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 · 1988– · pop

16.314

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

25 P!nk

United States of America · 1979– · pop 1.734

26 Jazmine Sullivan

United States of America · 1987– · contemporary r&b 1.700

Taylor Swift

United States of America · 1989– · pop 1.623

Kendrick Lamar

United States of America · 1987– · hip hop 1.607

29 Ms. Lauryn Hill

United States of America · 1975– · r&b 1.500

30 The Revolution

United States of America · 1979–1986 · funk 1.379

OutKast

United States of America · 1991– · hip hop 1.202

Maroon 5

United States of America · 2001– · pop 1.188

33 Fugees

United States of America · 1992– · hip hop 1.150

BTS

South Korea · 2013– · pop 1.112

Ed Sheeran

United Kingdom · 1991– · pop 1.076

Amy Winehouse

United Kingdom · 1983–2011 · soul 1.031

37 The New Power Generation

United States of America · 1990– · pop 1.031

Carly Rae Jepsen

Canada · 1985– · pop 0.868

Janet Jackson

United States of America · 1966– · pop 0.788

40 Tove Lo

Sweden · 1987– · dance-pop 0.767

Nicki Minaj

United States of America · 1982– · pop 0.709

Timbaland

United States of America · 1972– · pop rap 0.690

Janelle Monáe

United States of America · 1985– · pop 0.683

44 HUNTR/X

United 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 · 1962– · funk 0.646

48 X Ambassadors

United States of America · 2008– · alternative rock 0.640