This page lists the winners and nominees for the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Artist. This category was one of the first created and has been given out since the award's conception in 1990. R. Kelly holds the record for most wins in this category with four.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
| Year | Artist | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
| Janet Jackson | [1] | |
| 1991 | ||
| Whitney Houston | [2] | |
| 1992 | ||
| Jodeci | [3] | |
| R. Kelly and Public Announcement | ||
| LeVert | ||
| Michael Jackson | ||
| 1993 | ||
| Dr. Dre | [4] | |
| Janet Jackson | ||
| Silk | ||
| SWV | ||
| 1994 | ||
| R. Kelly | [5] | |
| Babyface | ||
| Toni Braxton | ||
| Tevin Campbell | ||
| 1995 | ||
| TLC | [6] | |
| Boyz II Men | ||
| Brandy | ||
| The Notorious B.I.G. | ||
| 1996 | ||
| R. Kelly | [7] | |
| Mariah Carey | ||
| LL Cool J | ||
| Monica | ||
| 1997 | ||
| Dru Hill | [8] | |
| 112 | ||
| Toni Braxton | ||
| Tupac Shakur | ||
| 1998 | ||
| Usher | [9] | |
| Jon B. | ||
| Mase | ||
| Next | ||
| 1999 | ||
| R. Kelly | [10] | |
| Faith Evans | ||
| Lauryn Hill | ||
| Jay Z |
| Year | Artist | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Sisqó | [11] | |
| 2001 | ||
| R. Kelly | [12] | |
| Ja Rule | ||
| Jay Z | ||
| Musiq | ||
| 2002 | ||
| Ashanti | [13] | |
| B2K | ||
| Clipse | ||
| Tweet | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 50 Cent | [14] | |
| Aaliyah | ||
| Jay Z | ||
| R. Kelly | ||
| 2004 | ||
| Usher | [15] | |
| R. Kelly | ||
| Alicia Keys | ||
| Kanye West | ||
| 2005 | ||
| 50 Cent | [16] | |
| Mariah Carey | ||
| Destiny's Child | ||
| Fantasia | ||
| 2006 | ||
| Mary J. Blige | [17] | |
| Jamie Foxx | ||
| Ne-Yo | ||
| T.I. | ||
| 2007–09 | — | |
4 wins 3 wins | 2 wins |
| 9 nominations 8 nominations 7 nominations 6 nominations 5 nominations 4 nominations 3 nominations | 2 nominations
|