The 10 Best R&B Albums of 2014
If you measure music by the Top 40 charts, 2014 looked like a dismal year for good music.
That’s why I don’t look at those charts.
If your turn away from 106 & Park and your little sister’s favorite FM radio station, you’ll find lots of solid music this year, especially in the realm of R&B. Many artists quietly released great albums throughout the year.
Let’s look at the 10 best. But first, lemme shout out a few honorable mentions. You are appreciated, word to Pac.
Honorable mention: Leela James, Fall For You; Dave Hollister, Chicago Winds … The Saga Continues; Kelly Price, Sing, Pray Love, Vol. 1: Sing
10. Luke James, Luke Ja
mes
I know this album wasn’t well-received by many fans, and that’s probably because it wasn’t at all what we were expecting. That certainly doesn’t mean this is a bad album my any means. James possesses the best vocals in R&B right now — bar none — and every note sounds magnificent against the album’s bleak backdrop. Forget what the haters say, it’s a strong debut.
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9. Jesse Boykins III, Love Apparatus
“Yo have you heard this Jesse Boykins guy?” — I got texts like that all year long. Jesse Boykins has been in the game for about half a decade now, but thanks to Love Apparatus, he’s truly begun to emerge from the shadows and grab the ears of listeners. He marches to his own drum beat, and that individuality — proudly portrayed on this album — has won over legions of fans.
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8. Goapele, Strong As Glass
Change is good and on Goapele’s fifth album, she strays from her trademark eclectic sound for a more contemporary approach. That makes Strong As Glass her most accessible able to date. It’s different, but it definitely works.
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7. Ledisi, The Truth
Ledisi never disappoints. NEVER. Her latest album is no exception, delivering her robust brand of R&B, sprinkled with a bit of jazz. It’s yet another strong addition to her catalog, but, again, that’s no surprise.
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6. Jagged Edge, JE Heartbreak II
Y’all know I’m HIGHLY critical of sequel albums, and for good reason. Most of the time they leech of the success of past glories and fail to recapture the magic of the original. Not true here. JE turn back the clock and return to their roots, mixing street sensibilities with the art of romance. It was one of the year’s most pleasant surprises.
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5. Syleena Johnson, Chapter 6: Couples Therapy
It’s rare that an artist can deliver an album this strong so late in her career, but that’s just what Syleena Johnson did. Proving that she’s more than a mere reality star, this conceptual look at relationships is easily her best work yet.
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4. Toni Braxton & Babyface, Love, Marriage, Divorce
The album that was 20 years in the making — and it was worth the wait. Face and Toni are two of the greatest voices of the ’90s and this look at love gained and lost proves they haven’t lost the magic. Their chemistry — and their voices — are undeniable.
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3. Pharrell Williams, G I R L
2013 was the Year of Pharrell, and Skateboard P’s domination carried over into 2014 as well. G I R L is an infectious marriage of pop and R&B. Don’t act like “Happy” isn’t your grandma’s favorite song this year. What P lacks in vocal ability he makes up for with loads of charisma and energy.
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2. Michael Jackson, Xscape
Look playa, I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong and I was VERY wrong about this one. When we heard that MJ’s unused recordings were going to be resurrected I was the first one whining and complaining. Miraculously, a stable of A-list producers captures Michael’s sound perfectly, creating an album that’s even BETTER than his last release before his untimely passing. MJ’s legacy only grew stronger because of this album.
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1. Marsha Ambrosius, Friends and Lovers
The first time I finished listening to Marsha’s sophomore album, I texted my boys at YouKnowIGotSoul.com said “We have our album of the year.” I’m never wrong (…except about Michael’s album). Marsha’s album was the perfect mix of sexuality and introspection — a look at relationships that proved to be more than skin deep. And, of course, she just sounds fantastic on every track. It’s easily R&B’s best contribution to the year of music, no contest.
What were your favorite R&B albums this year? Holla at me in the comments. And check out the 10 best rap albums of 2014 too.
Marsha Ambrosius – Friends & Lovers. I have both albums and all her mixtapes. She is my favorite artist.
You got it right. Marsha Ambrosius’ Friends & Lovers is super hot, and after listening to it several hundred times, it still fires up and burns my sensations! If you are trying to listen to this CD and do anything else besides make babies, be very careful and good luck.