But Wizkid got a lot of love this year, and it’d be a shame if voters let him go empty-handed, so a win here might be the best way to honor this massive hit. I’d say “Damage” might upset in case of an “Essence” loss, while Sullivan could easily sweep if the hype for her is truly there following the BET Awards. That said, the four Songwriter’s Award front-runners mentioned above are all in competition here. Since this award is based more on performance than on songwriting, “Essence” - which is the most recent hit - might have the upper hand here. Still, don’t be shocked if any of those four wins. My bet here, though, is going to be “Leave the Door Open.” Voters might not be able to resist the song’s infectious lyrics, and the combination of Oscar-winning co-writer D’Mile with Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars might be too hard to resist. The first two were big crossover hits, and the latter two might connect more with R&B insiders and ride the hype for their artists. Out of Wizkid and Tems‘s “Essence,” Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open,” H.E.R.’s “Damage,” and Sullivan’s “Pick Up Your Feelings,” it’s an open race. and Chris Brown’s “Come Through” did well on R&B radio, it’s not her biggest push this year. Tank’s “Can’t Let It Show” might be out by default given the steep competition, and while H.E.R. This award is also pivotal, with winners like Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” and H.E.R.’s “I Can’t Breathe” going on to win at the Grammys. SEE Grammy nominations: Olivia Rodrigo is rare artist nominated in all 4 general field categories … and so is Finneas Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award However, when it comes to awards, one should never underestimate H.E.R., especially after her streak this year with two Grammys in the spring, an Oscar, and eight more Grammy nominations, so watch out for an upset.
Jazmine Sullivan will likely pick this one up for “Heaux Tales,” which has not only enjoyed major success in the R&B sphere, but has also earned her a lot of other acclaim and accolades, such as the BET Award for Album of the Year. Furthermore, Doja Cat doesn’t have many more nominations, and she’s probably seen as too much of a pop artist here.
for “Back of My Mind,” Jazmine Sullivan for “Heaux Tales,” and Doja Cat for her massive hit “Planet Her.” One might go with Doja Cat just based on sales, but plenty of big albums have lost this award. Past winners include R&B classics of the past decade like Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange,” and Bruno Mars’s “24k Magic.” This year the race will likely be between three female artists: H.E.R. Album of the Year is the most prestigious award, and for good reason.