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Best R&B Performance: 'Needed Me' or 'Cranes in the Sky'? | The Tylt

Solange and Rihanna had two of the biggest R&B hits in 2016. Now they're facing off for Best R&B Performance at the Grammys. Rihanna's #1 R&B hit "Needed Me" peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Solange penned the soulful "Cranes in the Sky" to lead her acclaimed album "A Seat at the Table," and won over the hearts of music critics. But who's going to win the Grammy? 🎤

Real-time Voting

Best R&B Performance: 'Needed Me' or 'Cranes in the Sky'?

#TeamNeededMe

#TeamCranesInTheSky

It's Grammys season! And the Tylt is facing-off the best song performances, albums and artists in the top genre categories. The "Grammy face-offs" are chosen by a combination of popularity, impact, acclaim, rankings and/or amount sold. But ultimately with our head-to-head predictions, we want you to let us know who and what deserves to win in each category—before the Grammys air on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

RiRi and Solange are in stiff competition for the award. Both artists masterfully produced and performed their respective hits. But who's going to win?

#TeamNeededMe

"Work" and "This Is What You Came For" were mega pop hits in 2016. But the R&B hit "Needed Me" received crossover success. "Needed Me" is the thirteenth biggest Billboard hit and the fourth biggest R&B song of 2016. Rihanna is bound to go home with some Grammys, and she happens to be the most popular artist nominated for Best R&B Performance.

#TeamCranesInTheSky

Music critics have given "Cranes in the Sky" high praise. The acclaimed song is ranked at #7 on Rolling Stone's “50 Best Songs of 2016” list. Hence, Solange has inspired hearts with the her latest LP's lead single. And the hit was actually written in 2008.

In an Instagram post, she wrote:

Timing. I wrote ‘Cranes in The Sky’ 8 years ago. It was 8 years ago @raphael_saadiq handed me a cd with a few instrumentals. One was just drums, strings, and bass. I went home and wrote ‘Cranes’ that night in my hotel room. When I finished writing and creating #aseatatthetable in a little house in New Iberia, Louisiana…..I revisited ‘Cranes’ once again. I called Raphael that night and asked if he would help me to elevate the production on a few of the other songs of the album to see their fullest potential. I am so happy 8 years later Cranes is finally out in the world.

So subsequently—many R&B lovers are hoping she wins her first Grammy.