BEST R&B SONG“Could’ve Been”H.E.R. featuring Bryson TillerSONGWDavid “Swagg R’Celious” Harris, RITERS Dernst Emile II,
H.E.R., Hue “Soundzfire” Strother In just two years, H.E.R. racked up 10 Grammy nominations, winning two last year for best R&B performance and best R&B album. Nominated in both the best R&B performance and
best R&B song categories, “Could’ve Been” (featuring Bryson Tiller) is an ode to a romance that never blooms. First released in 2018, “Could’ve Been” appears on H.E.R.’s 2019 to Love Her compilation, a project I Used
which is also nominated for album of the year. (Wsuccessful compilations, the singer has yet to release what she consid-ers her debut album.) H.E.R. also received nods in the major categories hile she has released two
for record and song of the year.“Look at Me Now”EMILY KINGSONGWKing once described the lyrics to RITERS Emily King, Jeremy Most
“Look at Mguised as swagger,” explaining that the song was her interpretation of trying to get the attention of a former flame. The minimalist track, which features lyrics such as “You said I’d never do it, e Now” as “insecurity dis-
well I figured it out,” garnered King’s first Grammy nomination in over a decade. Sometimes feigning confi-dence pays off: “Look at Mis featured on King’s album which arrived earlier this year. She e Now” Scenery,
received her first nom (for best con-temporary R&B album) in 2007.“No Guidance”CHRIS BROWSONGWRITERSN featuring Drake Chris Brown, Tyler James
Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib, Teddy WaltonChris Brown and Drake’s huge single “No Guidance,” features one of the
catchiest pre-hooks and choruses in R&B this year. The music video hilariously finds the two hinting at their previous beef and having a
dance battle. This is Brown’s sole nomination this year. The singer has been nominated 17 times and won one Grammy since receiving his first nomination in 2006. Drake, who has won four of his 44 Grammy nomina-
tions in the last decade, is also up for best rap song this year.“Roll Some Mo”LUCKY DAYESONGWRITERS David Brown,
Dernst Emile II, Peter Lee Johnson“Roll Some Mfrom singer-songwriter Lucky Daye, is one of the standout debuts from an R&B artist during the Grammy eligibility period. Strings and echoed o,” the debut single
vocals set the atmosphere for a lazy day where the New Orleans native smokes with his lover. The single serves as the opening track to theKeep Cool/RCA singer’s debut album, nominations this year — an impres-sive number for an impressive debut, including best R&B performance for “Roll Some MPainted. Daye scored four o,” and best R&B
album. Before releasing Daye wrote songs for artists includ-ing Trey Songz and Ella M“Say So”PJ MORTON featuring JoJoPaintedai. ,
SONGWMtine’s Day with an ultimatum: “If you love me, just say so/Cuz I can’t play these games with you no more.” The pair croon over a piano melody orton and JoJo ushered in Valen-RITER PJ Morton
that showcases Mgospel roots. “Say So” is featured on Mout earlier in 2019. Throughout his orton’s album PAULorton’s soul and , which camecareer, he has amassed 13 nomina-tions as a solo artist, and as key-boardist for Msongwriter won his first Grammy last year in the best traditional R&B performance category for “How aroon 5. The singer-
Deep Is Your Love.”BEST R&B ALBUM 1123
BJ THE CHICAGO KIDBJ the Chicago Kid continues to deliver a soulful, Chicago-inspired rendition of R&B with er, who has always sat comfortably at the intersection of R&B and hip-hop, 1123. The sing-
delivered a solid album that once again caters to fans of both genres. The project features the braggado-cious “Worryin’ Bout Me” (featuring
Morton at City Won March 18.inery in AtlantaR&B
GRAMMYAWARDS
98 BILLBOARD • DECEMBER 7, 2019
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