Black History: The 101 Greatest Songs by Male R&B Groups from the Last True Era of R&B: 1990-2001

(February 19, 2017) – This djrobblog Black History Month special tribute was inspired by the bands and singing groups of the 1990s and early 2000s who represented the last true era of R&B before the genre’s untimely demise later in the ’00s.  The emphasis here is “groups” – acts consisting of two or more members who regularly recorded together (i.e., released at least one complete album or more than one single as an entity) – NOT solo artists.

First, we take a look at the fellas – as inspired by recent interest in the group New Edition – with a ranking of the 101 Greatest Songs by Male R&B Groups From 1990 – 2001: the Last True Era of R&B.  Later in February, we’ll chart the female groups.

The countdown is at the end of the article, so you can read the long preamble or scroll straight to the bottom line below, which begins at No. 101 and goes all the way to No. 1!

What Inspired This?

The recent New Edition biopic on BET was not only an excellent documentary about a group of boys who grew to become men and overcome long odds to make it in a tough music industry.  It was also an instant reminder of a time when R&B “groups” in general once ruled the airwaves and the record charts.  Groups – whether male, female or mixed – were once the cornerstone of a thriving R&B genre that had produced decades of iconic hits and musical memories to last us a lifetime.

New Edition’s story was more special because it’s not often that a group of boys start off together as teenagers from such humble beginnings, enjoy instant success with three #1 hits before any of them turn 20, replace one of its lead singers with another, have all the members enjoy huge success away from the group, then have the original lead singer return while the replacement remains, and finally all reunite to continue touring some 35 years later…all while one of the offshoot acts – Bell Biv DeVoe – releases a brand new (and damn good!) album in 2017.

That album, Three Stripes, made its entry on the February 18 Billboard 200 chart at No. 18 and the following week fell to No. 121 – a modest showing but still one that’s noteworthy considering that no other R&B group – old or new – has had a new studio album on that list since 2015 (Jodeci’s The Past, The Present, The Future).

That even one such group – much less one that has been around for four decades – is quasi-relevant in 2017 is astonishing.  That’s because R&B as a mainstream genre has been running on fumes for the better part of the 21st century.

And the genre’s groups? Well, their story has been even more dire.

Black vocal groups don’t chart like they used to.

Bands and singing groups – particularly black male ones – have not been prominent in the 2010s, at least based on the key metrics that measure artist popularity (and help pay the bills): music and video streaming, paid downloads, radio airplay, critical industry recognition and Billboard chart position.

As a case in point, there hasn’t been a black male singing group that’s reached the top ten of either the Billboard Hot 100 or the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts during this entire decade (2010 -2017) to date.

And the last time such a group reached the #1 position on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart?  That would be 2001 when four songs by black singing groups reached the top: one by 112 (“It’s Over Now”), one by Cameo (in a featured role with Mariah Carey on “Loverboy”) and two by Jagged Edge (“Promise” and “Where The Party At?”).

That’s over fifteen years since the last time a male singing group – once a demographic that was black music’s flagship – topped the R&B chart!

So what happened to them?

Well, several things did.  First, one should note that black bands – those that actually played instruments – lost prominence long before black vocal groups did.  With rare exceptions like Mint Condition, Tony! Toni! Toné! or The Roots, the 1990s were largely dominated by male groups of the vocal-only variety. That could be blamed on a number of factors, not the least of which is the reduced profit margin associated with maintaining a self-contained band of instrument-playing musicians.

There’s also the fact that music production technology has made it far easier – and much less expensive – to reproduce the sound of a full band without the added burden of having to deal with all those personalities, contracts and financial issues.

And that technology has actually improved ten-fold from what existed even 20 years ago.  One person can now sit at his or her desk in front of a computer and produce the sound of a full band in a matter of hours with today’s music production software, rendering true musicians practically unnecessary.

As for vocal groups, it amounts to more than just the simple matter of mathematics or ease of music production.  Record labels have simply given up on developing and investing long-term in R&B acts because the genre has been so devalued over the past 10 to 15 years.  Otherwise, how does one explain the continued relevance of other genres of musical groups, like OneDirection, DNCE, Maroon 5, Chainsmokers, etc., while R&B groups have floundered?

Also, today’s R&B has been diluted with other genres, like hip-hop, dance-hall, pop and EDM (electronic dance music).  Even the remaining “R&B” acts – solo superstars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Usher as well as more contemporary acts like Frank Ocean, Anderson Paak, Solange, The Weeknd and others – may start with an R&B base, but their music is often infused with other elements that make them more accessible to a broader, usually pop or hip-hop audience.

But at least those acts – all solo stars – are doing their best to carry the torch and keep R&B or its hybrid sub-genres relevant.  Groups, however, have been missing from the picture for the better part of the millennium.

The Industry Doesn’t Recognize Group Excellence in the 21st Century.

It’s gotten so bad that even awards shows now include “featured” collaborations as contenders in “group” categories because groups by the truest definition don’t really exist anymore.  The most recent case-in-point: the “Best Group” winner at the 2016 BET Awards? Drake & Future, two solo rappers.

And that’s only for music awards that still bother to even honor groups at all.

The Grammys decided to pull the plug on the dying entity five years ago.  They no longer offer an award for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal,” opting since 2011 to lump all solo and duo/group contenders into one category for “Best R&B Performance.”

The last winner of the Grammy’s duo/group award?  That would be Sade (the band) in 2011.  Before her – I mean, them, – the last duo/group winner was Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain for “Blame It.”  Yeah, that group.

The last time a true group won it was in 2006 when Take 6, a contemporary gospel sextet (unlike male R&B groups, gospel ones still exist), won in a collaboration with Stevie Wonder on a remake of his classic “Love’s In Need Of Love Today.”  In true Grammy fashion, that year’s winners were recognized well past their primes and arguably reflected a typical sympathy vote (see this year’s five David Bowie wins) more than anything else.

Thus, the last time a contemporary male R&B group won the award without requiring the aid of a solo superstar or his 30-year-old classic song?  That was 1998, when BLACKstreet won for their #1 pop and R&B smash “No Diggity.”

So needless to say, R&B groups – male and female, but male in particular – have not been a major presence in today’s musical landscape.  They’ve certainly seen their better days.  But New Edition’s (and Bell Biv DeVoe’s) recent renaissance serves as a reminder of a time that once was the greatest era for R&B…and of the groups from back in the day that helped make it so.

The 101 Best Songs by R&B Groups from 1990 – 2001: R&B’s Last Great Era

The rest of this article is thus a tribute to those groups – as part of a special djrobblog Black History Month celebration.  This week, I feature a countdown of the 101 Greatest Songs By Male R&B Groups from 1990 – 2001: R&B’s Last Great Era.  Next week, I’ll do a similar countdown featuring the ladies.

To come up with this, I combed through hundreds of songs recorded or released by over 70 different male R&B duos or groups between 1990 and 2001, and came up with a ranking of what I considered to be the best ones.  I used a combination of factors, including chart performances, critical acclaim, influence, and endurance over the years.  Of course, a not-so-objective opinion (mine) was factored into the equation as well.

No two people could ever come up with identical lists of this type, and I know readers will disagree with the order or inclusion of some of these songs…and that’s fine.  So please keep that in mind when surveying the list and feel free to vote the songs up or down or provide comments telling me where you’d rank them.

Now get ready to enjoy this trip down memory lane and a journey that I hope will be as memory-filled (and even heart-warming) for you as it was for me to put it together.

Oh, and each entry includes a short vignette with many including video links.  Plus, you can hear all the songs on the Spotify playlist below the countdown. How many of these classic R&B jams do you remember?

101. “I L.O.V.E. U” – Take 6

The best way to begin any countdown is with a song spreading inspirational messages about love, and so this one begins with a vocal a capella group best known for its blend of spirituality and uplift.  Take 6 is one of the few acts to have albums that scored simultaneously on the R&B, pop, jazz and gospel charts.  The album that generated this top 20 R&B single in 1990 was no exception.

100. “My Heart Is Failing Me” – Riff

This 1991 hit’s lyrics give about a half dozen reasons why the singer is feeling so broken – all centered around the fact that his love has left him.  Yet the main refrain is “I wonder why I feel like my heart is failing me.”   Really?  Is there any wonder?

99. “Innocent” – Whispers

The legendary soul group The Whispers were no strangers to the top ten of Billboard’s R&B singles charts.  They had fifteen top-tens throughout their career, including four in the ’70s, eight in the ’80s and three in the ’90s.  “Innocent” was the first of those ’90s hits, reaching #3 in the spring of 1990.  Check out what they sounded like during the new jack swing era in the video above.

98. “Where Do You U Want Me To Put It?” – Solo

This R&B vocal group from Brooklyn were signed to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis’ Perspective record label in the mid 1990s.  The song had an old-school ’70s soul vibe, and the lyrics – despite the provocative title – were relatively subtle, as the band never really had to spell out what “it” was.   We all knew, lest we had to ask.

97. “She’s Got That Vibe” – R. Kelly & Public Announcement

“Viiiiiiibe, Viiiiiiibe, Viiiiiibe!”  How many of us remember where we were when we first heard those words wailing over a generic new jack beat in 1992.  It was R. Kelly and his band the Public Announcement’s first hit.  Little did we know then that it would launch the career of the ’90s biggest R&B solo artist – and one of the most controversial.

96. “So Alone” – Men At Large

These two Gerald Levert proteges hailed from his hometown of Cleveland, OH.  Their names were David Tolliver and Jason Champion.  The lyrics were seriously sad, but one funny line stood out for me in the second verse: “what I wouldn’t give to have you cussing me out.”  Now, that’s loneliness at its worst.

95. “It’s Over Now” – 112

This song from Bad Boy’s finest group topped the R&B chart in 2001, becoming one of the last three #1 songs by an R&B group.  The other two are coming up later in this countdown.

94. “Let’s Get Down” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

Triple-Tony took it old-school (again!) with this funky ’70s-throwback ode to dancing and partying.  It featured DJ Quik handling the rap duties, which kept it ’90s-relevant.  Unfortunately, the Tonys – one of the last vestiges of a band with true musicians – couldn’t keep it going after singer Rafael Saadiq left the group shortly after this song was a hit.

93. “Why You Get Funky on Me” – Today

From the classic black comedy House Party came this new jack swing gem from one of Motown Records last successful soul acts, Today.  Frederick “Big Bub” Drakeford and company pumped up this jam for moviegoers nationwide in 1990.

92. “Beauty” – Dru Hill

Dru Hill, out of Baltimore, was inescapable in the late 1990s, with several songs that will be coming up later on this list.  This “beauty” of a ballad was their last entry of the decade, coming at the tail-end of 1999.  They’d have a few more low-charting singles in the 2000s before the hits stopped coming altogether.

91. “Iesha” – Another Bad Creation

“ABC” was the name of a famous Motown single from the Jackson 5 in 1970.  Some 20 years later, it was also the acronym for another kiddie Motown group who found success with songs like “Playground” and this first hit, which was co-written by New Edition’s Michael Bivens.

90. “Hit Me Off” – New Edition

After the two years that the members of New Edition had between 1989 and 1991, where four different incarnations of them charted nearly two dozen top-ten R&B hits, half of which topped the chart (and many of which charted top-40 pop as well), their reunion effort was primed to be huge in 1996.  The song and video for “Hit Me Off” didn’t disappoint.  All six members got a key lead part – the likely result of Ronnie, Ricky and Mike proving they could hang with the best of ’em (Bobby, Ralph and Johnny).

89. “Just Me and You” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

Here’s yet another offering from the Tonys.  Remember that streak of 11 (out of 13) top-ten hits I mentioned earlier?  Well, this tune was one of those that didn’t make it, stopping at #27 in 1991.  It hailed from the Boyz in the Hood soundtrack.

88. “I Can’t Wait Another Minute” – Hi-Five

The vocal group Hi-Five hailed from Waco, TX and had three huge crossover R&B/pop hits from 1991-92, including this mid-tempo ballad, which topped the R&B chart and reached the top ten on the pop list in ’91.  It was the follow-up to their first hit, which topped both charts and is coming up later in this countdown.

87. “Peaches & Cream” – 112

The group 112 were the good boys of Sean “Puffy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment empire, but this song skated on the edge with some very tantalizing lyrics crooned by several of the group’s members.  The video demonstrated just how sexy a wet slice of peach can really be when placed in the right hands.  The video (above) also included a snippet of another single from their critically acclaimed Part III album, “Dance with Me,” which just missed this 101 Greatest List.

86. “What About Us?” – Jodeci

This may be the most popular soul band to come out of Charlotte, NC.  You’ll believe me by the time you scroll through this whole list, in which Jodeci is very well represented.  This is the first of their songs here, a 1994 R&B burner from their classic album, Diary of a Mad Band.

85. “A Friend” – The Winans ft. Aaron Hall

Gospel acts like Kirk Franklin, Sounds of Blackness, BeBe & Cece Winans and others made dents in the R&B charts during the 1990s and early 2000s, but one all-male group that significantly represented was the Winans brothers, who teamed up with two members of Guy in 1990 for separate R&B crossover hits:  “It’s Time” featuring Teddy Riley, and this beautiful song featuring Aaron Hall.

84. “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

This mid-tempo jam from 1994 was the follow-up to “Anniversary” (coming up later) and continued a hit streak for the trio out of Oakland, CA.  It was their eleventh top 10 R&B single in 13 tries from 1988-94.  No other group had as many during those years.  The streak would come to an end soon afterwards, as only one more of their singles reached that echelon of the chart.

83. “Comforter” – Shai

The group Shai, from Washington, DC, broke with three out-of-the-box smash singles in 1993, including this ultra-slow tune – the title track to their debut album – which reached the top ten on Billboard’s pop chart.

82. “Choose” – Color Me Badd

Color Me Badd had some big pop hits in their all-too-short career.  Some of those did equally as well on the R&B chart, and they’ll be coming later on this list.  “Choose” – a Jam & Lewis-produced single from 1994 – was a relatively low-charting hit by comparison, but it’s a great tune nonetheless… and highly underrated I might add.

81. “Joy” – BLACKstreet

This heartfelt ode to joy was brought to us in 1995 by the same group that gave us “Booti Call” the year before and “No Diggity” the year after.  Indeed, BLACKstreet’s versatility helped them land several songs on this list, three more of which are coming up later.

80. “Thank You” – Boyz II Men

This gracious third single from the Philly band’s second album had the unenviable task of following two huge #1 singles, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “On Bended Knee.”   It failed to duplicate their success, but it still did respectably well, reaching the top 25 on both the R&B and pop charts.

79. “Get On Up” – Jodeci

Jodeci could bring you bedroom burners one minute, then turn around and surprise you with a party anthem like “Get On Up.”   Okay – admittedly – that didn’t happen often.  They’ll be more remembered for the steamier bedroom fare than songs like this one.  Still, it was damned good and had us moving our a**ss in the spring/summer of ’96!

78. “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” – Boyz II Men

The movie for which their debut album, CooleyHighHarmony, was named featured the original version of “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” by G. C. Cameron.  The boys from Philly covered it in acapella form and watched it become a top five pop and #1 R&B smash in early 1992.

77. “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)” – R. Kelly & Public Announcement

R. Kelly & the Public Announcement were actually a group, although Kelly was the clear leader and received named billing.  Before he went completely solo, this was the band’s second chart-topper – after “Honey Love,” which appears higher on this list.

76. “No More” – Ruff Endz

This R&B duo from Baltimore scored big in 2000 with this #1 R&B/top five pop smash.  Of course, there would be “no more” major hits for the twosome (David Chance and Dante Jordan) after this smooth funk groove.

75. “These Are the Times” – Dru Hill

Baltimore is well represented on this list, with Dru Hill immediately following the duo at No. 76.  In fact, Dru Hill have a handful of singles in this countdown, including “These Are the Times,” which was, ironically, their first release NOT to be certified gold or platinum after their first five songs had been.  By the way, the group is named for Druid Hill Park in Baltimore.

74. “Water Runs Dry” – Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men’s second album, II, contained songs written and produced by a number of the nineties’ biggest hitmakers, including L.A. Reid, Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Dallas Austin.  This one was a Babyface tune, and it nearly became the third #1 single from the album.   It fell short at #2 in the spring of 1995.

73. “My Body” – LSG

In R&B terms, LSG was the epitome of the industry’s definition of a “Supergroup,” with all of its members having had tremendous success prior to the group’s formation.  And who could deny that “My Body” of its ultimate fate as a No. 1 R&B/ No. 4 pop single when those three legendary voices teamed up?  Women alone would have sent this song straight to the top (in fact, they alone probably did)!

72. “Spread My Wings” – Troop

When the California group Troop was charting in the late ’80s/early ’90s, I had no clue that they were as young as they were (based at least on the picture above).  The song “Spread My Wings” was one of the earliest chart-toppers of the ’90s, reaching #1 that April for two weeks.  It was the first of three #1 singles for the group whose name – interestingly enough – was an acronym for Total Respect of Other People.

71. “Get Gone” – Ideal

This was the ultimate in diss songs.  The title offers just a hint of the dismissing that goes on here, with lines like “I don’t know if it hurts to hear me say all of these words,…but by now I really don’t care.”  But the chorus brings it home: “get your bags and get the hell on, ’cause I don’t want you no more.”   It’s a far cry from the quartet’s other big hit song, “Whatever,” a song that is coming up later and whose title isn’t at all dismissive – though it may seem.

70. “Do Me!” – Bell Biv Devoe

Interestingly enough, Bell Biv DeVoe is represented more on this list than their parent-group, New Edition.  That’s because all of BBD’s success came in the 1990s, while New Edition did most of its damage in the 1980s.  “Do Me!” is just the first of four BBD tracks on this list – all from their debut album, Poison, in 1990.

69. “I Got A Thang 4 Ya!” – Lo-Key?

This group of talented singers was discovered by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded on their Perspective label.  This song was their biggest hit, a #1 R&B single from late 1992/ early 1993.  Check out the Soul Train performance above (along with Don Cormelius’ interview of the band members afterwards).  Trivia tidbit: this may be the only group whose name ends with a punctuation mark that also had a #1 hit that ended with one.  In fact, Lo-Key? may be the only act whose name ends with a question mark.  I’d have to research that one!

68. “Butta Love” – Next

There wasn’t much question where this group’s songs got their inspiration as they were usually dripping with innuendo.  However, “Butta Love” – and later “Too Close” – were among the late ’90s’ best examples of creative songwriting, combining slang and syntax in a way that few other bands did.  “Too Close,” of course, is coming up later on this list.

67. “Heat of the Moment” – After 7

1990 was a huge breakout year for the trio After 7, which featured two of Babyface’s young brothers – Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, plus fellow Indiana resident Keith Mitchell.  “Heat of the Moment” was originally released as the first single off their debut album in 1989 but only reached #74.  After the next two singles, “Ready or Not” and “Can’t Stop” became huge successes in 1990, their label – Virgin Records – re-released “Heat,” which ultimately became a top 10 R&B and top 20 pop crossover hit.

66. “Let’s Chill” – Guy

Teddy Riley is the only artist represented on three different groups – two of which are in this countdown.  Guy was his first band.  Ironically, this was the only song by Guy to make this list – as most of their hits occurred in the 1980s.  Check out Riley and his first band mates, brothers Aaron and Damon Hall, in the “Let’s Chill” video above.

65. “Whatever You Want” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

Tony! Toni! Tone! was red-hot with their second album, 1990’s The Revival.  It generated four #1 hits.  This was the last of those, topping the chart in April 1991.  It was also the first not featuring Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals (Dwayne Wiggins, Saadiq’s brother, did the honors).

64. “Lose Control” – Silk

“Lose Control” is a call to complete bedroom submission, beautifully sung by one of Atlanta’s finest vocal groups of the 1990s.  Featuring awesome vocal harmonies and a prominent piano flourishing throughout, it’s easily one of the best baby-making songs of the decade.

63. “A Heart is a House for Love” – The Dells

Is there a heart in the house tonight?  From a 1990s perspective, the Dells are easily the oldest band on this countdown.  Their charting days go all the way back to the early 1960s (and they formed in the 1950s) with classics like “Stay In My Corner” (1968) and “Oh, What a Night” (1969) – both #1 R&B chart hits.  So, people embraced them with open arms when “A Heart is a House for Love” graced the soundtrack to the Five Heartbeats in 1991.  It was ultimately the Dells’ last big hit in America.

62. “Whatever” – Ideal feat. Lil’ Mo

This top-20 R&B jam from the quartet Ideal was their second and last big hit.  If it reminds you of songs by the group Next, that may be because Next lead-singer R.L. Huggar had a hand in writing it.  The song reached #11 R&B in early 2000.

61. “Before I Let You Go” – BLACKstreet

Back at No. 81, I mentioned BLACKstreet’s versatility with songs ranging from “Joy” to “Booti Call.”  This big hit showed more of the quartet’s romantic side with lyrics that spoke of “goodnight kisses” and, well… love.

60. “Uhh Ahh” – Boyz II Men

This was early Boyz II Men off their first album, CooleyHighHarmony.   It was arguably their sexiest hit as well, with the harmonizing quartet replacing sensitivity with sensuality.

59. “Feenin'” – Jodeci

Now that I think about it, was “Feenin'” really a word back then?  Or did Jodeci just make that up.  Whether it was or not, it’s not one that’s been heard a lot of since – at least not in my immediate circles.

58. “A Song for Mama” – Boyz II Men

A lot of tears were shed when this tune was played in the motion picture Soul Food. This touching tribute to mothers became B2M’s last #1 R&B single (and their last top ten pop hit) in 1998.

57. “What Kind of Man Would I Be” – Mint Condition

Mint Condition truly were the Definition of a Band in the 1990s.  They were arguably the only self-contained R&B entity charting during the decade.  And their three songs on this list are proof that bands who played real instruments still had a place in a post-’80s world.

56. “Anywhere” – 112

The “Bad Boys” of 112 turned up the swagometer on this steamy 1999 hit.  The music video, complete with shower scenes, stripper poles, and plenty of sexy women, let us know that “Cupid” was definitely a thing of the past for these four grown folks.

55. “Where The Party At?” – Jagged Edge ft. Nelly

This collaboration between the R&B group Jagged Edge and rapper Nelly is the most recent song on this list – and the last to reach #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list (in late 2001).

54. “Don’t Leave Me” – BLACKstreet

Nothing like a good ol’ DeBarge sample to turn a song into a hit.  That happened many times in the 1990s, including in this case, where BLACKstreet sampled DeBarge’s “A Dream” from their 1983 classic album, In A Special Way.  Another notable sample from that album was the tune “Stay with Me” which provided the foundation for some of the biggest Hip-Hop/R&B singles from the 1990s and 2000s, including Biggie’s “One More Chance” and Ashanti’s “Foolish.”

53. “When Will I See You Smile Again?” – Bell Biv Devoe

BBD turned down the swag (“Poison,” “Do Me!,” “I Thought It Was Me”) just a little for this ballad from the same debut album.  The results were similar to that of the others:  a huge R&B smash that solidified the trio as formidable successors to their own parent group, New Edition.

52. “If I Had No Loot” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

The Sons of Soul earned that title honestly.  The three Tony’s (none of them bore that name by the way) were carrying soul music’s torch for much of the 1990s with funky grooves like this one, which was one of their last big top ten R&B singles.

51. “Every Little Thing I Do” – Soul for Real

As far as follow-ups go, this 1994 single was about as good as it got considering the huge juggernaut that its predecessor, “Candy Rain,” was earlier that year.  I personally liked this one better, but the charts said otherwise.  Either way, both are on this list, with the bigger hit coming up later.

50. “Only You – Bad Boy Remix” – 112 ft. The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase

Bad Boy Entertainment and its various artists were the epitome of family back in the 1990s, with members regularly collaborating on each other’s hits.  That was the case with this funky smoker from the label’s premier group, 112, who enlisted the services of the Notorious B.I.G. and Ma$e for the track.

49. “The First Time” – Surface

The trio Surface first hit it big in 1987 with the memorable smash, “Happy,” a No. 2 R&B and top-40 pop hit.  They saved their biggest hit for the 1990s, with this sweet ballad that topped the pop charts in January 1991 (displacing Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do” in the process).  It would be their last top 10 hit.

48. “Last Night” – Az Yet

Az Yet has yet to have a hit as big as this steamy ballad from 1996.  The tune that spoke of seeing the sun, the moon, the mountains and the rivers while making love peaked at No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 9 on the pop list.  And who could forget that one controversial line: “last night, there was no planning it”?  Many people mistook the “planning” for “blood in,” because that’s how Babyface instructed his singers to sing – with just enough garbling to make lyrics interesting.

47. “Come Inside” – Intro

Another song that spoke of being “inside,” this one lived up to its, um…title.  The group Intro turned down the tempo but turned up the steam with this ’90s R&B classic, which made the top ten R&B and the top forty pop in 1993/4.  Like Az Yet’s “Last Night,” this was Intro’s biggest hit.

46. “Stay” – Jodeci

The boys from Charlotte, North Carolina were hot out of the box with their first three singles all topping the chart.  The second of those #1 R&B chart hits was “Stay,” which reached the top in 1992.  Ultimately, Jodeci would earn five #1 singles in the ’90s.

45. “The Blues” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

This was the funk jam that got things rolling off of this Oakland band’s huge 1990 album, The Revival.  It was the first of four #1 R&B hits from the album, making them the only group to ever accomplish that feat on the R&B charts.

44. “Live and Learn” – Joe Public

Joe Public were one hit wonders who lived and learned with this 1992 new jack hit – an R&B song that was a major crossover hit on the pop charts as well.

43. “Baby I’m Ready” – LeVert

Before Gerald Levert launched his solo career in 1992, he and his group LeVert had this #1 R&B single, one of the last #1 R&B songs that missed Billboard’s pop chart (the Hot 100) altogether.

42. “Lately” – Jodeci

If I asked you who had the most successful version of the classic ballad “Lately,” would you have guessed Jodeci over Stevie Wonder – the song’s creator?  You’d be correct.  Jodeci took the song to #1 on the R&B chart, and top five pop.   Stevie’s original reached #64 in 1981.

41. “If I Ever Fall in Love” – Shai

There are several groups who dabbled in a capella singing who made this list.  People like Boyz II Men and Take 6 come to mind.  But Shai had one of the biggest a capella hits ever when their “If I Ever Fall in Love” reached No. 2 in late 1992.

40. “We’re Not Making Love No More” – Dru Hill

Baltimore’s Dru Hill scored big in 1997 with this song from the Soul Food soundtrack.  It was their fourth of five straight gold or platinum singles (out of their first five releases), making them the hottest new R&B group – at the time – since Jodeci.

39. “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)” – Bell Biv Devoe

This was the second of Bell Biv Devoe’s three #1 R&B hit singles – and the third of four songs they have on this list (all from their stellar quadruple-platinum debut album, Poison).  Check out the trio’s new jack jam on the above clip from 1990.

38. “It Never Rains In Southern California” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

Remember the old early ’70s tune “It Never Rains in Southern California” by Albert Hammond?   Well, this was not that song.  Tony! Toni! Tone’s tune was far different, a funk ballad that, in December 1990, gave the trio its third #1 R&B single (of four total) from their album The Revival.  Lisa Bonet, of “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” directed the music video.

37. “One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

The group that gets this song on the list was Boyz II Men, even though it appears on Mariah Carey’s 1995 Daydream album and she got first billing on the single.  It didn’t matter, because the equal credit given the Motown quartet (as opposed to being just a featured act) is why it’s here.  The song was a huge hit, spending 16 record-setting weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

36. “Here We Go Again” – Portrait

This Los Angeles band had a big hit with “Here We Go Again” in early 1993.  Check out their performance of it on Soul Train from February 1993 (above).

35. “Let’s Get Married” – Jagged Edge

Two versions of this #1 R&B single from 2000 made it such a big hit: the original album version and a So So Def remix by Jermaine Dupri that incorporated elements of “It’s Like That” from Run-DMC.

34. “Never Make A Promise” – Dru Hill

The lyrics for this ballad may have been standard romantic fare, but the music video (above) touched on the very sensitive topic of domestic abuse at a time when it wasn’t on a lot of people’s minds.

33. “U Send Me Swingin'” – Mint Condition

This St. Paul, MN band has three songs on this list, including this #2 R&B smash from early 1994.  It was the lead single from their Definition of a Band album.  Stokely’s lead vocals were in top form on this great tune!  Mint Condition recorded this on Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis’ Perspective Records label.  Check out their performance above.

32. “Cupid” – 112

Bad Boy’s 112 had a bit of a soft side to go along with the harder core image they honed with later hits.  The softer side came through on this big hit single from 1997.  It was the band’s only platinum-certified single.

31. “All My Life” – K-Ci & JoJo

Who could escape this wedding staple in 1998?  It gave the two brothers K-Ci & JoJo their sixth #1 R&B hit (including five with their band Jodeci) and their only #1 pop single.

30. “On Bended Knee” – Boyz II Men

Speaking of wedding songs, this begging ballad – one of the ’90s best of the sort – showcased Boyz II Men’s vocals at their finest.   It became their third (of five) #1 singles on the pop chart and made them only the second band ever to replace themselves at the top.  “On Bended Knee” replaced “I’ll Make Love to You” at No. 1 in November 1994.

29. “Promise” – Jagged Edge

I used 2001 as the last year of this era of R&B largely because of this group.  Jagged Edge was one of the last true R&B singing groups to have sustained success on the charts.  “Promise” was the second of their three consecutive #1 R&B hits from 2000-01.

28. “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)” – Hi-Five

As far as crossover hits go, this mid-tempo jam was one of the biggest of the early ’90s, reaching No. 1 on both the pop and the soul charts.  It was the first of three #1s on the R&B list and wound up becoming one of the biggest hits of 1991.

27. “Nights Like This” – After 7

If ever there was a movie that epitomized the rise and fall of an R&B group, The Five Heartbeats was it.  And songs from that movie are represented multiple times in this countdown.  This one was by the successful ’90s group After 7, which itself has four hits on the list.

26. “Written All Over Your Face” – Rude Boys

The Rude Boys were out of Cleveland, OH, just like the mentor who discovered them, Gerald Levert, whose fingers were all over this No. 1 R&B hit from 1991.  Interesting fact: Rude Boy member Larry Marcus is a cousin of the late blues legend B. B. King.

25. “Tell Me” – Dru Hill

I’m not gonna lie, this is easily one of my favorite songs on this list.  No one could deny that slowed-down pulsating beat that reminded me of a slow-motion video game of Space Invaders.  I may be alone in that weird association, but it’s the image I’ve always maintained of Dru Hill’s 1996 debut classic “Tell Me.”

24. “I Wanna Sex You Up” – Color Me Badd

We’re getting into megahit territory here, and this classic debut single by the interracial group Color Me Badd fits right in.  The million-selling 1991 single was a No. 1 R&B smash that stopped at No. 2 on Billboard’s pop chart – likely for the same reason that George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex” did four years earlier – too much “sex” talk for pop radio at the time.

23. “Can’t Stop” – After 7

How many of you remember singing along with this No. 1 R&B single from After 7’s debut album in 1990?  R&B radio loved it, and soon pop radio followed.  Ultimately, a lot of folks loved it, resulting in “Can’t Stop” becoming the group’s second gold-certified single.

22. “Wifey” – Next

“Wifey” by Next continued the group’s penchant for clever phrasing in their lyrics, with lines like “making living lively highly spoken of, my only love, the only one, you’re my wifey, making my life complete – sweet.  But you know when to flip it street – freak.  But only when it comes to me – see.  That’s why you’re my wifey.” Classic!

21. “Honey Love” – R. Kelly & Public Announcement

When R.  Kelly & the Public Announcement hit #1 on the R&B charts in 1991 with this classic slow jam, who knew that the Chicago native lead vocalist would go on to become the biggest R&B singer of the 1990s?  But R. Kelly did just that, as he would rack up #1 hits throughout the 1990s and beyond as a solo artist and in various duets with fellow legends like Celine Dion and Ronald Isley.

20. “Motownphilly” – Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men started their hitmaking career with this first single from their 1991 debut album Cooley High Harmony.  It was an instant smash, reaching No. 3 pop and No. 1 R&B that year.  It continued the new era of Motown hitmakers with groups like Today, ABC and the Good Girls (remember them?) joining B2M in Motown’s efforts to build on the legacy created by the label’s greats from the 1960s and ’70s… and for most of the 1990s, these boys from Philly succeeded in doing just that.

19. “Freek’n You” – Jodeci

Jodeci has nine songs on this list – second only to a Boyz II Men who has ten.  Four of Jodeci’s hits are in the top 20, starting with this sultry smash from 1995.  It was the first single from their album The Show, The Hotel, The After Party, which itself let the world know what was on these Charlotte, NC natives’ minds – as if “Freek’n You” left any doubt.

18. “Candy Rain” – Soul 4 Real

I don’t know about you, but when I heard “Candy Rain” for the first time back in 1994, I thought Soul 4 Real would be the next incarnation of New Edition, a band that would be around for years to come.  As it was, their success was essentially limited to a few hits from the mid-1990s.  But “Candy Rain” was a big one, topping the R&B chart in Billboard and nearly topping the pop list as well (peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100).

17. “Knockin’ Da Boots” – H-Town

Talking about dated slang phrases, perhaps no term screams early 1990s like “knocking boots.”  We all knew what it meant and we all used it. But the saying went out of vogue almost as soon as this huge hit ran its course in 1994. But H-Town will forever be remembered for their steamy rendition of it – if not for anything else.

16. “Forever My Lady” – Jodeci

Jodeci’s first single was this one.  It was an instant smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and crossing over to the top 20 of the Hot 100 as well.  It’s worth noting that Jodeci’s Billboard chart career now spans a quarter century, from the debut of “Forever My Lady” in early 1991 to their most recent comeback attempt, the album The Past, The Present, The Future, which charted briefly in 2015.

15. “I Adore Mi Amore” – Color Me Badd

“Dream on, dream away.  I think I’m gonna have to stay, stay forever!”  So went the chorus to this memorable No. 1 pop and R&B smash by multiracial group Color Me Badd in 1991.  By topping both charts, “I Adore Mi Amore” managed to do what both of CMB’s other No. 1 hits couldn’t.  “I Wanna Sex You Up” only topped the R&B list, while 1992’s “All for Love” only crowned the pop one.

14. “Ready or Not” – After 7

After 7 definitely benefited from the hitmaking talents of hot producers L.A. Reid & Babyface, the latter of whom was the older brother of two of this band’s members. “Ready Or Not” was certified gold in 1990 and topped the R&B list – becoming one of over a dozen No. 1s for the legendary producers.  It’s still a staple in old-school quiet storm circles today.

13. “No Diggity” – BLACKstreet ft. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen

What was the most memorable part of this huge double No. 1 (pop and R&B) smash for you?  Was it Dre’s rap?  Queen Pen’s?  What about Teddy Riley’s verses?  Or was it the phrase “play on playette” that perhaps no other song in history has used before or since?  For me it was that classic A-minor piano chord that provided the song’s foundation.  Whichever you chose, all of those elements conspired to make this one of the biggest hits of the 1990s!

12. “Cry for You” – Jodeci

For those who are counting, this is the eighth of Jodeci’s nine songs in this countdown, meaning there’s still one to go.  However, if I were to do a countdown of classic begging songs, this one would definitely outrank all of Jodeci’s other hits.  In fact, it might just outrank all songs in the begging category, with the group’s reaffirmation “Baby, I’m beggin’, baby I’m beggin’, beggin’ baby,” chanted during the coda as the song fades, to remove any doubt.

11. “Anniversary” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

“Do you know what today is?  It’s our anniversary.”  In 1993, Tony! Toni! Tone! created what still stands as one of the premier anniversary commemorations in R&B music history.  No other song captured the spirit of marital bliss and commitment like this one did, and none will likely ever capture it again, given the state of music today.

10. “All I Do Is Think of You” – Troop

It’s rare that a group can remake a Jackson 5 song and turn it into a bigger hit than the brothers from Gary, IN did.  But that’s exactly what Troop did in 1990 when “All I Do Is Think Of You” became their second No. 1 hit in just three months (after “Spread My Wings”).  Admittedly, the J-5 version came during a down period for the band (while Michael’s voice was changing), while Troop’s rendition happened while their irons were still piping hot!

9. “I’ll Make Love to You” – Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men broke their own record in 1994 when this song remained on top of the Hot 100 singles chart for 14 straight weeks – longer than their previous record holder, “End of the Road,” which held court for 13 weeks.  But their record was broken again just a year and a half later when their collaboration with Mariah Carey spent 16 weeks at the top in 1996.

8. “Feels Good” – Tony! Toni! Tone!

“Feels Good” is Tony! Toni! Tone’s biggest hit – and their highest ranking one on this list out of nine songs, which ties them with Jodeci for second place behind Boyz II Men.  Butts wiggled whenever “Feels Good” came on in 1990, even if the band itself didn’t like it initially when they laid it down in the studio.  But you cannot argue with success.   The song was certified gold (the band’s only single to attain that status) and became their biggest pop crossover hit as well.

7. “End of the Road” – Boyz II Men

Now we’re up to the group that has the most songs on this list – ten of ’em – and this is the one that ranks the highest.  Boyz II Men defied chart gravity when this waltzy ballad was released in 1992.  The song remained at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 13 weeks, making it the longest-running chart topper at the time.  No single had managed more than ten weeks in the chart’s 34-year history before that.  In the 25 years since, many songs have accomplished the feat – owing to the Nielsen Soundscan data that has been used to track record sales for Billboard since 1991 (so it also contributed to B2M’s phenomenal run).  Regardless, no act besides B2M has had three singles (this one, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “One Sweet Day”) to spend 13 or more weeks at the top, and “End of the Road” – the ultimate break-up song – set it all in motion.

6. “In My Bed” – Dru Hill

The three groups with the most songs on this list are Boyz II Men (10), Jodeci and Tony! Toni! Tone! (both tied with 9).  In fourth place is the Baltimore group Dru Hill with six.  “In My Bed” is their highest, ironically ranked at No. 6.  It reached No. 1 R&B (and No. 4 pop) in 1997 and was certified platinum, making it their biggest hit.  In case you’re interested, the group just missed having eight songs on the list with two of their big hits – “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Five Steps” – both just outside the 101 cutoff.

5. “Come & Talk to Me” – Jodeci

This is easily my favorite Jodeci song and it came very close to being ranked at the very top of this list.  It took some lengthy analysis of the other songs that are ranked higher for a more reasonable head to prevail.  The end result – No. 5 – is not bad, though.  It will always be one of Jodeci’s signature tunes and still plays well in old school circles today.

4. “Too Close” – Next

What do you get when you take a sample from one of the earliest rap songs (Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rapping”) and combine it with lyrics about one of the earliest phenomena known to man (his own arousal)?  You get this No. 1 pop and R&B smash that Billboard named the biggest pop single of 1998.  “Too Close” wasn’t blatantly graphic in its pre-carnality, but careful listens ultimately revealed what was really meant by double entendres like “you’re making it hard for me.”  Classic!

3. “Freak Me” – Silk

“Let me lick you up and down, ’til you get hot.”  When a song starts with that line, you know it can only go down (or up?) from there.  The quintet Silk made one of the most enduring R&B songs ever when they recorded “Freak Me.”  The song was so massive in 1993 that it reached No. 1 on both the pop and the soul charts.  It was that generation’s “Let’s Get It On” as far as pop/soul crossover’s go.  Put it on today and people still go crazy over it.

2. “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” – Mint Condition

How refreshing was it in 1992 to have this band – yes, band – hit out of the box with “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)”?  With the late 1980s and early ’90s being dominated by drum machines and looped samples, especially with black music, it was worth celebrating when a real band came out of left field with a throwback jam that had it all – melody, chord changes, instrumentation and some damn good singing!  The result was a song that reached the top ten on both the pop and R&B charts and set the wheels in motion for a band that should’ve had even more success than it ultimately did.

And Number One: “Poison” – Bell Biv Devoe

I may be biased, but I don’t know a ’90s song that has carried over from one decade to the next as well as BBD’s “Poison” has.  From the minute the opening (programmed) drum riff kicks it off with Spyderman and Freeze in full effect, “Poison” has had the unequaled ability to get butts out of seats and have people singing along loudly.  Even today, everybody becomes Ricky Bell when that chorus hits and he croons the words “It’s driving me out of my mind” and “Can’t get it out of my head!”  Indeed, we know the feeling, and “that’s why it hard for me to find” another song by a male R&B group that deserves to be atop these rankings.

Never trust a big butt and a smile.  Classic!

Jam on – and remember, the women’s ranking is coming up!

DJRob