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~13.0M artists · ~39.4M recordings indexed
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The Groove

The greatest contemporary r&b artists of all time

74 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Rihanna

United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1988– · pop
16.314
Why this number?
The full board
2 Michael Jackson United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1958–2009 · pop 14.114
3 Beyoncé United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1981– · pop 13.723
4 Mariah Carey United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1969– · pop 12.770
5 The Weeknd Canada flagCanada · 1990– · contemporary r&b 9.292
6 Ariana Grande United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1993– · pop 8.637
7 Justin Bieber Canada flagCanada · 1994– · pop 7.651
8 Frank Ocean United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1987– · contemporary r&b 7.190
9 Prince United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1958–2016 · funk 7.071
10 Drake Canada flagCanada · 1986– · hip hop 6.533
11 Aaliyah United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1979–2001 · contemporary r&b 5.885
12 Alicia Keys United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1981– · contemporary r&b 5.774
13 Ye United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1977– · hip hop 3.644
14 Sade United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1982– · smooth soul 3.546
15 Justin Timberlake United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1981– · pop 3.486
16 Madonna United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1958– · pop 2.654
17 Toni Braxton United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1967– · pop 2.220
18 Destiny’s Child United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1990–2006 · contemporary r&b 2.200
19 Britney Spears United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1981– · pop 2.009
20 Christina Aguilera United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1980– · pop 1.989
21 Stevie Wonder United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1950– · soul 1.898
22 Bruno Mars United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1985– · pop 1.880
23 Whitney Houston United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1963–2012 · pop 1.869
24 Sabrina Carpenter United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1999– · pop 1.835
25 P!nk United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1979– · pop 1.734
26 Jazmine Sullivan United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1987– · contemporary r&b 1.700
27 Taylor Swift United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1989– · pop 1.623
28 Kendrick Lamar United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1987– · hip hop 1.607
29 Ms. Lauryn Hill United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1975– · r&b 1.500
30 The Revolution United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1979–1986 · funk 1.379
31 OutKast United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1991– · hip hop 1.202
32 Maroon 5 United States of America flagUnited States of America · 2001– · pop 1.188
33 Fugees United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1992– · hip hop 1.150
34 BTS South Korea flagSouth Korea · 2013– · pop 1.112
35 Ed Sheeran United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1991– · pop 1.076
36 Amy Winehouse United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1983–2011 · soul 1.031
37 The New Power Generation United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1990– · pop 1.031
38 Carly Rae Jepsen Canada flagCanada · 1985– · pop 0.868
39 Janet Jackson United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1966– · pop 0.788
40 Tove Lo Sweden flagSweden · 1987– · dance-pop 0.767
41 Nicki Minaj United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1982– · pop 0.709
42 Timbaland United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1972– · pop rap 0.690
43 Janelle Monáe United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1985– · pop 0.683
44 HUNTR/X United States of America flagUnited States of America · 2025– · k-pop 0.674
45 KPop Demon Hunters Cast 2025– · k-pop 0.674
46 Saja Boys k-pop 0.674
47 Terence Trent D’Arby United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1962– · funk 0.646
48 X Ambassadors United States of America flagUnited States of America · 2008– · alternative rock 0.640