# 2023 in rhythm and blues music

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in rhythm and blues for the year 2023.

## Events
### January

* On January 1, Fred White died at the age of 67.
* On January 13, Thomasina Winslow died at the age of 57.
* On January 17, Renée Geyer died at the age of 69.
* On January 28, Barrett Strong died at the age of 81.
* On January 31, Charlie Thomas died at the age of 85.

### February

* On February 5, the 65th Annual Grammy Awards were held. Beyoncé won both Best R&B Song for "Cuff It" and Best R&B Traditional Performance for "Plastic Off the Sofa". Muni Long won Best R&B Performance for "Hrs and Hrs". Steve Lacy won Best Progressive R&B Album for Gemini Rights. Robert Glasper won Best R&B Album for Black Radio III.
* On February 11, the Brit Awards 2023 were held. Flo won the Rising Star award.
* On February 13, Huey "Piano" Smith died at the age of 89. On the same day, Spencer Wiggins died at the age of 81.
* On February 16, Chuck Jackson died at the age of 85.
* On February 18, Don Shinn died at the age of 77. On the same day, the 12th Circle Chart Music Awards were held. NCT won Artist of the Year – Physical Album 1st Quarter for Universe. Stray Kids won Artist of the Year – Physical Album 4th Quarter for Maxident. NewJeans won New Artist of the Year Digital Music for "Attention". (G)I-dle won Record Production of the Year for I Never Die. On the same day, the 49th People's Choice Awards were held. Beyoncé won R&B Artist of the Year.
* On February 23, R. Kelly was sentenced in Chicago federal court to 20 years in prison for child pornography and other sexual crimes involving minors, with 19 years being concurrent to his previous 30-year term handed down in New York. Kelly will now serve 31 years in prison.
* On February 25, the 54th NAACP Image Awards were held. Beyoncé won Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for "Cuff It", and Outstanding Album for Renaissance. Coco Jones won Outstanding New Artist. Chris Brown won Outstanding Male Artist. Chris Brown and Wizkid won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for "Call Me Every Day". Silk Sonic won Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for "Love's Train". Rihanna won Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for "Lift Me Up". Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis & Dave Jordan won Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Soundtrack). Tems won Outstanding International Song for "No Woman No Cry".

### March

* On March 1, Leon Hughes died at the age of 92.
* On March 5, the 20th Korean Music Awards were held. Younha won Song of the Year for "Event Horizon". NewJeans won Rookie of the Year, Best K-Pop Song for "Attention", and Best K-Pop Album for New Jeans. A.Train won Best R&B & Soul Album for Private Pink. Bibi won Best R&B & Soul Song for "Jotto". Nucksal and Cadejo won Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album for Sincerely Yours and Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song for "Good Morning Seoul".
* On March 13, the Juno Awards of 2023 were held. The Weeknd won Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Single of the Year for "Sacrifice", and Album of the Year for Dawn FM. Akeel Henry won Producer of the Year. Angelique Francis won Blues Album of the Year for Long River. Jessie Reyez won Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for Yessie. Savannah Ré and Dylan Sinclair won Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for "Last One". Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak won Rap Single of the Year for "Twin Flame".
* On March 14, Bobby Caldwell died at the age of 71.
* On March 16, Fuzzy Haskins died at the age of 81.
* On March 27, Peggy Scott-Adams died at the age of 74. On the same day, the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held. Future, Drake, and Tems won Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Wait for U". Drake won Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. SZA won R&B Artist of the Year and R&B Song of the Year for "I Hate U". Muni Long won Best New R&B Artist. Kali Uchis won Best New Latin Artist. Beyoncé won R&B Album of the Year for Renaissance.
* On March 29, Sweet Charles Sherrell died at the age of 80.
* On March 31, the 2023 Global Awards were held. Raye and 070 Shake won Best Social Trended Song for "Escapism". Flo won the Rising Star Award. Lizzo won Best Female.

### April

* On April 5, Booker Newberry III died at the age of 67.
* On April 25, Billy "The Kid" Emerson died at the age of 97.
* On April 27, the APRA Music Awards of 2023 were held. Xavier Rudd won Most Performed Blues & Roots Work for "We Deserve to Dream". Miiesha won Most Performed R&B / Soul Work for "Still Dream".

### May

* On May 3, Linda Lewis died at the age of 72.
* On May 5, Chris Strachwitz died at the age of 91.
* On May 6, the 17th Metro FM Music Awards were held. MOE. won Best New Age R&B Artist.
* On May 23, Sheldon Reynolds died at the age of 63.
* On May 24, Tina Turner died at the age of 83.
* On May 30, DaniLeigh was arrested for a DUI in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

### June

* On June 4, George Winston at the age of 74.
* On June 15, the 2023 Libera Awards were held. Shemekia Copeland won Best Blues Record for Done Come Too Far. Sudan Archives won Breakthrough Artist/Release and Best R&B Record for Natural Brown Prom Queen. Lee Fields won Best Soul/Funk Record for Sentimental Fool.
* On June 23, Jacquees was arrested for battery in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
* On June 25, the BET Awards 2023 were held. SZA won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Album of the Year for SOS and Video of the Year for "Kill Bill". Beyoncé won the BET Her Award for "Break My Soul", Album of the Year for Renaissance and the Viewer's Choice Award for "Break My Soul". Future, Drake, and Tems won Best Collaboration for "Wait for U". Usher won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Coco Jones won Best New Artist.Chris Brown won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.
* On June 30, Lord Creator died at the age of 87.

### July

* On July 1, the 34th Golden Melody Awards were held. A-Lin won Best Female Mandarin Singer.
* On July 3, Vicki Anderson died at the age of 83.
* On July 5, Coco Lee died at the age of 48.
* On July 12, August Moon died at the age of 85.

### August

* On August 2, Lizzo was sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment by sexually harassing and weight shaming her dancers.
* On August 13, Clarence Avant died at the age of 92.
* On August 7, Toussaint McCall died at the age of 89.
* On August 17, Bobby Eli died at the age of 77.
* On August 29, August 08 died at the age of 31.

### September

* On September 12, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards were held. SZA won Best R&B for "Shirt".
* On September 16, Irish Grinstead, of 702, died at the age of 43.
* On September 26, the 2023 AIM Independent Music Awards were held. Raye and 070 Shake won Best Independent Track for "Escapism".
* On September 27, the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards were held. Vika and Linda won the Artistic Excellence Award.
* On September 30, Russell Batiste Jr. died at the age of 57.

### October

* On October 5, the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards were held. Romeo Santos won Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo. Aventura won Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group.
* On October 11, Rudolph Isley, of The Isley Brothers, died at the age of 84.
* On October 26, the 2023 UK Music Video Awards were held. Jorja Smith won Best R&B/Soul Video – UK for "Try Me". Lil Yachty won Best R&B/Soul Video – International for "Say Something". Sans Soucis won Best R&B/Soul Video – Newcomer for "I Know Your Present". Bakar won Best Alternative Video – UK for "Alive!" Audrey Nuna won Best Visual Effects in a Video for "Locket".

### November

* On November 3, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, The Spinners, and Don Cornelius were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
* On November 5, the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards were held. Chris Brown won Best R&B.
* On November 10, Johnny Ruffo died at the age of 35.
* On November 15, the 2023 ARIA Music Awards were held. Genesis Owusu won Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop/Rap Release, and Best Independent Release for Struggler. The Teskey Brothers won Best Blues & Roots Album for The Winding Way. Forest Claudette won Best Cover Art for Everything Was Green and Best Soul/R&B Release for "Mess Around" with EarthGang.
* On November 19, the 2023 Billboard Music Awards were held. SZA won Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Female Artist, Top R&B Song for "Kill Bill", and Top R&B Album for SOS. The Weeknd won Top R&B Male Artist. Beyoncé won Top R&B Touring Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Artist, and Top Dance/Electronic Album for Renaissance. Drake won Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, and Top Rap Touring Artist. NewJeans won Top Global K-Pop Artist. Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage won Top Collaboration for "Creepin'".
* On November 22, Jean Knight died at the age of 80.
* On November 26, the 2023 Soul Train Music Awards were held. SZA won Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, Album of the Year for SOS, Song of the Year and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award for "Snooze". Victoria Monét won Video of the Year and Best Dance Performance for "On My Mama". Usher won Best R&B/Soul Male Artist, Soul Train Certified Award, and Best Collaboration, alongside Summer Walker & 21 Savage, for "Good Good".
* On November 28, the 2023 MAMA Awards were held. NewJeans won Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Dance Performance – Female Group for "Ditto", and Best Female Group. Seventeen won Best Male Group and Best Dance Performance – Male Group for "Super". Jimin won Best Male Artist.

### December

* On December 2, the 2023 Melon Music Awards were held. NewJeans won Artist of the Year, Best Female Group, and Song of the Year for "Ditto". NCT Dream won Best Male Group. Aespa won Best Female Performance and Global Artist. Seventeen won Best Male Performance. Kiss of Life won 1theK Global Icon. NCT Dream won Record of the Year.
* On December 26, Zahara died at the age of 35.
* On December 29, Les McCann died at the age of 88.

## Released albums
### January

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 9 | Monsta X | REASOИ | Starship, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 13 | Joesef | Permanent Damage | AWAL, Bold Cut | |
| 13 | Vedo | Mood Swings | New Wav Music, Island Prolific, EMPIRE | |
| 16 | Got the Beat | Stamp on It | SM, Dreamus | Debuted at No. 3 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 18 | Koda Kumi | Wings | Rhythm Zone | Debuted at No. 10 on the Oricon Albums Chart |
| 20 | Låpsley | Cautionary Tales of Youth | Believe, Young | |
| 25 | Yesung | Sensory Flows | SM Entertainment, Label SJ | Debuted at No. 4 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 27 | Aya Nakamura | DNK | Rec. 118, Warner Music France | Debuted at No. 1 on the SNEP Charts |
| 27 | Jackie Venson | Evolution of Joy | Self-released | |
| 27 | Kimbra | A Reckoning | Self-released | |
| 27 | Lil Yachty | Let's Start Here | Motown, Quality Control | Debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | Popcaan | Great Is He | OVO Sound | |
| 27 | The Arcs | Electrophonic Chronic | Easy Eye Sound | Debuted at No. 90 on the Offizielle Top 100 |
| 31 | Phum Viphurit | The Greng Jai Piece | Rats Records, Lirico | |

### February

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 2 | Raye | My 21st Century Blues | Human Re Sources | Debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 |
| 10 | Elodie | OK. Respira | Island Records | Debuted at No. 4 on the FIMI Chart |
| 10 | Eric Bellinger | 1-800-Hit Eazy: Line 2 | All Wins Entertainment, Empire | |
| 10 | Kelela | Raven | Warp Records | Debuted at No. 18 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 10 | Lance Skiiiwalker | Audiodidactic | Top Dawg Entertainment | |
| 10 | Liv.e | Girl in the Half Pearl | In Real Life Music, AWAL Recordings America | |
| 10 | Sabrina Claudio | Archives & Lullabies | SC Entertainment | |
| 16 | Rakiyah | The Cosmic Queen | Self-released | |
| 16 | Tini | Cupido | Hollywood, 5020, Sony Latin | |
| 17 | Wesley Joseph | Glow | Secretly Canadian | |
| 24 | Don Toliver | Love Sick | Cactus Jack Records, Atlantic Records | Debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | Gracie Abrams | Good Riddance | Interscope | Debuted at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | Jozzy | Songs For Women, Free Game For N****s | Love Records | |
| 24 | Tink | Thanks 4 Nothing | Winter's Diary, WD Records, Empire | Debuted at No. 147 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | U.S. Girls | Bless This Mess | 4AD | |
| 27 | Sam Smith | Gloria | Capitol | Debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 |
| 28 | KAMAUU | Welcome to KAMAUU.world | Warner Music Group, X5 Music Group | |

### March

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 3 | Chiiild | Better Luck In the Next Life | Avant Garden, 4th & Broadway, Def Jam Recordings | |
| 3 | Dreamville | Creed III: The Soundtrack | Dreamville, Interscope | Debuted at No. 127 on the Billboard 200 |
| 3 | Kali Uchis | Red Moon in Venus | Geffen Records | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| 3 | Masego | Masego | EQT Recordings, Capitol Records, UMG Recordings | |
| 3 | Yazmin Lacey | Voice Notes | Own Your Own Records, Believe | |
| 6 | Onew | Circle | SM | Debuted at No. 3 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 10 | August Alsina | Myself | Shake the World, Empire | |
| 10 | Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy | Victims and Villains | SoulStar Music Company | |
| 10 | The War and Treaty | Lover's Game | UMG Nashville | |
| 13 | Kai | Rover | SM, Dreamus | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 16 | Code Kunst | Remember Archive | AOMG | Debuted at No. 19 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 17 | ELHAE | Forgotten Flowers | Dream Loud Music Group | |
| 17 | Malina Moye | Dirty | WCE Records, The Orchard | |
| 17 | T-Pain | On Top of the Covers | Nappy Boy, Empire | |
| 17 | Tei Shi | Bad Premonition | The Orchard | |
| 17 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | V | Jagjaguwar | |
| 24 | 6LACK | Since I Have a Lover | LVRN, Interscope Records | Debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | Billy Valentine | Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth | Bob Thiele Jr., Acid Jazz Acquisitions | |
| 24 | Jimin | Face | Big Hit | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 |
| 24 | Matt Corby | Everything's Fine | Island Australia | |
| 24 | Yaya Bey | Exodus the North Star | Big Dada | |
| 25 | Kristian Bush | 52 | ATL x BNA | Big Machine | |
| 28 | Billlie | The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three | Mystic Story, Kakao | Debuted at No. 5 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 31 | B. Cool-Aid | Leather Blvd | Lex | |
| 31 | Chlöe | In Pieces | Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records | Debuted at No. 119 on the Billboard 200 |
| 31 | Davido | Timeless | DMW, Columbia, Sony | Debuted at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 |
| 31 | Eddie Chacon | Sundown | Stones Throw Records | Debuted at No. 19 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |

### April

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 7 | Brandee Younger | Brand New Life | Impulse!, Verve Label Group, UMG Recordings | |
| 7 | Daniel Caesar | Never Enough | Hollace, Republic Records | Debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 |
| 7 | Planet Giza | Ready When You Are | Quiet Note | |
| 7 | THEY. | Nü Moon | Nü Religion Records, AWAL | |
| 14 | Dinner Party | Enigmatic Society | Sound of Crenshaw, EMPIRE | Debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard US Top Jazz Albums |
| 14 | Jean Deaux | HEAVY | Duality Records, EMPIRE | |
| 14 | Petite Noir | MotherFather | Roya Records | |
| 14 | Yung Bleu | Love Scars II | Moon Boy University, EMPIRE | Debuted at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 |
| 17 | NCT DoJaeJung | Perfume | SM | Debuted at No. 2 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 21 | Alfa Mist | Variables | Anti- | |
| 21 | Dreamer Isioma | Princess Forever | AWAL | |
| 21 | Everything but the Girl | Fuse | Buzzin' Fly, Virgin | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 116 on the Billboard 200 |
| 21 | Nourished by Time | Erotic Probiotic 2 | Scenic Route | |
| 21 | Post Malone | The Diamond Collection | Republic, Mercury | Debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 |
| 21 | St. Paul & the Broken Bones | Angels in Science Fiction | ATO | |
| 25 | Taeyang | Down to Earth | The Black Label, Interscope | Debuted at No. 10 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 27 | Marina Sena | Vício Inerente | Sony Music Brazil | |
| 28 | Amir Obè | after. | Def Jam Recordings, UMG Recordings | |
| 28 | Baby Rose | Through and Through | Secretly Canadian | |
| 28 | Jessie Ware | That! Feels Good! | EMI | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 28 | Labrinth | Ends & Begins | Columbia, Sony Music | Debuted at No. 144 on the Billboard 200 |
| 28 | rum.gold | U Street Anthology | Leola | |
| 28 | Smokey Robinson | Gasms | TLR Records | |

### May

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 4 | iKon | Take Off | 143 | Debuted at No. 10 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 4 | Various artists | Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Covers from the Netflix Series) | Netflix Music, Sony Masterworks | Debuted at No. 19 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart |
| 5 | Aespa | My World | SM, Warner, Dreamus | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 |
| 5 | Durand Jones | Wait Til I Get Over | Dead Oceans | Debuted at No. 11 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 5 | Emily King | Special Occasion | ATO Records | |
| 5 | Jidenna | ME YOU & GOD | Wondaland Records, Magic Chief Productions | |
| 5 | Omarion | Full Circle: Sonic Book One | Omarion Worldwide | |
| 12 | Keke Palmer | Big Boss | Big Bosses Ent. | |
| 12 | Madison McFerrin | I Hope You Can Forgive Me | MADMCFERRIN MUSIC | |
| 12 | Njomza | Stages | Sincethe80s, EMPIRE | |
| 15 | (G)I-dle | I Feel | Cube, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 |
| 19 | Angie Stone | Love Language | Conjunction, SoNo | |
| 19 | Sleep Token | Take Me Back to Eden | Spinefarm | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart Debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 |
| 19 | Summer Walker | CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE | LVRN, Interscope Records | Debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 |
| 26 | D4vd | Petals to Thorns | Darkroom Records, Interscope Records | Debuted at No. 105 on the Billboard 200 |
| 26 | KayCyy & Gesaffelstein | TW2052 | Bu Vision, Columbia | |
| 26 | Lola Young | My Mind Wanders And Sometimes Leaves Completely | Island | |
| 26 | Manu Manzo | Luna En Geminis | Self-released | |
| 26 | Marco Mengoni | Materia (Prisma) | Sony Music Italy | Debuted at No. 1 on the FIMI Chart |
| 26 | Nonso Amadi | When It Blooms | Universal Music Canada. Def Jam, Polydor Records. MCA Records France. Universal Music Nigeria | Debuted at No. 105 on the TurnTable Albums Chart |
| 26 | Simply Red | Time | Warner Music | Debuted at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart |

### June

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 2 | Ben Harper | Wide Open Light | Chrysalis | Debuted at No. 33 on the Swiss Albums Chart |
| 2 | Louise | Greatest Hits | Tag8, BMG | Debuted at No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 2 | Meshell Ndegeocello | The Omnichord Real Book | Blue Note | |
| 2 | Speakers Corner Quartet | Further Out Than the Edge | OTIH Records | |
| 2 | Witch | Zango | Desert Daze Sound | |
| 7 | Dami Im | In Between | ABC Music | Debuted at No. 65 on the ARIA Albums Chart |
| 9 | Amaarae | Fountain Baby | Golden Angel, Interscope Records | |
| 9 | BLK ODYSSY | DIAMONDS & FREAKS | Earthchild, Empire | |
| 9 | Col3trane | Chekhov's Gun | Trane of Thought Records, UnitedMasters | |
| 9 | Janelle Monáe | The Age of Pleasure | Wondaland Productions, Bad Boy Records | Debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 |
| 9 | Maeta | When I Hear Your Name | Roc Nation Records | |
| 9 | Pantayo | Ang Pagdaloy | Self-released | |
| 9 | SB19 | Pagtatag! | Sony Philippines | |
| 9 | Selwyn Birchwood | Exorcist | Alligator Records | |
| 16 | Ambré | Who's Loving You? | Roc Nation Records | |
| 16 | Asake | Work of Art | YBNL Nation, Empire | Debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200 |
| 16 | Bettye LaVette | LaVette! | Jay-Vee Records | Debuted at No. 13 on the UK R&B Albums Chart |
| 16 | Forest Claudette | Everything Was Green | Forest Claudette, Sony | |
| 16 | Kiana Ledé | Grudges | The Heavy Group, Republic Records | |
| 17 | Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree | Adolescent | RISER Music | |
| 21 | Sara Jo | Bez kontrole | Bassivity Digital | |
| 23 | I.M | Overdrive | Sony Music Korea | Debuted at No. 6 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 24 | Seyi Vibez | Thy Kingdom Come | Vibez Inc, Dvpper Music | Debuted at No. 2 on the TurnTable Albums Chart |
| 26 | Shinee | Hard | SM | Debuted at No. 2 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 29 | Terrace Martin | Fine Tune | Sounds of Crenshaw, BMG | |
| 30 | Ash Walker | Astronaut | Night Time Stories | |
| 30 | Olivia Dean | Messy | EMI | Debuted at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart |

### July

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 5 | Kiss of Life | Kiss of Life | S2 | Debuted at No. 18 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 6 | Lyanno | Midnight | Rimas Entertainment | |
| 7 | Anohni and the Johnsons | My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross | Secretly Canadian | |
| 7 | FLO | 3 of Us | Island Records | |
| 7 | Gabriels | Angels & Queens | Atlas Artists | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 7 | Little Dragon | Slugs of Love | Ninja Tune | Debuted at No. 26 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 10 | EXO | Exist | SM, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 10 | Gloria Groove | Lady Leste (Ao Vivo) | SB Music | |
| 10 | Zerobaseone | Youth in the Shade | WakeOne | Debuted at No. 2 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 12 | Sandara Park | Sandara Park | Abyss Company | |
| 14 | Mahalia | IRL | Warner Music UK | Debuted at No. 31 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 14 | Rita Ora | You & I | BMG | Debuted at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 17 | Capella Grey | Here, Damn. | ALLEPAC THE FAMILY | |
| 17 | NCT Dream | ISTJ | SM, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 |
| 19 | The Sarz Academy Alumni | Memories That Last Forever 2 | 1789, United Masters, Warner Music Africa | |
| 21 | NewJeans | Get Up | ADOR, YG Plus | Debuted at No. 2 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | Kizz Daniel | Maverick | FlyBoy INC, EMPIRE | |
| 28 | Adekunle Gold | Tequila Ever After | Def Jam Recordings, UMG Recordings | |
| 28 | Jessy Lanza | Love Hallucination | Hyperdub | |
| 28 | Roy Woods | Mixed Emotions | OVO Sound | |
| 28 | Tori Kelly | Tori | Epic, Beautiful Mind | |
| 28 | Treasure | Reboot | YG, Columbia | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart |

### August

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 3 | Iza | Afrodhit | Warner Music Brazil | |
| 8 | Olamide | Unruly | YBNL Nation, EMPIRE | |
| 11 | Emotional Oranges | STILL EMO | Avant Garden | |
| 11 | Jungle | Volcano | Caiola, AWAL | |
| 18 | Amaka | Oasis | Venice Music | |
| 18 | Cautious Clay | KARPEH | Blue Note Records | |
| 18 | Ciara | CiCi | Beauty Marks Entertainment | |
| 18 | Genesis Owusu | Struggler | OURNESS, AWAL | Debuted at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart |
| 18 | Grace Potter | Mother Road | Fantasy | |
| 18 | Jihyo | Zone | JYP, Republic | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 |
| 18 | Jon Batiste | World Music Radio | Verve, Interscope | Debuted at No. 104 on the Billboard 200 |
| 18 | Leon Thomas | Electric Dusk | UMG Recordings, EZMNY Records, Motown Records | |
| 18 | Swavy | Different Breed | Columbia Records | |
| 25 | Burna Boy | I Told Them... | Atlantic, Spaceship, Bad Habit | Debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 |
| 25 | Fridayy | Fridayy | Lost In Melody, Def Jam Recordings | |
| 25 | Maluma | Don Juan | Sony Latin | Debuted at No. 195 on the Billboard 200 |
| 25 | Terrace Martin & James Fauntleroy | Nova | Sounds of Crenshaw, BMG | |
| 25 | Victoria Monét | JAGUAR II | Lovett Music, RCA Records | Debuted at No. 60 on the Billboard 200 |
| 28 | NCT | Golden Age | SM, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200 |
| 30 | Dominic Scott | Dear Summer | Red Balloon Works | |

### September

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 1 | Ama Lou | I Came Home Late | Interscope Records | |
| 1 | Tekno | The More The Better | Self-released | |
| 5 | Tirzah | trip9love...??? | Domino | |
| 7 | Majeeed | Cheers to Life | Dream Empire Music, EMPIRE | Debuted at No. 34 on the TurnTable Top 50 |
| 8 | Allison Russell | The Returner | Fantasy, Concord | Debuted at No. 56 on the UK Album Downloads |
| 8 | Teezo Touchdown | How Do You Sleep at Night? | RCA, Not Fit for Society | |
| 8 | Tinashe | BB/ANG3L | Nice Life Recording Company | Debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard US Top Album Sales |
| 8 | V | Layover | Big Hit | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 |
| 8 | Yussef Dayes | Black Classical Music | Brownswood, Nonesuch | Debuted at No. 4 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 15 | Alan Palomo | World of Hassle | Mom + Pop | |
| 15 | Cleo Sol | Heaven | Forever Living Originals | |
| 15 | Corinne Bailey Rae | Black Rainbows | Black Rainbows Music, Thirty Tigers | Debuted at No. 13 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 15 | Diddy | The Love Album: Off the Grid | Love Records, Motown Records | Debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 |
| 15 | Rod Wave | Nostalgia | Alamo | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 15 | Stephen Marley | Old Soul | Ghetto Youths International | |
| 15 | Teddy Swims | I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) | Warner | Debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard 200 |
| 22 | Bakar | Halo | Black Butter | Debuted at No. 15 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 22 | Doja Cat | Scarlet | Kemosabe, RCA | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| 22 | Dominique Fils-Aimé | Our Roots Run Deep | Ensoul Records | |
| 22 | K. Michelle | I'm the Problem | Chase Landin, MNRK | |
| 22 | Stephen Sanchez | Angel Face | Mercury, Republic | Debuted at No. 90 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | XG | New DNA | Xgalx | Debuted at No. 8 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 29 | Beverley Knight | The Fifth Chapter | Tag8 Music, BMG Rights Management | Debuted at No. 39 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 29 | Cleo Sol | Gold | Forever Living Originals | |
| 29 | Feid | Mor, No Le Temas a la Oscuridad | Universal Latino | Debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 |
| 29 | Grace Weber | Paperflower | Self-released | |
| 29 | Jorja Smith | Falling or Flying | FAMM | Debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 29 | ROMderful | ICE CREAM CLONES 2 | Self-released | |
| 29 | Say She She | Silver | Karma Chief Records | |

### October

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 4 | Bnxn | Sincerely, Benson | T.Y.E., EMPIRE | Debuted at No. 2 on the TurnTable Albums Chart |
| 6 | Drake | For All the Dogs | OVO Sound, Republic Records | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 6 | Joy Denalane | Willpower | Lesedi, Four | Debuted at No. 33 on the Offizielle Top 100 |
| 6 | NCT 127 | Fact Check | SM | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart Debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 |
| 6 | ODUMODUBLVCK | EZIOKWU | NATIVE Records, Def Jam Recordings, UMG Recordings | |
| 6 | Vedo | 7 | New Wav Music Group, EMPIRE | |
| 11 | JMSN | Soft Spot | White Room Records | |
| 13 | Jamila Woods | Water Made Us | Jagjaguwar | |
| 13 | Troye Sivan | Something to Give Each Other | EMI Music Australia | Debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart Debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 |
| 13 | Yamê | Elowi | DBS, Naïve | Debuted at No. 10 on the SNEP Chart |
| 20 | Arin Ray | Phases III | Interscope Records | |
| 20 | Berhana | Amén (The Nomad's Dream) | EQT Recordings | |
| 20 | Brandon Lake | Coat of Many Colors | Provident Label Group | Debuted at No. 135 on the Billboard 200 |
| 20 | Naomi Sharon | Obsidian | OVO Sound | |
| 20 | Priya Ragu | Santhosam | Warner Records UK | Debuted at No. 94 on the Swiss Albums Chart |
| 20 | RealestK | Real World | Columbia Records | |
| 20 | Sampha | Lahai | Young | Debuted at No. 21 on the UK Albums Chart |
| 20 | Shay Lia | Facets | AWAL Recordings | |
| 20 | Terrace Martin & Alex Isley | I Left My Heart In Ladera | Sounds of Crenshaw, IRD Corp, BMG | |
| 27 | Black Pumas | Chronicles of a Diamond | ATO | Debuted at No. 69 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | Blaqbonez | Emeka Must Shine | Chocolate City | Debuted at No. 7 on the TurnTable Top 50 |
| 27 | Brent Faiyaz | Larger than Life | ISO Supremacy, UnitedMasters | Debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | Chxrry22 | Siren | XO Records, Republic Records, UMG Recordings | |
| 27 | Leela James | Thought U Knew | BMG | |
| 27 | Mariah the Scientist | To Be Eaten Alive | Buckles Laboratories, Epic Records, Sony Music | Debuted at No. 93 on the Billboard 200 |
| 27 | Mr Eazi | The Evil Genius | emPawa Africa Limited | |
| 27 | Robert Finley | Black Bayou | Easy Eye Sound | |
| 27 | Ruben Studdard | The Way I Remember | SoNo Recording Group | |
| 27 | V V Brown | Am I British Yet? | YOY Records | |

### November

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 1 | WayV | On My Youth | Label V, SM, Dreamus | Debuted at No. 5 on the Oricon Albums Chart |
| 3 | Emilia | .MP3 | Sony Latin, WK | Debuted at No. 2 on the CAPIF Albums Chart |
| 3 | Goapele | Colours | Skyblaze | |
| 3 | Majid Jordan | Good People | OVO Sound | |
| 3 | Tkay Maidza | Sweet Justice | 4AD | Debuted at No. 11 on the UK Independent Albums Chart |
| 3 | Zoe Wees | Therapy | Valeria, Capitol | Debuted at No. 15 on the Offizielle Top 100 |
| 8 | Kiss of Life | Born to Be XX | S2 | Debuted at No. 49 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 8 | Soojin | Agassy | BRD | Debuted at No. 7 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 9 | Jacob Latimore | Closure | FTE | |
| 10 | BJ the Chicago Kid | Gravy | RCA Records, Sony Music | |
| 10 | Brandy | Christmas with Brandy | Motown, Brand Nu, UMG | Debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard US Top Holiday Albums |
| 10 | Chris Brown | 11:11 | CBE, RCA Records | Debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 |
| 10 | Miguel Atwood-Ferguson | Les Jardins Mystiques, Vol. 1 | Brainfeeder | |
| 13 | Red Velvet | Chill Kill | SM, Kakao | Debuted at No. 1 on the Circle Album Chart |
| 17 | Arcángel | Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad | Rimas | Debuted at No. 195 on the Billboard 200 |
| 17 | Enhypen | Orange Blood | Belift Lab, YG Plus | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| 17 | October London | The Greatest Gift | Death Row Records | |
| 17 | Qing Madi | Qing Madi | Jton Music | |
| 17 | Queen Naija | After the Butterflies | UMG | |
| 17 | Sneek (Terrace Martin & Gallant) | Sneek | O'Connor/Lowly | |
| 17 | TeaMarr | You Should Prolly Sit Down for This | Raedio | |
| 21 | Miach | Insomnia | Yem | |
| 27 | Taeyeon | To. X | SM | Debuted at No. 2 on the Circle Album Chart |

### December

| Day | Artist(s) | Album | Record label(s) | Entering chart position |
| 1 | Sean Leon | In Loving Memory | Self-released | |
| 8 | James Fauntleroy | The Warmest Winter Ever | Self-released | |
| 8 | Tate McRae | Think Later | RCA | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| 15 | Omarion | Full Circle: Sonic Book Two | Omarion Worldwide | |
| 15 | Various artists | The Color Purple (Music from and Inspired By) | WaterTowerMusic, Gamma | |
| 22 | NCT 127 | Be There for Me | SM | |
| 24 | Adam Blackstone | A Legacy Christmas | BASSic Black Entertainment Records, Anderson Music Group, EMPIRE | |
| 26 | TVXQ | 20&2 | SM, Kakao | Debuted at No. 3 on the Circle Album Chart |

## Highest-charting songs
### United States

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2023 Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 :
| Song | Artist | Project | Peak position |
| "Die for You" | The Weeknd and Ariana Grande | Starboy | 1 |
| "Slime You Out" | Drake featuring SZA | For All the Dogs | 1 |
| "Kill Bill" | SZA | SOS | 1 |
| "Snooze" | SZA | SOS | 2 |
| "Creepin'" | Metro Boomin, the Weeknd and 21 Savage | Heroes & Villains | 3 |
| "Cuff It" | Beyoncé | Renaissance | 6 |
| "Sure Thing" | Miguel | All I Want Is You | 11 |
| "Under the Influence" | Chris Brown | Indigo | 12 |
| "Double Fantasy" | The Weeknd featuring Future | The Idol | 18 |
| "Bahamas Promises" | Drake | For All the Dogs | 20 |
| "Tried Our Best" | Drake | For All the Dogs | 21 |
| "Escapism" | Raye featuring 070 Shake | My 21st Century Blues | 22 |
| "Last Time I Saw You" | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday 2 | 23 |
| "Members Only" | Drake featuring PartyNextDoor | For All the Dogs | 24 |
| "Good Good" | Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage | Coming Home | 25 |
| "What It Is (Block Boy)" | Doechii featuring Kodak Black | TBA | 29 |
| "BBL Love (Interlude)" | Drake | For All the Dogs | 36 |
| "Polar Opposites" | Drake | For All the Dogs | 37 |
| "America Has a Problem" | Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar | Renaissance | 38 |

### United Kingdom

R&B songs from any year which charted in the 2023 Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart :
| Song | Artist | Project | Peak position |
| "Escapism" | Raye featuring 070 Shake | My 21st Century Blues | 1 |

## Highest first-week consumption

List of albums with the highest first-week consumption (sales + streaming + track equivalent), as of November 2023 in the United States :
| Number | Album | Artist | 1st-week consumption | 1st-week position |
| 1 | Red Moon in Venus | Kali Uchis | 55,000 | 4 |
| 2 | 11:11 | Chris Brown | 45,000 | 9 |
| 3 | Love Sick | Don Toliver | 40,500 | 8 |
| 4 | Gloria | Sam Smith | 39,000 | 7 |

## All critically reviewed albums ranked
### Metacritic

| Number | Artist | Album | Average score | Number of reviews |
| 1 | Amaarae | Fountain Baby | 95 | 8 reviews |
| 2 | Corinne Bailey Rae | Black Rainbows | 91 | 10 reviews |
| 3 | Jessie Ware | That! Feels Good! | 89 | 19 reviews |
| 4 | Yazmin Lacey | Voice Notes | 89 | 4 reviews |
| 5 | Durand Jones | Wait Til I Get Over | 88 | 7 reviews |
| 6 | Sampha | Lahai | 87 | 12 reviews |
| 7 | Victoria Monét | JAGUAR II | 87 | 8 reviews |
| 8 | Kelela | Raven | 86 | 18 reviews |
| 9 | Liv.e | Girl in the Half Pearl | 85 | 7 reviews |
| 10 | Eddie Chacon | Sundown | 85 | 6 reviews |
| 11 | Billy Valentine | Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth | 85 | 4 reviews |
| 12 | Kali Uchis | Red Moon in Venus | 84 | 13 reviews |
| 13 | Tirzah | trip9love...??? | 84 | 9 reviews |
| 14 | Jamila Woods | Water Made Us | 84 | 8 reviews |
| 15 | Bettye LaVette | LaVette! | 84 | 8 reviews |
| 16 | V V Brown | Am I British Yet? | 84 | 4 reviews |
| 17 | Cleo Sol | Heaven | 83 | 6 reviews |
| 18 | Gabriels | Angels & Queens | 83 | 8 reviews |
| 19 | Mahalia | IRL | 81 | 9 reviews |
| 20 | Meshell Ndegeocello | The Omnichord Real Book | 81 | 8 reviews |
| 21 | Say She She | Silver | 81 | 5 reviews |
| 22 | Cautious Clay | KARPEH | 80 | 4 reviews |
| 23 | Lola Young | My Mind Wanders And Sometimes Leaves Completely | 79 | 5 reviews |
| 24 | Priya Ragu | Santhosam | 79 | 5 reviews |
| 25 | Janelle Monáe | The Age of Pleasure | 78 | 18 reviews |
| 26 | Tkay Maidza | Sweet Justice | 77 | 7 reviews |
| 27 | Madison McFerrin | I Hope You Can Forgive Me | 77 | 5 reviews |
| 28 | St. Paul & the Broken Bones | Angels in Science Fiction | 77 | 5 reviews |
| 29 | Black Pumas | Chronicles of a Diamond | 76 | 10 reviews |
| 30 | Little Dragon | Slugs of Love | 76 | 7 reviews |
| 31 | Selwyn Birchwood | Exorcist | 76 | 5 reviews |
| 32 | Jorja Smith | Falling or Flying | 74 | 13 reviews |
| 33 | Daniel Caesar | Never Enough | 72 | 5 reviews |
| 34 | Miguel Atwood-Ferguson | Les Jardins Mystiques, Vol. 1 | 72 | 4 reviews |
| 35 | Dinner Party | Enigmatic Society | 70 | 5 reviews |
| 36 | Jon Batiste | World Music Radio | 69 | 5 reviews |
| 37 | Sam Smith | Gloria | 68 | 17 reviews |
| 38 | 6LACK | Since I Have a Lover | 68 | 6 reviews |
| 39 | Speakers Corner Quartet | Further Out Than the Edge | 68 | 5 reviews |
| 40 | Don Toliver | Love Sick | 68 | 5 reviews |
| 41 | Bakar | Halo | 68 | 4 reviews |
| 42 | Chlöe | In Pieces | 62 | 8 reviews |
| 43 | Teezo Touchdown | How Do You Sleep at Night? | 56 | 7 reviews |

### AnyDecentMusic?

| Number | Artist | Album | Average score | Number of reviews |
| 1 | Jessie Ware | That! Feels Good! | 8.4 | 20 reviews |
| 2 | Kelela | Raven | 8.0 | 20 reviews |
| 3 | Jamila Woods | Water Made Us | 8.0 | 11 reviews |
| 4 | Amaarae | Fountain Baby | 7.9 | 6 reviews |
| 5 | Victoria Monét | JAGUAR II | 7.7 | 7 reviews |
| 6 | Mahalia | IRL | 7.7 | 12 reviews |
| 7 | Liv.e | Girl in the Half Pearl | 7.4 | 5 reviews |
| 8 | Janelle Monáe | The Age of Pleasure | 7.3 | 19 reviews |
| 9 | Jorja Smith | Falling or Flying | 7.3 | 15 reviews |