The Groove

The greatest neo soul artists of all time

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

No. 1

Adele

United Kingdom · 1988– · pop

6.040

Why this number?

The full board

2 Tyler, The Creator

United States of America · 1991– · hip hop 2.877

Kendrick Lamar

United States of America · 1987– · hip hop 2.624

Alicia Keys

United States of America · 1981– · contemporary r&b 2.577

5 Frank Ocean

United States of America · 1987– · contemporary r&b 2.284

United States of America · 1977– · hip hop 1.927

7 Erykah Badu

United States of America · 1971– · neo soul 1.740

8 D’Angelo

United States of America · 1974–2025 · neo soul 1.500

Janelle Monáe

United States of America · 1985– · pop 1.367

10 Ms. Lauryn Hill

United States of America · 1975– · r&b 1.000

11 Duffy

United Kingdom · 1984– · pop 0.923

Gorillaz

United Kingdom · 1999– · electronic 0.845

Amy Winehouse

United Kingdom · 1983–2011 · soul 0.629

14 Gnarls Barkley

United States of America · 2006– · hip hop 0.622

15 Childish Gambino

United States of America · 1983– · hip hop 0.619

16 Jamiroquai

United Kingdom · 1992– · acid jazz 0.590

17 The Roots

United States of America · 1987– · hip hop 0.484

Sade

United Kingdom · 1982– · smooth soul 0.400

19 Common

United States of America · 1972– · hip hop 0.400

20 JID

United States of America · 1990– · hip hop 0.346

Mariah Carey

United States of America · 1969– · pop 0.323

22 Aaliyah

United States of America · 1979–2001 · contemporary r&b 0.193

23 Alabama Shakes

United States of America · 2009– · rock 0.157