The Best Female R&B Singers Of 2024
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Vote on the artists based on their 2024 music and performances.
- 1
SZA
Solana Rowe (born November 8, 1990), better known by her stage name SZA, is an American singer-songwriter. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, later relocating to Maplewood, New Jersey. In October 2012, Rowe self-released an extended play titled See.SZA.Run, which she then followed up with her second EP, titled S, in October 2013. In July 2013, it was revealed that she had signed to Hip Hop record label Top Dawg Entertainment, through which she released Z, her third EP and first retail release, in April 2014. SZA is an PBR&B and neo soul singer whose music is described as Alternative R&B, with elements of soul, hip hop, minimalist R&B, cloud rap, ethereal R&B, witch house and chillwave. Rowe's lyrics are described as "unraveling", that revolve around themes of sexuality, nostalgia, and abandonment.More SZA
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- Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (born June 27, 1997), known professionally as H.E.R. (pronounced "her", an initialism for "Having Everything Revealed"), is an American R&B singer. After initial music appearances and singles under her real name, Wilson re-emerged in 2016 as H.E.R., releasing her debut EP H.E.R. Volume 1 under RCA, followed by four subsequent EPs. Her first compilation album H.E.R. (2017), consisting of tracks from her first two EPs plus six additional songs, was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album. Her second compilation album, I Used to Know Her, was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "Hard Place". In 2021, she was awarded the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "I Can't Breathe", and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Fight for You" from the film Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). Her debut full-length album Back of My Mind was released in June 2021.More H.E.R.
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- Summer Marjani Walker (born April 11, 1996) is an American singer-songwriter. She is signed to LoveRenaissance and Interscope Records. Her commercial mixtape Last Day of Summer was released on October 19, 2018. Her debut studio album, Over It was released on October 4, 2019 and received universal acclaim from critics. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart with 134,000 album-equivalent units in its first full tracking week. Walker made history when her debut album earned the biggest streaming debut ever for a female R&B artist. Walker also was the recipient for Best New Artist at the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards.More Summer Walker
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- Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo, better known as Jhené Aiko or simply Jhené, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began her career appearing in several music videos and contributing vocals for R&B group B2K. At the time, she was known as "Lil' Fizz's cousin", though she is not actually related to him. It was used as a marketing tool, suggested by Sony and Epic Records, to promote Aiko through B2K and attract an audience. In 2003, Aiko was set to release her debut album, My Name Is Jhené, through her labels Sony, The Ultimate Group and Epic, however the album was never released, with Aiko asking to be released from the label in order to continue her education. In March 2011, Aiko made her return to music with the release of her first full-length project, a mixtape titled .sailing soul.. On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.'s record label Artium, distributed through Def Jam Recordings. In 2013, Aiko appeared on Big Sean's single "Beware", also featuring Lil Wayne, which became her first Top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.More Jhené Aiko
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- Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter and dancer, signed to Atlantic Records. Kehlani is originally from Oakland, California, where she achieved initial fame as a member of the teen group Poplyfe. In 2014, she released her first commercial mixtape, Cloud 19. The mixtape was listed as one of the Complex's "50 Best Albums of 2014." In 2015, Kehlani released her second commercial mixtape, You Should Be Here. The mixtape debuted at number 5 on the national R&B/Hip-Hop chart, preceded from her sold-out North American promotional tour. In 2016, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for You Should Be Here. Kehlani released her first major-label debut album, SweetSexySavage on January 27, 2017.More Kehlani
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- Alicia Keys, born as Alicia Augello Cook on January 25, 1981, in New York City, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and actress. Known for her soulful voice and signature piano playing, Keys is a classically trained pianist who began composing songs at age 12. She attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, where she honed her skills and graduated as valedictorian at age 16. Keys's career breakthrough came in 2001 with the release of her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which sold over 12 million copies worldwide and earned her five Grammy Awards. This included the prestigious awards for Best New Artist and Song of the Year for her hit single "Fallin'." Over the years, Keys has released multiple chart-topping albums including The Diary of Alicia Keys, As I Am, and Girl on Fire, each showcasing her unique blend of R&B, soul, jazz, and hip-hop elements. Aside from music, Keys has also ventured into acting and philanthropy. She made her film debut in the 2006 action film Smokin' Aces and later appeared in The Secret Life of Bees. In 2003, she co-founded Keep a Child Alive, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing treatment, love, and support to families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. With her diverse talents and relentless dedication, Alicia Keys has firmly established herself as one of the leading figures in contemporary music and continues to inspire millions around the world with her artistry and humanitarian efforts.More Alicia Keys
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- Ella Mai Howell (born November 3, 1994) is an English singer and songwriter. She is signed to DJ Mustard's label 10 Summers Records and has released three extended plays. Her most recent EP, Ready, was released in February 2017 and featured the single "Boo'd Up", which was released in 2018. Her debut album, Ella Mai, was released on 12 October 2018.More Ella Mai
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- Mary J. Blige, an iconic figure in the music industry, is best known for her soulful voice and her profound influence on the evolution of R&B music. Born on January 11, 1971 in The Bronx, New York, Blige's journey to stardom began at a young age when she signed with Uptown Records in 1989, making her the youngest and first female artist on the label. Her debut album What's the 411? released in 1992, was a commercial success that not only catapulted her career but also revolutionized the R&B genre by blending soulful melodies with hip-hop beats. Blige's discography is a testament to her longevity and versatility as an artist. Throughout her career, she has released over a dozen studio albums, eight of which have achieved multi-platinum status worldwide. Among her most notable works are My Life, which Rolling Stone ranked as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and The Breakthrough, which earned her multiple Grammy awards including Best R&B Album. Beyond her success as a recording artist, Blige has also made significant strides in acting, earning critical acclaim for her roles in films like Mudbound and TV shows like The Umbrella Academy. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, Blige's resilience is evident in her work. Her music often reflects her experiences, resonating with audiences and earning her the title "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul." Blige's contributions to music have been recognized with numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A trailblazer in every sense, Mary J. Blige's indelible impact on the music industry continues to inspire artists and listeners alike.More Mary J. Blige
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- Courtney "Coco" Jones (born January 8, 1998) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer and actress. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but raised in Lebanon, Tennessee. Jones rose to prominence starring in the Disney Channel film, Let It Shine and TV series Good Luck Charile. Jones was featured on Radio Disney's Next Big Thing, or N.B.T.. Jones was formerly signed with Hollywood Records. Jones released her debut single "Holla at the DJ," followed by her extended play, Made Of.
- 10Tyla Laura Seethal (born January 30, 2002), known as Tyla, is a South African singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Johannesburg, she signed with Epic Records in 2021 after the domestic success of her 2019 debut single, "Getting Late" featuring Kooldrink.More Tyla
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- 11Chloe Elizabeth Bailey (born July 1, 1998), known mononymously as Chlöe, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and record producer. She is best known for being one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle with her sister Halle Bailey, together earning five Grammy Award nominations since 2018. In 2021, she released "Have Mercy" as the lead single from her upcoming solo debut studio album.More Chlöe
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- 12
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey (born March 27, 2000) is a child actor and one-half of R&B duo Chloe x Halle, with her older sister Chloe. Chloe x Halle signed with Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment and supported the singer on the Formation World Tour. In 2018, Halle Bailey began starring in Grown-ish. - Jazmine Marie Sullivan (born April 9, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, her debut album, Fearless, was released in 2008 to commercial and critical success. The record topped Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned four singles, including "Need U Bad" and "Bust Your Windows", both of which peaked in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the former of which became Sullivan's first and only number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Sullivan followed this with her second studio album, Love Me Back, in 2010, which was received favorably by critics. Sullivan has received one Billboard Women in Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards and two BET Awards over the course of her career. She has also received 15 Grammy nominations, tying with Björk as the female artist with the most Grammy nominations without winning.More Jazmine Sullivan
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- 14Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995), known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American singer, rapper and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began making and releasing music on SoundCloud as a teenager. Doja Cat signed a joint record deal with RCA Records and Kemosabe Records at the age of 17 and subsequently released her debut extended play, Purrr!, in 2014. Doja Cat is known for creating music videos and songs that achieve popularity on social media apps like TikTok and YouTube. This online success is credited with helping promote her from "one-time curiosity" (with "Mooo!"), to "bona fide star". Since the start of 2020, she has received nominations for four American Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and four MTV Video Music Awards, winning one of the latter for Push Best New Artist.More Doja Cat
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- #59 of 98 onThe Best Current Female Singers
- 15
Kali Uchis
Karly-Marina Loaiza (born July 17, 1994), better known as her stage name Kali Uchis, is a Colombian-American singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, and fashion designer. In 2017, she was nominated for a Latin Grammy for "Record of the Year" and was nominated for "Best R&B Performance" with Daniel Caesar for "Get You" at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. - 16
Ari Lennox
Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), better known by her stage name Ari Lennox, is an American singer and songwriter from Washington, D.C. She is signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records. On July 21, 2015, she was featured on Omen's album Elephant Eyes on the track "Sweat it Out". On December 8, it was announced that she, as well as Carolina rapper Lute, was signed to Dreamville Records. She made an appearance on the collaborative album Revenge of the Dreamers II, on the track "Backseat" with Cozz. On October 21, 2016, she released her debut EP titled Pho. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's song "Change", and performed as an opening act on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour during 2017. In 2018, she went on to guest feature on two songs with her label-mates: EarthGang on "Nothing but the Best", and Bas on "Iracus". On July 16, 2018, Ari Lennox releases the first single, “Whipped Cream”, for her debut album, with an accompanied music video on September 5.More Ari Lennox- #17 of 34 onThe Best R&B Performances On NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts
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- Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor (born December 10, 1990) is an American singer, actress, dancer, and model from Harlem, New York City. In 2005, Taylor signed a record deal with American musician Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint, before making her first national appearance on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. In 2012, she signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label through Def Jam, after asking for her release from Star Trak. As an aspiring songwriter, Taylor has worked with and written records for artists such as Usher, Chris Brown, and Omarion. Taylor has appeared on runways during Fashion Week and has also landed high-profile features, such as on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. She stars in the VH1 reality television show Teyana and Iman, alongside her husband, NBA player Iman Shumpert.More Teyana Taylor
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- 18Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe (; born February 6, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Tinashe moved to Los Angeles as a child to pursue a career in entertainment. Her notable roles included as a motion-capture model in the animated film The Polar Express (2004), Robin Wheeler in the Cartoon Network television series Out of Jimmy's Head (2007–2008), and a recurring role in the CBS series Two and a Half Men (2008–2009). Between 2007 and 2011, Tinashe was a member of the girl group the Stunners. Following their disbandment, she released the positively-reviewed self-recorded mixtapes In Case We Die (2012) and Reverie (2012). Following their success, Tinashe signed with RCA Records and released her third mixtape, Black Water (2013). Her debut single, "2 On", reached number one on the Rhythmic airplay chart, and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut studio album, Aquarius (2014), was noted by music critics as one of the most “solid” debuts by a new female artist in years. The album garnered her nominations for Soul Train and BET Awards. Her collaboration with Snakehips and Chance the Rapper, "All My Friends", won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2016. Tinashe's second studio album Nightride (2016) reached number 8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US. Joyride (2018), her third studio album, peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached number 6 on the UK R&B Albums chart. Tinashe describes her music as "rhythmic pop" that explores the genres of alternative R&B, pop, and hip hop.More Tinashe
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- 19Temilade Openiyi (born June 11, 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song "Fountains" by Drake.
- 20Normani Kordei Hamilton (born May 31, 1996), recording mononymously as Normani, is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. She is a former member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. In 2017, she was a contestant in season 24 of Dancing with the Stars. Her first single as a soloist, the 2018 duet "Love Lies" with Khalid, recorded for the film Love, Simon, reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Normani later featured on songs from Jessie Reyez and Quavo. She also collaborated with Calvin Harris on the two-single EP Normani x Calvin Harris, and released the single "Waves" featuring 6lack in November 2018. Her song with Sam Smith, "Dancing with a Stranger" was released in January 2019. Normani's debut solo album is set to be released in early 2019 by RCA/Keep Cool Records.More Normani
- Victoria Monét McCants (born May 1, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She became involved in performing arts at a young age, singing in the youth choir at her church, and performing in a city dance team. She soon took to writing and began working with producer Rodney Jerkins. Previously signed to Atlantic Records, Monét released her debut EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 in 2014 and her follow-up EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2 in 2015. Monét would follow this with the Life After Love, Pt. 1 and Life After Love Pt. 2 EPs in February and September 2018 respectively. Part one of her debut album, Jaguar, was released on August 7, 2020. Monét has written songs for many artists, including Nas, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, T.I., GOOD Music, Lupe Fiasco, Chrisette Michele, Coco Jones, Chris Brown, and Dirty Money. In 2019, Monét received two Grammy Award nominations for Album of the Year for her work on Grande's Thank U, Next and Record of the Year for "7 Rings."
- 22
Muni Long
Priscilla Renea Hamilton (born September 14, 1988), also known under the pseudonym Muni Long, is an American singer and songwriter. In the late 2000s, she was signed to Capitol Records, and released her debut album, Jukebox (2009). In 2018, she released her second album, Coloured (via Thirty Tigers/Sony Music); both under her birth name. During the 2010s, she began writing/co-writing songs for other recording artists, including the singles "California King Bed" by Rihanna, "Worth It" by Fifth Harmony, Kelly Clarkson's "Love So Soft", "Imagine" by Ariana Grande, and Pitbull's "Timber" featuring Kesha; with the latter reaching number one in multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. She has also co-written songs for Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Mary J. Blige, among others. She later adopted the stage name "Muni Long" (pronounced "money long"). In 2021, she received a Grammy nomination for her work on the album Back of My Mind by H.E.R. - Jorja Smith (born June 11, 1997) is an English singer from Walsall, West Midlands. She has independently released numerous singles and one extended play, Project 11 (2016), and is known for her guest appearances on the songs "Jorja Interlude" and "Get It Together" from Canadian rapper Drake's album More Life (2017). In 2018, Smith won the Brit Critics' Choice Award.More Jorja Smith
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- Kiana Ledé Brown (born April 3, 1997) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and pianist currently based in Los Angeles, California. She starred as Zoe Vaughn on the second season of MTV's horror series Scream. Ledé also starred as Veronica Washington on Netflix's original series All About the Washingtons. Kiana's debut album, Kiki, was released on April 3, 2020, to commercial and critical success.
- Layton Greene is an American singer and songwriter from East St. Louis, Illinois. She is signed to Quality Control Music and Universal Music Group. Her debut EP, Tell Ya Story, was released on September 9, 2019. Greene is Quality Control Music's first R&B artist.
- Janelle Monáe Robinson (; born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and producer who is signed to Atlantic Records, as well as her own imprint, the Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe's musical career began in 2003 when she released an unofficial demo album titled The Audition. In 2007, she publicly debuted with a conceptual EP titled Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). It peaked at number two on the US Top Heatseekers chart, and in 2010, through Bad Boy Records, Monáe released her first full-length studio album, The ArchAndroid, a concept album and sequel to her first EP.In 2011, Monáe was featured as a guest vocalist on fun.'s single "We Are Young", which achieved major commercial success, topping the charts of over ten countries and garnering Monáe a wider audience. Her second studio album, The Electric Lady, was released in 2013 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, serving as the fourth and fifth installments of her seven-part Metropolis concept series.In 2016, Monáe made her theatrical film debut in two high profile productions; she starred in Hidden Figures as NASA mathematician and aerospace engineer Mary Jackson and also starred in Moonlight. Hidden Figures was a box office success, while Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 89th annual ceremony. Monáe's third studio album, Dirty Computer, also described as a concept album, was released in 2018 to widespread critical acclaim; it was chosen as the best album of the year by several publications and earned Monáe two nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and was further promoted by Monáe's Dirty Computer Tour, which lasted from June–August 2018.Throughout her career, Monáe has received eight Grammy Award nominations. She won a MTV Video Music Award and the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2010. She was also honored with the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award in 2015 and the Trailblazer of the Year Award in 2018. In 2012, she became a CoverGirl spokeswoman. Boston City Council named October 16, 2013 "Janelle Monáe Day" in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, in recognition of her artistry and social leadership.More Janelle Monáe
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- 27FLO (stylised in uppercase) is a British girl group from London, consisting of members Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer. They formed in 2019 and signed with Island Records. The group gained popularity on social media with their debut single "Cardboard Box." They released their debut EP, The Lead, in 2022. They topped the BBC's Sound of 2023 poll and won the 2023 Brit Award for Rising Star.
- Queen Naija (born October 17, 1995), known professionally as Queen Naija, is an American singer and songwriter. In December, she self-released the song "Medicine". She was an unsigned social media star, but the song made a No. 45 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of April 10, 2018. In June 2018, she released her second single, "Karma", this time as a signed artist to Capitol Records. On its release day, the song reached #1 overall on the iTunes charts.
- Mariah the Scientist is an R&B artist from Atlanta, GA. As of 2019, she is signed to RCA Records.
- Amber Denise "Sevyn" Streeter (born July 7, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for being a member of the girl groups TG4 and RichGirl where she was known as Se7en. She signed to Atlantic Records and released her debut single "I Like It" in 2012. Her debut extended play Call Me Crazy, But... was released on December 3, 2013. It sold over 17,000 copies within its first week and spawning her first top 40 hit single "It Won't Stop", and "Next". The single achieved gold certification from RIAA marking it as her biggest selling single to date. In 2015, her first extended play (EP) Shoulda Been There, Pt. 1 was released. The extended play was preceded by two singles "Don't Kill the Fun" and "Shoulda Been There". Her debut studio album Girl Disrupted was released on July 7, 2017. The album has been preceded by the release of five singles "Prolly", "My Love for You", "D4L", "Before I Do" and "Fallen". She has written songs for artists Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, and Usher.
