| Year[I] | Recipient(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees (Performer(s) in parentheses)[II] | Ref. |
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| 1969 | Otis Redding Steve Cropper | "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" | Otis Redding | | [2] |
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| 1970 | Richard Lewis Spencer | "Color Him Father" | The Winstons | | [3] |
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| 1971 | Ronald Dunbar General Johnson | "Patches" | Clarence Carter | | [4] |
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| 1972 | Bill Withers | "Ain't No Sunshine" | Bill Withers | | [5] |
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| 1973 | Barrett Strong Norman Whitfield | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | The Temptations | | [6] |
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| 1974 | Stevie Wonder | "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | | [7] |
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| 1975 | Stevie Wonder | "Living for the City" | Stevie Wonder | | [8] |
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| 1976 | Harry Wayne Casey Willie Clarke Richard Finch Betty Wright | "Where Is the Love" | Betty Wright | | [9] |
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| 1977 | Boz Scaggs David Paich | "Lowdown" | Boz Scaggs | | [10] |
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| 1978 | Leo Sayer Vini Poncia | "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" | Leo Sayer | | [11] |
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| 1979 | Paul Jabara | "Last Dance" | Donna Summer | | [12] |
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| 1980 | David Foster Jay Graydon Bill Champlin | "After the Love Has Gone" | Earth, Wind & Fire | | [13] |
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| 1981 | Reggie Lucas James Mtume | "Never Knew Love Like This Before" | Stephanie Mills | | [14] |
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| 1982 | Bill Withers William Salter Ralph MacDonald | "Just the Two of Us" | Grover Washington Jr. &Bill Withers | | [15] |
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| 1983 | Jay Graydon Steve Lukather Bill Champlin | "Turn Your Love Around" | George Benson | | [16] |
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| 1984 | Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson | | [17] |
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| 1985 | Prince | "I Feel for You" | Chaka Khan | | [18] |
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| 1986 | Jeffrey E. Cohen Narada Michael Walden | "Freeway of Love" | Aretha Franklin | | [19] |
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| 1987 | Anita Baker Louis A. Johnson Gary Bias | "Sweet Love" | Anita Baker | | [20] |
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| 1988 | Bill Withers | "Lean on Me" | Club Nouveau | | [21] |
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| 1989 | Anita Baker Randy Holland Skip Scarborough | "Giving You the Best That I Got" | Anita Baker | | [22] |
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| 1990 | Kenny Gamble Leon Huff | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | Simply Red | | [23] |
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| 1991 | MC Hammer Rick James Alonzo Miller | "U Can't Touch This" | MC Hammer | | [24] |
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| 1992 | Marcus Miller Luther Vandross Teddy Vann | "Power of Love/Love Power" | Luther Vandross | | [25] |
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| 1993 | Babyface L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons | "End of the Road" | Boyz II Men | | [26] |
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| 1994 | Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | "That's the Way Love Goes" | Janet Jackson | | [27] |
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| 1995 | Babyface | "I'll Make Love to You" | Boyz II Men | | [28] |
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| 1996 | Stevie Wonder | "For Your Love" | Stevie Wonder | | [29] |
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| 1997 | Babyface | "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" | Whitney Houston | | [30] |
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| 1998 | R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | R. Kelly | - Andre Young,Chauncey Hannibal,Teddy Riley, William Stewart,Lynise Walters, Richard Vick, &Bill Withers for "No Diggity" (Blackstreet featuringDr. Dre &Queen Pen)
- Erykah Badu & Jaborn Jamal for "On & On" (Erykah Badu)
- Kirk Franklin for "Stomp" (God's Property featuringKirk Franklin &Salt)
- Mariah Carey,Puff Daddy,Stevie J,Q-Tip (The Ummah),Bobby Robinson,Stephen Hague, Ronald Larkins,Malcolm McLaren, & Larry Price for "Honey" (Mariah Carey)
| [31] |
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| 1999 | Lauryn Hill | "Doo Wop (That Thing)" | Lauryn Hill | | [32] |
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| 2000 | Kandi Burruss Kevin Briggs Tameka Cottle | "No Scrubs" | TLC | - Lauryn Hill for "All That I Can Say" (Mary J. Blige)
- Kevin "Shekspere" Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, & Kelendria Rowland for "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Destiny's Child)
- K. Karlin,Tamara Savage, &Carsten Schack for "Heartbreak Hotel" (Whitney Houston featuringFaith Evans &Kelly Price)
- LaShawn Daniels,Toni Estes, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, &Isaac Phillips for "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Whitney Houston)
| [33] |
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| 2001 | Beyoncé Rodney Jerkins LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III LeToya Luckett LaTavia Roberson Kelly Rowland | "Say My Name" | Destiny's Child | | [34] |
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| 2002 | Alicia Keys | "Fallin'" * | Alicia Keys | | [35] |
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| 2003 | Erykah Badu Glenn Standridge James Poyser Madukwu Chinwah Raphael Saadiq Lonnie Lynn Robert Ozuna | "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" | Erykah Badu featuringCommon | - Michael Archer, Bobby Ozuna, Raphael Saadiq, & Glenn Standridge for "Be Here" (Raphael Saadiq featuringD'Angelo)
- Marsha Ambrosius, Darren "Limitless" Henson, Keith "Keshon" Pelzer, & Natalie Stewart for "Floetic" (Floetry)
- Will Baker, Andrew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders, & India Simpson for "Good Man" (India.Arie)
- Remy Shand for "Take a Message" (Remy Shand)
| [36] |
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| 2004 | Beyoncé Jay Z Rich Harrison | "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé featuringJay Z | | [37] |
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| 2005 | Alicia Keys Harold Lilly Kanye West | "You Don't Know My Name" | Alicia Keys | - Bryan Michael Cox,Jermaine Dupri, &Usher for "Burn" (Usher)
- Prince for "Call My Name" (Prince)
- Jermaine Dupri,Alicia Keys,Usher,Manuel Seal, &Adonis Shropshire for "My Boo" (Usher &Alicia Keys)
- Chris Bridges,Sean Garrett, LaMarquis Jefferson, Robert McDowell,James Phillips,Jonathan Smith, &Patrick J. Que Smith for "Yeah!" (Usher featuringLil Jon &Ludacris)
| [38] |
|---|
| 2006 | Mariah Carey Johntá Austin Manuel Seal Jr. Jermaine Dupri | "We Belong Together" | Mariah Carey | - Rodney Jerkins,Beyoncé, Ricky Lewis,Kelly Rowland,Robert Waller, &Michelle Williams for "Cater 2 U" (Destiny's Child)
- Craig Brockman,Missy Elliott, &Nisan Stewart for "Free Yourself" (Fantasia)
- W. Adams &J. Stephens for "Ordinary People" (John Legend)
- Garry Glenn,Alicia Keys,Harold Lilly, &Kanye West for "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys)
| [39] |
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| 2007 | Bryan-Michael Cox Jason Perry Johntá Austin Mary J. Blige | "Be Without You" | Mary J. Blige | - Prince for "Black Sweat" (Prince)
- Jay Z,Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins,Beyoncé,Makeba,Keli Nicole Price, &Delisha Thomas for "Déjà Vu" (Beyoncé featuringJay Z)
- Johnta Austin,Mariah Carey,Bryan-Michael Cox, &Jermaine Dupri for "Don't Forget About Us" (Mariah Carey)
- Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders, &India.Arie for "I Am Not My Hair" (India.Arie)
| [40] |
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| 2008 | Alicia Keys Dirty Harry Kerry "Krucial" Brothers | "No One" | Alicia Keys | - India.Arie & Joyce Simpson for "Beautiful Flower" (India.Arie)
- M.S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen, &Shaffer Smith for "Hate That I Love You" (Rihanna featuringNe-Yo)
- Ivan Barias,Adam W. Blackstone, Randall C. Bowland, Carvin Haggins, Johnnie Smith II, & Corey Latif Williams for "Teachme" (Musiq Soulchild)
- Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent,Erika Nuri,Kevin Risto, Janet Swel, &Sam Watters for "When I See U" (Fantasia)
| [41] |
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| 2009 | Mikkel Eriksen Tor Hermansen Ne-Yo | "Miss Independent" | Ne-Yo | | [42] |
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| 2010 | Thaddis Harrell Beyoncé Knowles Terius Nash Christopher Stewart | "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" * | Beyoncé | - James T. Brown, John Conte Jr., Jamie Foxx, Christopher Henderson, Brandon R. Melanchon, Breyon Prescott, T-Pain, & Nathan L. Walker for "Blame It" (Jamie Foxx featuringT-Pain)
- Salaam Remi &Jazmine Sullivan for "Lions, Tigers & Bears" (Jazmine Sullivan)
- Hod David &Musze for "Pretty Wings" (Maxwell)
- D. Babbs,L. Bereal,M. Cooper,A. Dixon, J. Franklin, T. Jones, R. New, & K. Stephens for "Under" (Pleasure P)
| [43] |
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| 2011 | John Legend | "Shine" | John Legend &The Roots | | [44] |
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| 2012 | CeeLo Green Melanie Fiona Jack Splash | "Fool for You" | CeeLo Green featuringMelanie Fiona | | [45] |
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| 2013 | Miguel Pimentel | "Adorn" | Miguel | | [45] |
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| 2014 | James Fauntleroy Jerome Harmon Timothy Mosley Justin Timberlake | "Pusher Love Girl" | Justin Timberlake | | [46] |
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| 2015 | Shawn Carter Rasool Diaz Noel Fisher Jerome Harmon Beyoncé Knowles Timothy Mosley Andre Eric Proctor Brian Soko | "Drunk in Love" | Beyoncé(featuringJay Z) | - Ronald "Flippa" Colson,Warren "Oak" Felder,Usher Raymond IV, Jameel Roberts, Terry "Tru" Sneed, &Andrew "Pop" Wansel for "Good Kisser" (Usher)
- Eric Belinger,Chris Brown, James Chambers, Malissa Hunter, Justin Booth Johnson,Mark Pitts, Usher Raymond IV,William Roberts,Maurice "Verse" Simmonds, &Keith Thomas for "New Flame" (Chris Brown featuring Usher & Rick Ross)
- Dominic Gordon, Brandon Hesson, & Jamaica "Kahn-Cept" Smith for "Options (Wolfjames Version)" (Luke James featuringRick Ross)
- Jhené Aiko Chilombo for "The Worst" (Jhené Aiko)
| [47] |
|---|
| 2016 | D'Angelo Gina Figueroa Kendra Foster | "Really Love" | D'Angelo & The Vanguard | | [48] |
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| 2017 | Hod David Musze | "Lake by the Ocean" | Maxwell | | [49] |
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| 2018 | Christopher Brody Brown James Fauntleroy Philip Lawrence Bruno Mars Ray Charles McCullough II Jeremy Reeves Ray Romulus Jonathan Yip | "That's What I Like" * | Bruno Mars | | [50] |
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| 2019 | Larrance Dopson Joelle James Ella Mai Dijon McFarlane | "Boo'd Up" | Ella Mai | | [51] |
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| 2020 | PJ Morton | "Say So" | PJ Morton featuringJoJo | - Dernst Emile II, David "Swagg R’Celious" Harris,H.E.R., & Hue "Soundzfire" Strother for "Could've Been" (H.E.R. featuringBryson Tiller)
- Emily King & Jeremy Most for "Look at Me Now" (Emily King)
- Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant,Nija Charles,Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis,Noah Shebib, &Teddy Walton for "No Guidance" (Chris Brown featuring Drake)
- David Brown,Dernst Emile II, & Peter Lee Johnson for "Roll Some Mo" (Lucky Daye)
| [52] |
|---|
| 2021 | Robert Glasper,Meshell Ndegeocello &Gabriella Wilson | "Better Than I Imagined" | Robert Glasper featuringH.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello | - Denisia Andrews,Beyoncé, Stephen Bray,Shawn Carter,Brittany Coney,Derek James Dixie,Akil King,Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk &Rickie "Caso" Tice for "Black Parade" (Beyoncé)
- Sam Barsh,Stacy Barthe,Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann,Akil King, Josh Lopez,Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi for "Collide" (Tiana Major9 &EarthGang)
- Chloe Bailey,Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl,Scott Storch,Victoria Monét &Vincent van den Ende for "Do It" (Chloe x Halle)
- Nasri Atweh,Badriia Bourelly,Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson &Gabriella Wilson for "Slow Down" (Skip Marley &H.E.R.)
| [53] |
|---|
| 2022 | Brandon Anderson,Christopher Brody Brown,Dernst Emile II &Bruno Mars | "Leave the Door Open" * | Silk Sonic | - Anthony Clemons Jr.,Jeff Gitelman,H.E.R.,Carl McCormick &Tiara Thomas for "Damage" (H.E.R.)
- Jacob Collier,Carter Lang,Carlos Munoz,Solána Rowe & Christopher Ruelas for "Good Days" (SZA)
- Giveon Evans, Maneesh,Sevn Thomas & Varren Wade for "Heartbreak Anniversary" (Giveon)
- Denisia "Blue June" Andrews,Audra Mae Butts, Kyle Coleman,Brittany "Chi" Coney, Michael Holmes &Jazmine Sullivan for "Pick Up Your Feelings" (Jazmine Sullivan)
| [54] |
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| 2023 | Denisia "Blu June" Andrews,Beyoncé,Brittany "Chi" Coney,Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant,Morten Ristorp,Nile Rodgers andRaphael Saadiq | "Cuff It" | Beyoncé | - Mary J. Blige,David Brown,Dernst Emile II,Gabriella Wilson andTiara Thomas – "Good Morning Gorgeous" (Mary J. Blige)
- Hamadi Zaabi, Dylan Graham,Priscilla Renea,Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Brandon John-Baptiste, Isaac Wriston and Justin Nathaniel Zim – "Hrs & Hrs" (Muni Long)
- Akeel Henry, Michael Holmes, Luca Mauti,Jazmine Sullivan and Elliott Trent – "Hurt Me So Good" (Jazmine Sullivan)
- PJ Morton – "Please Don't Walk Away" (PJ Morton)
| [55] |
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| 2024 | Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson,Khris Riddick-Tynes,Solána Rowe andLeon Thomas | "Snooze" | SZA | | [56] |
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| 2025 | Rob Bisel,Carter Lang,Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon &Scott Zhang | "Saturn" | SZA | | [57] |
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