Soul Train Music Award for Best Album of the Year

This page lists the winners and nominees for the Soul Train Music Award for Best Album of the Year. Originally entitled Best R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year, it was first awarded during the 1997 ceremony. It was renamed to its current title during the 2004 ceremony. During the years 2005 to 2008, the category was separated to award female, male and group albums separate awards.

Soul Train Music Award for Album of the Year
Awarded for	albums
Country	United States
Presented by	BET
First award	1997
Currently held by	SZA – SOS
Most awards	Beyoncé (4)

Beyoncé is the biggest winner with four wins.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.

1990s

Year	Artist	Album	Ref
1997
	2Pac	All Eyez on Me	[1]
	The Fugees	The Score
	R. Kelly	R. Kelly
	Outkast	ATLiens
1998
	Erykah Badu	Baduizm	[2]
	Mary J. Blige	Share My World
	The Notorious B.I.G.	Life After Death
	Puff Daddy and the Family	No Way Out
1999
	Lauryn Hill	The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill	[3]
	Erykah Badu	Erykah Badu Live
	DMX	It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
	Jay Z	Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

2000s

Year	Artist	Album	Ref
2000
	R. Kelly	R.	[4]
	Mary J. Blige	Mary
	DMX	Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
	TLC	FanMail
2001
	Dr. Dre	Dr. Dre 2001	[5]
	Eminem	The Marshall Mathers LP
	Jay Z	The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
	R. Kelly	TP-2.com
2002
	Jay Z	The Blueprint	[6]
	Aaliyah	Aaliyah
	Ja Rule	Pain Is Love
	Alicia Keys	Songs in A Minor
2003
	Nelly	Nellyville	[7]
	Ashanti	Ashanti
	LL Cool J	10
	Nas	Stillmatic
2004
	OutKast	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below	[8]
	Beyoncé	Dangerously in Love
	R. Kelly	Chocolate Factory
	Luther Vandross	Dance with My Father
2005 – 2008	—
2009
	Beyoncé	I Am... Sasha Fierce	[9]
	Jamie Foxx	Intuition
	Kanye West	808s & Heartbreak
	Maxwell	Blacksummers'night
	Ne-Yo	Year of the Gentleman
	LeToya Luckett	Lady Love (album)
	Keri Hilson	In a Perfect World...

2010s

Year	Artist	Album	Ref
2010	Usher	Raymond vs. Raymond	[10]
	Alicia Keys	The Element of Freedom
	Sade	Soldier of Love
	Drake	Thank Me Later
	Erykah Badu	New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)
2011	Chris Brown	F.A.M.E.	[11]
	Adele	21
	Beyoncé	4
	Jay Z and Kanye West	Watch the Throne
	Jill Scott	The Light of the Sun
	Trey Songz	Passion, Pain & Pleasure
2012	Frank Ocean	Channel Orange	[12]
	Eric Benét	The One
	Nas	Life is Good
	R. Kelly	Write Me Back
	Usher	Looking 4 Myself
2013	Kendrick Lamar	Good Kid, M.A.A.D City	[13]
	Fantasia	Side Effects of You
	Jay Z	Magna Carta Holy Grail
	Miguel	Kaleidoscope Dream
	Rihanna	Unapologetic
	Justin Timberlake	The 20/20 Experience
2014	Beyoncé	Beyoncé	[14]
	Drake	Nothing Was the Same
	Michael Jackson	Xscape
	John Legend	Love in the Future
	Janelle Monáe	The Electric Lady
	Pharrell Williams	Girl
2015	The Weeknd	Beauty Behind the Madness	[15]
	Chris Brown	X
	D'Angelo and the Vanguard	Black Messiah
	Jill Scott	Woman
	Tyrese	Black Rose
2016	Beyoncé	Lemonade	[16]
	DJ Khaled	Major Key
	Drake	Views
	Rihanna	Anti
	Bryson Tiller	T R A P S O U L
	Kanye West	The Life of Pablo
2017	Bruno Mars	24K Magic	[17]
	Mary J. Blige	Strength of a Woman
	Solange	A Seat at the Table
	SZA	Ctrl
	The Weeknd	Starboy
2018	H.E.R.	H.E.R.	[18]
	Leon Bridges	Good Thing
	Chris Brown	Heartbreak on a Full Moon
	Chloe x Halle	The Kids Are Alright
	The Internet	Hive Mind
	Miguel	War & Leisure
2019	Lizzo	Cuz I Love You	[19]
	Ari Lennox	Shea Butter Baby
	Chris Brown	Indigo
	Ella Mai	Ella Mai
	H.E.R.	I Used to Know Her
	Khalid	Free Spirit

2020s

Year	Artist	Album	Ref
2020	Summer Walker	Over It	[20]
	Brandy	B7
	Chloe x Halle	Ungodly Hour
	Chris Brown and Young Thug	Slime & B
	Jhené Aiko	Chilombo
	The Weeknd	After Hours
2021	Jazmine Sullivan	Heaux Tales	[21]
	Blxst	No Love Lost
	Doja Cat	Planet Her
	Giveon	When It's All Said and Done... Take Time
	H.E.R.	Back of My Mind
	Wizkid	Made in Lagos
2022	Beyoncé	Renaissance	[22]
	Mary J. Blige	Good Morning Gorgeous
	Chris Brown	Breezy
	Ari Lennox	Away Message
	Lizzo	Special
	Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic	An Evening with Silk Sonic
	Jazmine Sullivan	Heaux Tales, Mo' Tales: The Deluxe
	Tank	R&B Money
2023	SZA	SOS	[23]
	Babyface	Girls Night Out (Extended)
	Burna Boy	I Told Them...
	Coco Jones	What I Didn't Tell You (Deluxe)
	Ari Lennox	Age/Sex/Location
	Janelle Monáe	The Age of Pleasure
	Victoria Monét	Jaguar II
	Summer Walker	Clear 2: Soft Life EP

See also

• Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Male
• Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Female
• Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo