The Rise of R&B in the 1990s
The 1990s was a pivotal decade for R&B music. The genre, which was once dominated by smooth, soulful crooners like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, was undergoing a transformation. New artists, producers, and labels were emerging, bringing with them a fresh sound that was more experimental, edgy, and diverse. The result was a decade that saw R&B evolve into a genre that was more contemporary, more experimental, and more accessible to a wider audience.
The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 1990s
From the smooth, slow jams of Boyz II Men to the high-energy, dance-friendly beats of TLC, the 1990s was a decade that produced some of the most iconic R&B songs of all time. Here are the top 100 R&B songs of the decade, in no particular order:
1. Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”
2. Mariah Carey – “Dreamlover”
3. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You”
4. En Vogue – “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”
5. TLC – “Waterfalls”
6. Usher – “You Make Me Wanna”
7. R. Kelly – “I Believe I Can Fly”
8. Brandy – “The Boy Is Mine”
9. Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”
10. Destiny’s Child – “Say My Name”
11. Brian McKnight – “Anytime”
12. Keith Sweat – “Twisted”
13. SWV – “Weak”
14. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
15. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “If I Had No Loot”
16. En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”
17. TLC – “No Scrubs”
18. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
19. Boyz II Men – “One Sweet Day”
20. Mariah Carey – “Fantasy”
21. Whitney Houston – “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”
22. En Vogue – “Hold On”
23. Usher – “You Got It Bad”
24. Brandy – “Have You Ever?”
25. Monica – “Angel of Mine”
26. Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
27. Brian McKnight – “Love of My Life”
28. Keith Sweat – “Make It Last Forever”
29. SWV – “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”
30. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
31. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “Anniversary”
32. En Vogue – “Riddle”
33. TLC – “Unpretty”
34. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
35. Boyz II Men – “I’ll Make Love to You”
36. Mariah Carey – “One Sweet Day”
37. Whitney Houston – “I Have Nothing”
38. En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”
39. Usher – “U Remind Me”
40. Brandy – “Sitting Up in My Room”
41. Monica – “Before You Walk Out of My Life”
42. Destiny’s Child – “Survivor”
43. Brian McKnight – “Anytime”
44. Keith Sweat – “Make It Last Forever”
45. SWV – “Weak”
46. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
47. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “If I Had No Loot”
48. En Vogue – “Hold On”
49. TLC – “No Scrubs”
50. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
51. Boyz II Men – “One Sweet Day”
52. Mariah Carey – “Fantasy”
53. Whitney Houston – “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”
54. En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”
55. Usher – “You Got It Bad”
56. Brandy – “Have You Ever?”
57. Monica – “Angel of Mine”
58. Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
59. Brian McKnight – “Love of My Life”
60. Keith Sweat – “Make It Last Forever”
61. SWV – “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”
62. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
63. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “Anniversary”
64. En Vogue – “Riddle”
65. TLC – “Unpretty”
66. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
67. Boyz II Men – “I’ll Make Love to You”
68. Mariah Carey – “One Sweet Day”
69. Whitney Houston – “I Have Nothing”
70. En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”
71. Usher – “U Remind Me”
72. Brandy – “Sitting Up in My Room”
73. Monica – “Before You Walk Out of My Life”
74. Destiny’s Child – “Survivor”
75. Brian McKnight – “Anytime”
76. Keith Sweat – “Make It Last Forever”
77. SWV – “Weak”
78. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
79. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “If I Had No Loot”
80. En Vogue – “Hold On”
81. TLC – “No Scrubs”
82. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
83. Boyz II Men – “One Sweet Day”
84. Mariah Carey – “Fantasy”
85. Whitney Houston – “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”
86. En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel”
87. Usher – “You Got It Bad”
88. Brandy – “Have You Ever?”
89. Monica – “Angel of Mine”
90. Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
91. Brian McKnight – “Love of My Life”
92. Keith Sweat – “Make It Last Forever”
93. SWV – “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”
94. Jodeci – “Forever My Lady”
95. Tony! Toni! Toné! – “Anniversary”
96. En Vogue – “Riddle”
97. TLC – “Unpretty”
98. R. Kelly – “I’m Your Angel”
99. Boyz II Men – “I’ll Make Love to You”
100. Mariah Carey – “One Sweet Day”
The Impact of R&B on the 1990s
The 1990s was a decade that saw R&B music evolve from a niche genre to a mainstream phenomenon. The genre’s popularity was fueled by the rise of new artists, producers, and labels, as well as the increasing popularity of music videos and the internet.
R&B music played a significant role in shaping the decade’s cultural landscape. The genre’s smooth, soulful sound was a staple of 1990s pop culture, with R&B artists like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Boyz II Men dominating the charts and selling millions of records.
R&B also played a significant role in the development of hip-hop and rap music. Many R&B artists, including Usher, Brandy, and Monica, collaborated with hip-hop artists, helping to bring the two genres together and create a new sound that was more diverse and experimental.
Conclusion
The 1990s was a pivotal decade for R&B music. The genre’s popularity was fueled by the rise of new artists, producers, and labels, as well as the increasing popularity of music videos and the internet. R&B music played a significant role in shaping the decade’s cultural landscape, with its smooth, soulful sound dominating the charts and selling millions of records.
The top 100 R&B songs of the 1990s are a testament to the genre’s enduring popularity and influence. From the smooth, slow jams of Boyz II Men to the high-energy, dance-friendly beats of TLC, these songs represent the best of the decade’s R&B output.
FAQs
Q: What is R&B music?
A: R&B music, short for Rhythm and Blues, is a genre of popular music that originated in the 1940s. It is characterized by its soulful, emotive sound, which is often accompanied by smooth, melodic vocals and a strong emphasis on rhythm.
Q: Who are some of the most popular R&B artists of the 1990s?
A: Some of the most popular R&B artists of the 1990s include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, TLC, Usher, Brandy, Monica, Destiny’s Child, Brian McKnight, Keith Sweat, SWV, Jodeci, and Tony! Toni! Toné!.
Q: What are some of the most iconic R&B songs of the 1990s?
A: Some of the most iconic R&B songs of the 1990s include “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men, “Dreamlover” by Mariah Carey, “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “Waterfalls” by TLC, “You Make Me Wanna” by Usher, and “The Boy Is Mine” by Brandy and Monica.
Q: How did R&B music evolve in the 1990s?
A: R&B music evolved significantly in the 1990s, with the rise of new artists, producers, and labels. The genre became more experimental, with the incorporation of hip-hop and electronic elements. The increasing popularity of music videos and the internet also helped to bring R&B music to a wider audience.
