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**Billboard’s Top Staff Picks: The 14 Most Essential Songs & Albums of the Year**
As we approach the end of the year, Billboard’s editors and writers have taken a step back to assess the music landscape. Amidst the chaos, we’ve curated our top picks for the best R&B albums of 2024.
The list is an eclectic mix of old-school soul revivalists and new-school boundary-pushers. With ROSÉ’s triumphant solo debut at no. 1 on Billboard Global charts and Bruno Mars’ chart dominance with ‘APT.’, it becomes clear that this year has been a defining moment for R&B as an art form.
From IU’s unprecedented success in the K-Pop scene to Jelly Roll’s newfound independence, the past 12 months have seen significant shifts within the genre. The below list represents our top picks for the most exceptional releases of the year:
1. **ROSÉ – Rosie**: A stunning solo debut that rewrites the rules for R&B pop.
2. **Bruno Mars – APT.**: An unwavering display of sonic mastery and artistic vision.
3. **IU – Single**: A game-changing K-Pop phenomenon defying expectations.
4. **Jelly Roll – Whiskey Myers**: His journey to independence marks a new chapter in R&B’s evolution.
And the remaining 6 spots have been filled with equally impressive releases.
Source: www.billboard.com
