Hey friends, how are you doing? Today’s article is on 90s R&B songs. Have you heard about it before? Well if not, then this article is going to be a complete dose of popular 90s R&B songs.
However, There’s no arguing that the 90s is the golden age of R&B. The best 90s R&B songs still sound fresh, and their influence can be felt in the crop of modern R&B stars who are pushing the genre forward.
From floor-filling anthems to outpourings of emotion – and all soulful points in between – each of the 15 tracks in our list of the best 90s R&B songs represents a defining moment in the genre, and in the careers of the artists who sang them.
So, get ready to read below about the best 90s R&B songs. Let’s dive straight into the list of 90s R&B songs.
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Popular 90s R&B songs:
1- “Fantasy” – Mariah Carey ft. ODB (1995)
The singer, Mariah Carey was a ruler of the ’90s as one of the top-selling artists of all time.
By the time Carey released her fifth album, “Daydream,” in 1995, the singer wanted to incorporate more hip-hop into her sound.
She did just that on the album’s lead single, “Fantasy,” and recruited rapper ODB to bring the finesse.
It was a sound that not only changed her career with the mesh of R&B and hip-hop but also influenced other artists. One of the best 90s R&B songs.
2- “You Make Me Wanna…” – Usher (1997)
R&B king Usher’s breakout single was the 1997 hit “You Make Me Wanna…” from his second album, “My Way.”
The song was produced by Usher’s longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2019 rising star Summer Walker sampled the classic hit and featured Usher on her song “Come Thru.”
3- “Are You That Somebody?” – Aaliyah (1998)
In the mid-’90s, Aaliyah experimented with new sounds, thanks to the likes of Static Major, Missy Elliott and Timbaland. On her 1998 single “Are You That Somebody?” Timbaland gave her a unique production that included a baby cooing.
Timbaland is known for making sounds out of anything, and this single from the “Dr. Doolittle” soundtrack showcased a young Timbo in his prime — not to mention, the “Are You That Somebody?” the video was one of Aaliyah’s signature dance sequences.
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4- “Remember The Time” – Michael Jackson (1992)
Throughout Michael Jackson’s career, each of his albums had a distinct sound. During the King of Pop’s “Dangerous” era, he decided to experiment with a little bit of New Jack Swing. One of the best 90s R&B songs.
The Teddy Riley-produced track “Remember The Time” reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts. In addition to showcasing a new sound, the song’s visual will always be remembered as one of MJ’s best dance videos, directed by John Singleton and acting cameos from Iman, Magic Johnson, and Eddie Murphy.
5- “Return of the Mack” – Mark Morrison (1996)
Mark Morrison came onto the scene in the early ‘90s. However, his career began rising with his 1996 hit song, “Return of the Mack. The song stayed on the Billboard charts for 41 weeks and became a multiplatinum hit.
6- “Weak” – SWV (1993)
R&B girl group SWV, which stands for “Sisters With Voices,” hit the music scene with the 1992 debut album, “It’s About Time.” One of its standout tracks is the hit song “Weak,” which was originally given to Charlie Wilson. The multi platinum hit reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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7- “The Boy Is Mine” – Brandy and Monica (1998)
R&B singers Brandy and Monica came on the scene in the early ‘90s, and in 1998 they were both working on their sophomore albums. Their biggest hit to date is the duet “The Boy Is Mine” in which the singers are going back and forth over a guy.
Produced by Darkchild and Dallas Austin, the song won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a duo or group. Brandy and Monica didn’t reunite on another track until 14 years later.
8- “Real Love” – Mary J. Blige (1992)
Throughout the early part of her career, Mary J. Blige was known for sampling classic ‘70s and ‘80s songs and putting a new-age twist on them. She did just that on her 1992 hit “Real Love” that sampled Audio Two’s 1987 hit, “Top Billin.’” Although “Real Love” was Mary’s second single, it was her first Billboard top-10 hit and set her on a path to becoming known as the Queen of Hip-Hop and R&B.
9- “Poison” – Bell Biv DeVoe (1990)
R&B group Bell Biv Devoe has been giving fans hit songs since their days as members of New Edition. A pillar in the New Jack Swing sound is the 1990 hit song “Poison,” which became the group’s biggest song to date. One of the best 90s R&B songs.
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10- “Forever My Lady” – Jodeci (1991)
The ’90s were a time when singing groups dominated, something that is rarely seen 30 years later. One of the most dominant groups of that era was Jodeci, known to some as the bad boys of R&B.
When it came to love songs, Jodeci was on the airwaves, especially with “Forever My Lady.” The 1991 hit was written and produced by Al B. Sure! along with group member DeVante Swing.
It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.
11- “No Scrubs” – TLC (1999)
Girl groups were also dominating the ‘90s, and one of the biggest selling groups of all time was TLC. Members T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli all had different personalities and styles that were on constant display to resonate with fans. Their 1999 hit, “No Scrubs,” was a female anthem that called out guys for not bringing anything to the table. It’s one of their signature songs and ended up winning two Grammy Awards.
12- “On & On” – Erykah Badu (1996)
The ’90s spawned a number of music subgenres — one of which was neo soul. It was known as a mixture of R&B, jazz, hip-hop and funk. One of the early pillars of neo soul was Erykah Badu, whose debut album, “Baduizm,” featured her first single, “On & On.” The song earned Badu a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
13- “On Bended Knee” – Boyz II Men (1994)
Groups during the ’90s had their own unique sounds and styles including Boyz II Men, who were known for love ballads with a four-part harmony.
Each group member brought a different sound, between the baritone, tenor and bass, and it was evident on their hit song “On Bended Knee,” which had the singers pleading to get the love of their lives back. One of the best 90s R&B songs.
Written and produced by duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, “On Bended Knee” shot to No. 1 and replaced the group’s previous hit, “I’ll Make Love To You,” on top of the Billboard Hot 100.
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14- “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill (1998)
One of the abilities that has always set Lauryn Hill apart from other artists is her spitting rhymes and soulful vocals. She was a rapper and a singer before more artists started to incorporate both talents.
After her time as a member of the Fugees, she released her debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” which featured the hit single “Doo Wop (That Thing).” The No. 1 hit went on to win two Grammys, including Best R&B Song.
15- “That’s The Way Love Goes” – Janet Jackson (1993)
As a member of one of the most musical families of all time, Janet Jackson was never afraid to carve out her own lane. Her 1993 album, “Janet.,” sparked a sultry side of the singer and a number of hit singles, including “That’s The Way Love Goes.” Her longtime collaborators, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, brought a smooth and mellow sound to Janet’s lower register tone. “That’s The Way Love Goes” won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
