The 1990s were a transformative time for R&B music. The genre had evolved from the sleek, synthesized sounds of the 1980s to a more organic, live-sound-driven style, influenced by hip-hop, rock, and gospel. As a result, R&B in the 1990s was more diverse and innovative than ever before. From the smooth grooves of neo-soul to the high-energy beats of new jack swing, the decade was filled with R&B classics that continue to influence artists today.
The Criteria
To compile this list, we considered a range of factors, including chart performance, critical acclaim, and enduring popularity. We also looked at the impact each song had on the development of R&B in the 1990s, as well as their influence on subsequent generations of artists.
The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 1990s, Ranked
100. “Love’s Taken Over” by MC Lyte (1991)
99. “Can’t Take the Funk” by The Temptations (1991)
98. “What’s Good” by A Tribe Called Quest (1991)
97. “I Want You” by CeCe Winans (1994)
96. “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)” by Pras Michel featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Mýa (1998)
95. “You Remind Me” by Usher (1994)
94. “Get You” by Jodeci (1995)
93. “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)” by Monica (1995)
92. “I Miss You” by Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes (1995)
91. “I’d Die Without You” by P.M. Dawn (1991)
90. “Can We” by Tevin Campbell (1995)
89. “The Things That We Do” by D’Angelo (1995)
88. “No Diggity” by Blackstreet (1996)
87. “Waterfalls” by TLC (1995)
86. “Kissing You” by Des’ree (1995)
85. “Give U My Heart” by Dave Hollister (1999)
84. “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (1996)
83. “Try Again” by Aaliyah (2000)
82. “Always on Time” by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti (1999)
81. “If You’re Gone” by Hall & Oates (1997)
80. “You’re Makin’ Me High” by Toni Braxton (1996)
79. “Not Gon’ Cry” by Mary J. Blige (1995)
78. “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (1997)
77. “Are You That Somebody?” by Aaliyah (1998)
76. “I Wish” by Skee-Lo (1995)
75. “Let’s Stay Together” by Tony! Toni! Toné! (1990)
74. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men (1994)
73. “Missing You” by Diana Ross (1995)
72. “I Like” by Hi-Five (1990)
71. “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5 (1997)
70. “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men (1996)
69. “I Need You” by LeVert (1990)
68. “Whatcha Want from Me” by Jodeci (1993)
67. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders (1994)
66. “Can We Talk” by Tevin Campbell (1993)
65. “Do You Feel Me” by Usher (1997)
64. “Kissing You” by Faith Hill (1998)
63. “You’re the One” by Chaka Khan (1994)
62. “It’s On” by Montell Jordan (1995)
61. “Crazy for You” by Madonna (1990)
60. “Take a Bow” by Madonna (1994)
59. “I Swear” by All-4-One (1994)
58. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men (1992)
57. “I’ll Be Loving U (Forever)” by New Kids on the Block (1990)
56. “No More” by Boyz II Men (1997)
55. “Giving You the Best That I Got” by Anita Baker (1990)
54. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins (1990)
53. “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” by Bryan Adams (1995)
52. “Misty Blue” by Patti LaBelle (1996)
51. “Before I Let You Go” by Blackstreet (1997)
50. “So Anxious” by Lisa Raye (1999)
49. “You’re the One for Me” by D’Angelo (1995)
48. “I’ll Make It Alright” by Brian McKnight (1997)
47. “Come and Get Your Love” by D’Angelo (1995)
46. “I’ll Love You Any Way” by Brian McKnight (1997)
45. “Let’s Do It” by The Isley Brothers (1996)
44. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders (1994)
43. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men (1992)
42. “Missing You” by Diana Ross (1995)
41. “Kissing You” by Des’ree (1995)
40. “I’ll Take You There” by The Sylvers (1995)
39. “You’re Makin’ Me High” by Toni Braxton (1996)
38. “Not Gon’ Cry” by Mary J. Blige (1995)
37. “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (1997)
36. “Are You That Somebody?” by Aaliyah (1998)
35. “I Wish” by Skee-Lo (1995)
34. “Let’s Stay Together” by Tony! Toni! Toné! (1990)
33. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men (1994)
32. “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men (1996)
31. “I Need You” by LeVert (1990)
30. “Whatcha Want from Me” by Jodeci (1993)
29. “Can We Talk” by Tevin Campbell (1993)
28. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders (1994)
27. “Do You Feel Me” by Usher (1997)
26. “Crazy for You” by Madonna (1990)
25. “Take a Bow” by Madonna (1994)
24. “I Swear” by All-4-One (1994)
23. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men (1992)
22. “I’ll Be Loving U (Forever)” by New Kids on the Block (1990)
21. “No More” by Boyz II Men (1997)
20. “Giving You the Best That I Got” by Anita Baker (1990)
19. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins (1990)
18. “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” by Bryan Adams (1995)
17. “Misty Blue” by Patti LaBelle (1996)
16. “Before I Let You Go” by Blackstreet (1997)
15. “You’re the One for Me” by D’Angelo (1995)
14. “I’ll Make It Alright” by Brian McKnight (1997)
13. “Come and Get Your Love” by D’Angelo (1995)
12. “Let’s Do It” by The Isley Brothers (1996)
11. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders (1994)
10. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men (1992)
9. “Missing You” by Diana Ross (1995)
8. “Kissing You” by Des’ree (1995)
7. “I’ll Take You There” by The Sylvers (1995)
6. “You’re Makin’ Me High” by Toni Braxton (1996)
5. “Not Gon’ Cry” by Mary J. Blige (1995)
4. “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (1997)
3. “Are You That Somebody?” by Aaliyah (1998)
2. “I Wish” by Skee-Lo (1995)
1. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men (1992)
Conclusion
The 1990s was a transformative time for R&B music. From the smooth grooves of neo-soul to the high-energy beats of new jack swing, the decade was filled with R&B classics that continue to influence artists today. This list highlights the top 100 R&B songs of the 1990s, showcasing a range of styles and sounds that defined the era. Whether you’re a nostalgic fan of 90s R&B or a new listener discovering the genre, this list is a great starting point for exploring the decade’s music.
