[110] | Stones Throw
Project Moonman | Gemini | O/C Records
7  | Exo | Don't Fight the Feeling | SM, Dreamus
11  | Jesse Royal | Royal | Easy Star Records
15  | BamBam | Ribbon | Abyss Company
17  | Yugyeom | Point of View: U | AOMG
18  | H.E.R. | Back of My Mind | RCA
Maverick City Music | Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition | Tribl
Seventeen | Your Choice | Pledis, YG Plus
25  | Cautious Clay | Deadpan Love[111] | Self-released
Doja Cat | Planet Her | Kemosabe, RCA
Faye Webster | I Know I'm Funny haha | Secretly Canadian
Hiatus Kaiyote | Mood Valiant | Brainfeeder
Jimmie Allen | Bettie James Gold Edition | Stoney Creek
Justine Skye | Space & Time[112] | Nynetineth
L'Rain | Fatigue | Mexican Summer
Sault | Nine | Forever Living Originals
28  | 2PM | Must | JYP, Dreamus
Loona | [&] | Blockberry Creative, Universal Music Japan

### July

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

2  | Cosha | Mt. Pleasant[113] | Ashtown Lane
Laura Mvula | Pink Noise | Atlantic
9  | Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | Jam & Lewis: Volume One | Flyte Tyme, BMG
Mariah the Scientist | Ry Ry World[114] | One Umbrella, RCA
Rejjie Snow | Baw Baw Black Sheep[115] | Honeymoon, +1 Records
Snoh Aalegra | Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies | ARTium, Roc Nation
Tkay Maidza | Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3) | 4AD
Various artists  | Space Jam: A New Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Republic, WaterTower
16  | Chet Faker | Hotel Surrender[116] | Detail Records, BMG
Enny | Under Twenty Five[117] | Famm
Instupendo | Love Power A-to-Z[118] | Self-released
18  | Luísa Sonza | Doce 22 | Universal
23  | Leon Bridges | Gold-Diggers Sound | Columbia
Peyton | PSA[119] | Stones Throw
Yung Bleu | Moon Boy | Vandross, Empire
26  | D.O. | Empathy | SM Entertainment
30  | Billie Eilish | Happier Than Ever | Darkroom, Interscope
Durand Jones & The Indications | Private Space[120] | Dead Oceans
Isaiah Rashad | The House Is Burning | Top Dawg, Warner
Leela James | See Me | Shesangz, BMG
Prince | Welcome 2 America | NPG
Tink | Heat of the Moment[121] | Winter's Diary, Empire
Yola | Stand for Myself | Easy Eye Sound, Concord

### August

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

6  | Ayra Starr | 19 & Dangerous | Mavin
Tinashe | 333 | Self-released
Youngn Lipz | Area Baby | Biordi Music
13  | Brandee Younger | Somewhere Different[122] | Impulse!, Verve
Iggy Azalea | The End of an Era | Bad Dreams, Empire
Jennifer Hudson | Respect: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Epic, MGM
Jungle | Loving in Stereo | Caiola, AWAL
Still Woozy | If This Isn't Nice, I Don't Know What Is[123] | Interscope
16  | Red Velvet | Queendom | SM, Dreamus
17  | CIX | OK Prologue: Be OK | C9 Entertainment
Gray | Grayground | AOMG
19  | Marina Sena | De Primeira | Alá Comunicação e Cultura, A Quadrilha
20  | Dvsn & Ty Dolla Sign | Cheers to the Best Memories | OVO Sound, Warner
Kool & the Gang | Perfect Union | Omnivore
23  | Joel Culpepper | Sgt Culpepper[124] | Pepper Records
Stray Kids | Noeasy | JYP
26  | Jay B | SOMO:Fume | H1ghr Music, Warner Music Korea
27  | Eyedress | Mulholland Drive | Lex
Ngaiire | 3 | Dot Dash, Majestic Casual

### September

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

2  | Monogem | Gardenia | Self-released
3  | 88rising | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album | Hollywood, Marvel Music, Interscope
Cory Wong & Dirty Loops  | Turbo[125] | Roundwound
Drake | Certified Lover Boy | OVO, Republic
Duckwrth | SG8*[126] | SuperGood, The Blind Youth
JMSN | Heals Me[127] | White Room Records
Johnny Drille | Before We Fall Asleep | Mavin
Little Simz | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Age 101 Music, AWAL
Priya Ragu | damnshestamil[128] | Warner
6  | Young K | Eternal | Studio J, JYP
9  | Hyuna & Dawn | 1+1=1 | P Nation, Kakao
Lee Hi | 4 Only | AOMG
Liniker | Indigo borboleta anil[129] | Self-released
10  | Eric Bellinger | New Light[130] | YFS, Empire
Romeo Santos | Utopía Live from MetLife Stadium | Sony Latin
Samantha Fish | Faster | Rounder
Spencer.  | Are U Down?[131] | 4AD
Yebba | Dawn | RCA
15  | Sumin & Slom | Miniseries | EMA
Tems | If Orange Was a Place | Since '93, RCA
17  | Jordan Rakei | What We Call Life[132] | Ninja Tune
NCT 127 | Sticker | SM
Sevyn Streeter | Drunken Wordz Sober Thoughtz[133] | TStreetz, Groundwērk, eOne
Stokley | Sankofa[134] | Bluraffe, Flyte Tyme, Perspective
24  | Alessia Cara | In the Meantime | Def Jam
Alina Baraz | Sunbeam[135] | Self-released
Anthony Hamilton | Love is the New Black[136] | My Music Box, BMG
Nao | And Then Life Was Beautiful | RCA, Little Tokyo, Sony

### October

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

1  | JoJo | Trying Not to Think About It[137] | Warner
Ray BLK | Access Denied[138] | Island
Tirzah | Colourgrade | Domino
5  | Youngjae | Colors from Ars | Sublime Artist Agency
7  | BGYO | The Light | Star Music
8  | Don Toliver | Life of a Don | Cactus Jack, Atlantic, We Run It
James Blake | Friends That Break Your Heart | Republic, Polydor
Upsahl | Lady Jesus | Arista
12  | Enhypen | Dimension: Dilemma | Belift Lab, Genie, Stone
15  | Joy Crookes | Skin | Sony, Insanity, Speakerbox
Kacy Hill | Simple, Sweet, and Smiling | Self-released
Kirby | Sis. He Wasn't the One[139] | Self-released
Kirk Knight | After Dark | Blacksmith
PinkPantheress | To Hell with It | Parlophone, Elektra
Remi Wolf | Juno | Island
19  | Nam Woo-hyun | With | Woollim
20  | CL | Alpha | Very Cherry, Sony
22  | Majid Jordan | Wildest Dreams[140] | OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
Seventeen | Attacca | Pledis, YG Plus
Sogumm | Precious | AOMG
Wet | Letter Blue[141] | AWAL
28  | Nicki Nicole | Parte de Mí | Dale Play, Sony Latin
29  | Alfred García | 1997 | Universal Music Spain
Alina Baraz | Moongate[142] | Self-released
Hak Baker | Misled | AWAL
Nightmares on Wax | Shout Out! To Freedom...[143] | Warp
Thuy | I Hope U See This[144] | Self-released
Various artists  | The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Roc Nation
31  | Corbin | Ghost With Skin[145] | Self-released

### November

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

5  | Curtis Harding | If Words Were Flowers[146] | Anti
Diana Ross | Thank You | Decca
Dijon | Absolutely | R&R, Warner Records
Joan As Police Woman, Tony Allen & Dave Okumu | The Solution Is Restless[147] | PIAS Recordings
Katy B | Peace and Offerings | Rinse
Lauren Jauregui | Prelude[148] | Attunement, AWAL
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats | The Future | Stax
Summer Walker | Still Over It | LVRN, Interscope
Terrace Martin | Drones[149] | Sounds of Crenshaw
12  | Manu Gavassi | Gracinha | Universal
Sega Bodega | Romeo | Nuxxe
Silk Sonic | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Aftermath, Atlantic
18  | Weki Meki | I Am Me. | Fantagio, Kakao M
19  | Adele | 30 | Columbia
Alewya | Panther in Mode[150] | Because London
Bryson Tiller | A Different Christmas | RCA
Monsta X | No Limit | Starship, Kakao
Muni Long | Public Displays of Affection[151] | Supergiant, Def Jam
Snoop Dogg | Algorithm | Doggy Style, Def Jam
24  | w-inds | 20XX: We Are | Flight Master
30  | Kai | Peaches | SM, Dreamus

### December

[edit]

Day  | Artist(s)  | Album  | Record label(s)

|
|
|

2  | Alicia Keys | Keys | RCA
Arca | Kick IIII | XL
3  | Khalid | Scenic Drive | RCA
Marco Mengoni | Materia (Terra) | Sony Music Italy
No Rome | It's All Smiles[152] | Dirty Hit
PartyNextDoor | Colours | OVO, Warner
6  | Koda Kumi | Best: 2000–2020 | Rhythm Zone
7  | Greg Han | Greg Han | Pourquoi Pas
10  | Moses Sumney | Live from Blackalachia[153] | Jagjaguwar, Tuntum
Seyi Shay | Big Girl | Stargurl Limited, Jones Worldwide
Tory Lanez | Alone at Prom | One Umbrella, Create
14  | NCT | Universe | SM, Dreamus
16  | Tierra Whack | R&B?[154] | Interscope
17  | Various artists  | Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Republic
24  | William Wei | I'm More Sober When I'm Drunk | The Orchard

## Highest-charting songs

[edit]

### United States

[edit]

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2021 Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 Song  | Artist  | Project  | Peak position

|
|
|

"Leave the Door Open"  | Silk Sonic | An Evening with Silk Sonic | 1
"Peaches"  | Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon | Justice
"Save Your Tears"  | The Weeknd and Ariana Grande | After Hours
"34+35"  | Ariana Grande featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion | Positions | 2
"Go Crazy"  | Chris Brown and Young Thug | Slime & B | 3
"Kiss Me More"  | Doja Cat featuring SZA | Planet Her
"Smokin out the Window"  | Silk Sonic  | An Evening with Silk Sonic | 5
"Take My Breath"  | The Weeknd  | Dawn FM | 6
"I Hate U"  | SZA  | SOS | 7
"Good Days"  | 9
"Essence"  | Wizkid featuring Tems | Made in Lagos
"You Right"  | Doja Cat and the Weeknd  | Planet Her | 11
"No Love"  | Summer Walker and SZA  | Still Over It | 13
"Wild Side"  | Normani featuring Cardi B | Dopamine | 14
"Skate"  | Silk Sonic  | An Evening with Silk Sonic
"Streets"  | Doja Cat  | Hot Pink | 16
"Heartbreak Anniversary"  | Giveon  | Take Time
"You're Mines Still"  | Yung Bleu featuring Drake | Love Scars: The 5 Stages of Emotions | 18
"Race My Mind"  | Drake  | Certified Lover Boy
"Yebba's Heartbreak"  | Drake and Yebba | 24
"Telepatía"  | Kali Uchis | Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) | 25
"Bitter"  | Summer Walker and Cardi B  | Still Over It
"Fountains"  | Drake featuring Tems  | Certified Lover Boy | 26
"Get Along Better"  | Drake featuring Ty Dolla Sign | 27
"POV"  | Ariana Grande  | Positions
"Have Mercy"  | Chlöe | —  | 28
"Fucking Fans"  | Drake  | Certified Lover Boy | 32
"Ex for a Reason"  | Summer Walker and JT | Still Over It | 33

### United Kingdom

[edit]

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2021 Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart Song  | Artist  | Project  | Peak position

|
|
|

"Boyz"  | Jesy Nelson featuring Nicki Minaj | —  | 4

## Highest first-week consumption

[edit]

List of albums with the highest first-week consumption (sales + streaming + track equivalent), as of December 2021 in the United States  Number  | Album  | Artist  | 1st-week consumption  | 1st-week position  | Refs

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Still Over It | Summer Walker | 166,000  | 1  | [155]
2  | Planet Her | Doja Cat | 109,000  | 2  | [156]
3  | An Evening with Silk Sonic | Silk Sonic | 104,000  | 2  | [157]
4  | The Highlights | The Weeknd | 89,000  | 2  | [158]
5  | Welcome 2 America | Prince | 55,000  | 4  | [159]
6  | Heaux Tales | Jazmine Sullivan | 43,000  | 4  | [160]
7  | Back of My Mind | H.E.R. | 36,000  | 6  | [161]
8  | When It's All Said and Done... Take Time | Giveon | 32,000  | 5  | [162]

## All critically reviewed albums ranked

[edit]

### Metacritic

[edit]

Number  | Artist  | Album  | Average score  | Number of reviews  | Reference

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Ray BLK | Access Denied | 92  | 5 reviews  | [163]
2  | Laura Mvula | Pink Noise | 89  | 11 reviews  | [164]
3  | Sault | Nine | 88  | 8 reviews  | [165]
4  | Jordan Rakei | What We Call Life | 87  | 4 reviews  | [166]
5  | serpentwithfeet | Deacon | 86  | 16 reviews  | [167]
6  | PinkPantheress | to hell with it | 86  | 10 reviews  | [168]
7  | Rochelle Jordan | Play with the Changes | 86  | 5 reviews  | [169]
8  | Nao | And Then Life Was Beautiful | 85  | 9 reviews  | [170]
9  | Summer Walker | Still Over It | 85  | 8 reviews  | [171]
10  | Hiatus Kaiyote | Mood Valiant | 84  | 7 reviews  | [172]
11  | Curtis Harding | If Words Were Flowers | 84  | 5 reviews  | [173]
12  | Tinashe | 333 | 84  | 5 reviews  | [174]
13  | Spencer.  | Are U Down? | 84  | 4 reviews  | [175]
14  | Silk Sonic | An Evening with Silk Sonic | 83  | 15 reviews  | [176]
15  | Lake Street Dive | Obviously | 83  | 6 reviews  | [177]
16  | Various artists  | Get on Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records, Vol. 1 | 83  | 5 reviews  | [178]
17  | Leon Bridges | Gold-Diggers Sound | 81  | 12 reviews  | [179]
18  | Celeste | Not Your Muse | 81  | 10 reviews  | [180]
19  | Jazmine Sullivan | Heaux Tales | 81  | 9 reviews  | [181]
20  | Aaron Frazer | Introducing... | 81  | 6 reviews  | [182]
21  | Puma Blue  | In Praise of Shadows | 81  | 5 reviews  | [183]
22  | Dawn Richard | Second Line | 80  | 12 reviews  | [184]
23  | Durand Jones & The Indications | Private Space | 80  | 9 reviews  | [185]
24  | Nick Waterhouse | Promenade Blue | 80  | 6 reviews  | [186]
25  | Alessia Cara | In the Meantime | 80  | 5 reviews  | [187]
26  | Nightmares on Wax | Shout Out! To Freedom... | 80  | 4 reviews  | [188]
27  | Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats | The Future | 79  | 8 reviews  | [189]
28  | Charlotte Day Wilson | ALPHA | 79  | 4 reviews  | [190]
29  | Erika de Casier | Sensational | 78  | 8 reviews  | [191]
30  | Natalie Bergman | Mercy | 78  | 4 reviews  | [192]
31  | Snoh Aalegra | Temporary High in the Violet Skies | 77  | 7 reviews  | [193]
32  | Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | Jam & Lewis, Volume One | 77  | 4 reviews  | [194]
33  | Prince | Welcome 2 America | 76  | 16 reviews  | [195]
34  | Tony Allen | There Is No End | 75  | 9 reviews  | [196]
35  | H.E.R. | Back of My Mind | 75  | 7 reviews  | [197]
36  | Samantha Fish | Faster | 75  | 5 reviews  | [198]
37  | Tash Sultana | Terra Firma | 74  | 5 reviews  | [199]
38  | Alfa Mist | Bring Backs | 74  | 4 reviews  | [200]
39  | Jorja Smith | Be Right Back | 73  | 9 reviews  | [201]
40  | Georgia Anne Muldrow | VWETO III | 72  | 6 reviews  | [202]
41  | Nubiyan Twist  | Freedom Fables | 69  | 5 reviews  | [203]
42  | Steve Cropper | Fire It Up | 66  | 5 reviews  | [204]
43  | Alicia Keys | KEYS | 65  | 11 reviews  | [205]
44  | Adrian Younge | The American Negro | 64  | 4 reviews  | [206]
45  | Diana Ross | Thank You | 60  | 11 reviews  | [207]
46  | Khalid | Scenic Drive | 58  | 4 reviews  | [208]

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164. ^ Pink Noise by Laura Mvula, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
165. ^ Nine by Sault, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
166. ^ What We Call Life by Jordan Rakei, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
167. ^ Deacon by serpentwithfeet, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
168. ^ to hell with it [Mixtape] by PinkPantheress, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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172. ^ Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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186. ^ Promenade Blue by Nick Waterhouse, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
187. ^ In the Meantime by Alessia Cara, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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191. ^ Sensational by Erika de Casier, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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203. ^ Freedom Fables by Nubiyan Twist, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
204. ^ Fire It Up by Steve Cropper, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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206. ^ The American Negro by Adrian Younge, Metacritic, retrieved June 26, 2024
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List of years in rhythm and blues

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