Tyla’s self-titled debut album has been reclassified from R&B to pop for the 2025 Grammy Awards consideration, sources confirm, per hollywoodreporter.com.
The decision, made by the Recording Academy’s R&B screening committee, comes just months after Tyla made history by winning the inaugural Best African Music Performance Grammy for her viral hit “Water.” The track dominated both Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart and spent nearly a year atop the US Afrobeats Songs chart.
The 14-track album, which features collaborations with Travis Scott, Tems and Gunna, blends Amapiano, Afrobeats, and R&B influences. Industry insiders are questioning why the album wasn’t directed to the Best Progressive R&B Album category, a designation specifically created for R&B projects incorporating diverse musical elements.
If nominated in the pop category, Tyla would face fierce competition from industry heavyweights including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande. The reclassification has drawn parallels to previous genre-crossing controversies, including Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You, which won Best Progressive R&B Album in 2020 despite its pop elements.
The 2025 Grammy nominations will be announced on November 8, with the ceremony scheduled for February 2 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
•Featured image: Tyla performing at 2024 BET Awards/Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Bet
