R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year

• Baduizm
  Baduizm
  Baduizm is the debut album of R&B and neo soul musician Erykah Badu, released February 11, 1997 on Kedar Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during January to October 1996 at Battery Studios in New York City, Sigma Sounds & Ivory Studios in Philadelphia, and Dallas Sound Lab in...
  
  - Erykah Badu
  Erykah Badu
  Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
  
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• Share My World
  Share My World
  Share My World is the third studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, released by MCA Records on April 23, 1997. The album serves as a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated critically acclaimed second album, My Life...
  
  - Mary J. Blige
  Mary J. Blige
  Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
  
  
• Life After Death
  Life After Death
  Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released March 25, 1997 on Bad Boy Records. A double album, it was released posthumously following his death on March 9, 1997 and serves as his final studio album...
  
  - The Notorious B.I.G.
  The Notorious B.I.G.
  Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
  
  
• No Way Out - Puff Daddy and the Family

• "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" - Busta Rhymes
  Busta Rhymes
  Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
  
  
• "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" - Missy Elliot
• "I'll Be Missing You"
  I'll Be Missing You
  "I'll Be Missing You" is a Grammy Award-winning song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Christopher "Notorious B.I.G" Wallace who was murdered on March 9, 1997...
  
   - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (featuring 112)*
• "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" - The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase
  Mase
  Mason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker...
  
  

• Erykah Badu
  Erykah Badu
  Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
  
  *
• God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
  Kirk Franklin
  Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
  
  
• Missy Elliott
  Missy Elliott
  Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
  
  
• Puff Daddy

• Erykah Badu
  Erykah Badu
  Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
  
    - Baduizm
  Baduizm
  Baduizm is the debut album of R&B and neo soul musician Erykah Badu, released February 11, 1997 on Kedar Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during January to October 1996 at Battery Studios in New York City, Sigma Sounds & Ivory Studios in Philadelphia, and Dallas Sound Lab in...
  
  *
• Mary J. Blige
  Mary J. Blige
  Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
  
   - Share My World
  Share My World
  Share My World is the third studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, released by MCA Records on April 23, 1997. The album serves as a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated critically acclaimed second album, My Life...
  
  
• Janet Jackson
  Janet Jackson
  Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
  
   - The Velvet Rope
  The Velvet Rope
  The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released October 7, 1997 by Virgin Records. Prior to its debut, Jackson had been at the center of a second high-profile bidding war over her recording contract...
  
  
• Lil' Kim
  Lil' Kim
  Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
  
   - Hard Core

Best R&B/Soul Album - Male

• Joe
  Joe
  Joe may be a nickname originating from the name "Joseph", "Josephina" and others.Joe may refer to:-People:* Joe , an American R&B singer and record producer* Joe , a character known only as "Joe" on the popular children's show...
  
   - All That I Am
• Maxwell
  Maxwell (musician)
  Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
  
   - MTV Unplugged
  MTV Unplugged
  MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
  
  
• The Notorious B.I.G.
  The Notorious B.I.G.
  Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
  
    - Life After Death
  Life After Death
  Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released March 25, 1997 on Bad Boy Records. A double album, it was released posthumously following his death on March 9, 1997 and serves as his final studio album...
  
  *
• Prince
  Prince (musician)
  Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
  
   - Emancipation
  Emancipation
  Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
  
  

• Dru Hill
  Dru Hill
  Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", ...
  
    - Dru Hill
  Dru Hill
  Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", ...
  
  *
• God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
  Kirk Franklin
  Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
  
   - God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
  Kirk Franklin
  Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
  
  
• Puff Daddy & The Family - No Way Out

Best R&B/Soul Single - Female

• Erykah Badu
  Erykah Badu
  Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
  
    - "On and On
  On and On
  On and On is the second studio album by Jack Johnson, who provided the vocals and guitars. It was released in 2003 on Universal Records. Adam Topol played drums and percussion while Merlo Podlewski played bass. The album was recorded at The Mango Tree studios in Hawaii.A different version of the...
  
  "*
• Aaliyah
  Aaliyah
  Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
  
   - "One in a Million
  One in a Million (Aaliyah song)
  "One in a Million" is an R&B song by American recording artist Aaliyah from her second studio album, One in a Million . The song was the third main single from One in a Million following "Got to Give It Up", but in North America the song was the second single, because "Got to Give It Up" was not...
  
  
• Mary J. Blige
  Mary J. Blige
  Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
  
   - "Everything
  Everything (Mary J. Blige song)
  "Everything" is a 1997 song by R&B singer Mary J. Blige. Written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis,it was released as the third single from Blige's third album, Share My World.-Recording:...
  
  "
• Monica - "For You I Will
  For You I Will (Monica song)
  "For You I Will" is a pop ballad written by Diane Warren and performed by Monica. Her version was included on the soundtrack to the film Space Jam. In 1997, when released as a single, the song became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as Billboards R&B chart. It also experienced some...
  
  "

Best R&B/Soul Single - Male

• R. Kelly
  R. Kelly
  Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
  
   - "I Believe I Can Fly
  I Believe I Can Fly
  "I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song was written, produced and performed by Kelly and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. The song later appeared on Kelly's 1998 album R.....
  
  
• Joe
  Joe
  Joe may be a nickname originating from the name "Joseph", "Josephina" and others.Joe may refer to:-People:* Joe , an American R&B singer and record producer* Joe , a character known only as "Joe" on the popular children's show...
  
   - "Don't Wanna Be a Player"
• Kenny Lattimore
  Kenny Lattimore
  Kenny Lattimore is an American R&B singer. Among his most popular hits were "Never Too Busy" and "For You".- Early career :...
  
   - "For You
  Kenny Lattimore (album)
  -Biography:Upon its release, critics hailed Kenny Lattimore as an album that hearkened back to the time of Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye when "R&B had more soul" The set was bolstered by the success of singles "Never Too Busy," "Just What It Takes," and the now-signature song and perennial wedding...
  
  "
• Usher
  Usher (entertainer)
  Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
  
    - "You Make Me Wanna..."*

Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo

• Dru Hill
  Dru Hill
  Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", ...
  
    - "In My Bed
  In My Bed
  "In My Bed" is a number-one platinum-selling R&B single by R&B group Dru Hill. It is the second single from their eponymus debut album. The single spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number four on the US pop chart. The music video is about Sisqó's girlfriend, who is a...
  
  "*
• God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
  Kirk Franklin
  Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
  
   - "Stomp
  Stomp
  Stomp may refer to:*Stomp , a downwards kick using the heel*Stomp , a percussive physical theatre troupe*Stomp Records, a record label now part of Union Label Group*Stomp Entertainment, an Australian entertainment group...
  
  "
• LSG
  LSG
  LSG was an urban R&B musical supergroup, composed of R&B artists Gerald Levert from Cleveland, Ohio, Keith Sweat from Harlem, NY and Johnny Gill from Washington DC. The group's name "LSG" is derived from the first letter in the last name of each artist .In 1997, LSG released their début album...
  
   - "My Body
  My Body
  "My Body" is the a song by R&B group LSG released as the first single from their debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill.The song spent seven weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100...
  
  "
• Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
  Faith Evans
  Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
  
   featuring 112
  112
  Year 112 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Cornelius...
  
   - "I'll Be Missing You
  I'll Be Missing You
  "I'll Be Missing You" is a Grammy Award-winning song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Christopher "Notorious B.I.G" Wallace who was murdered on March 9, 1997...
  
  "

Best Gospel Album

• Living the Dream: Live from Washington, D.C. - Canton Spirituals
• So You Would Know - GMWA Gospel Announcers Guild
• God's Property - God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation*
• Still Standing- Williams Brothers

• Uptown Groove - Zachary Breaux
  Zachary Breaux
  Zachary Charles Breaux was an American jazz guitarist, influenced by George Benson and Wes Montgomery and best remembered for his soul-jazz work...
  
  
• Sweet Thing - Boney James
  Boney James
  Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz...
  
  *
• Dave Grusin Presents Westside Story - Dave Grusin
  Dave Grusin
  David Grusin is an American composer, arranger and pianist. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys...
  
  
• Black Diamond - Williams Brothers

Performers

• Janet Jackson
• Boyz II Men
• Puff Daddy with The Lox & Lil' Kim
• Kirk Franklin, God's Property
• Erykah Badu
• Usher
• Dru Hill with Jermaine Dupri
• Whitney Houston Tribute: Ron Isley, Terry Ellis, Kenny Lattimore, Monica, Patti LaBelle