11 Best R&B Songs: 1990 – 2000 features music from icons including Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill among others. 

R&B is much different in 2018 than it was in the 1990s – there’s no way around it.  Music is constantly evolving in sound, even if fundamentally, there’s a lack of innovation.  Compare the sound of any R&B song from the 90s to one from the mid or late 10s, and the difference in production, sound, and particularly songwriting is stark.  You have to ask yourself, will the current flavor of R&B yield iconic hits like the contemporary R&B – the adult contemporary, hip-hop soul, New Jack Swing, neo-soul – of the 90s.  It’s definitely seems sketchy at times.  This throwback list selects 11 songs released between 1990 and 2000 that are among the crème de la crème of R&B.  Artists gracing this prestigious playlist includes Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill among others.

1. Mariah Carey, “Vision of Love”

Mariah Carey • Sony BMG • 1990

Key Lyric: “Treated me kind / Sweet destiny / Carried me through desperation / To the one that was waiting for me.”

Sigh, if it hadn’t been a breakout moment for Mariah Carey (“Vision of Love”), likely Whitney Houston would’ve been my pick with the stunning “All the Man I Need”. But, 1990 was the year of Mariah, period.  With this gorgeous, high-flying ballad, she definitely proved that she was ‘in it for the long haul.’ What a God-given talent she possesses.

Honorable Mentions: Whitney Houston, “All the Man I Need”; Whitney Houston, “I’m Your Baby Tonight”; Oleta Adams, “Get Here”

2. Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”

Cooleyhighharmony • Motown • 1991

Key Lyric: “Although we’ve come to the end of the road / Still I can’t let go / It’s unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you.”

Since Mariah Carey owned 1990 with the prize of her debut album, “Vision of Love”, it was only fair that Boyz II Men owned 1991 with the prize of their debut album, “End of the Road.” Making “Emotions” play ‘second fiddle’ at best seems harsh, but honestly, you just don’t hear such authentic, soulfully-infused ballads like “End of the Road” anymore. The Grammys definitely took notice, awarding the R&B group Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocal in 1992 for this transcendent gem.

Honorable Mentions: Mariah Carey, “Emotions”; Luther Vandross, “Power of Love / Love Power”; Boyz II Men, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye”; Michael Jackson, “Black or White”

3. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”

The Bodyguard – Original Soundtrack Album • Arista • 1992

Key Lyric: “If I should stay / I would only be in your way / So I’ll go, but I know / I’ll think of you every step of the way.”

Sorry to everybody else who came out in 1992 – the best R&B song belongs to one woman and one woman only. Pretty amazing how Whitney Houston totally transformed a country song written by Dolly Parton isn’t it? Really, there’s not much commentary need for this one.  This is the greatest of Whitney Houston’s many, many hits.  At her best, who could out-perform her?  The best moment is the modulation (key change), where from then on, Houston goes to a completely different level.

Honorable Mentions: Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard; Mary J. Blige, “Real Love”; Prince, “Sexy MF”

4. R. Kelly, “Bump n’ Grind”

12 Play • Zomba • 1993

Key Lyric: “My mind is telling me no / But my body, my body’s telling me yes / Baby, I don’t want to hurt nobody / But there is something that I must confess to you (woo) / I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind.”

Long before R. Kelly was singing about the “Same Girl”, “Ignition”, or the ability to “spread my wings and fly”, he confessed love for sex on the biggest hit from 12 Play. There’s a strong argument for Mariah Carey once more – “Hero” is yet another epic ballad, with a more wholesome message. But, this is one of contemporary R&B’s greatest, if ultra-controversial artists, at his best.

Honorable Mentions: Mariah Carey, “Hero”; Janet Jackson, “That’s the Way Love Goes”

5. All-4-One, “I Swear”

All-4-One • Atlantic • 1994

Key Lyric: “And I swear by the moon / And the stars in the sky, I’ll be there / I swear, like the shadow that’s by your side.”

1994 was one of the toughest years to pick just one R&B gem.  Why? Both All-4-One (All-4-One) and Boy II Men (II) released albums with significant hits.  Deciding between “I’ll Make Love to You” and “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men is simply unfair.  Also unfair is not giving a nod to “I Swear,” a country song turned into a Grammy-winning, urban contemporary hit.  Notably, it won in the Pop category as opposed to R&B.

Honorable Mentions: Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love to You” & “On Bended Knee”; Mary J. Blige, “I’m Goin’ Down”; Barry White, “Practice What You Preach”

6. Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day”

Daydream • Sony BMG • 1995

Key Lyric: “And I know you’re shining down on me from heaven / Like so many friends we’ve lost along the way / And I know eventually we’ll be together / One sweet day.”

There was no other song I could’ve possible chose other than “One Sweet Day” (Sorry “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”).  Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men on the same song? Legendary Star power to the nth degree.  While “Despacito” managed to tie this classic for most weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (16 weeks), it was unable to take the crown.  Even if it had, we know which song is truly iconic.

Honorable Mentions: Whitney Houston, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”; Jodeci, “Freek’n You”

7. Toni Braxton, “Un-break My Heart”

Secrets • LaFace • 1996

Key Lyric: “Un-break my heart / Say you’ll love me again / Undo this hurt you caused / When you walked out the door / And walked out of my life / Un-cry these tears / I cried so many nights / Un-break my heart.”

Tough to pass on “I Believe I Can Fly” in any scenario, but the same can be said about “Un-Break My Heart.” Toni Braxton possesses one of the most distinct and rich voices of all time, period (Hey, she hasn’t won multiple Grammys for no reason). She was at her best in the 1990s releasing two LPs: the self-titled, 1993 album, Toni Braxton, and her biggest album, Secrets from 1996. The Grammy-winning, sultry, heartbroken ballad hails from Secrets, and spent 11 weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Honorable Mentions: R. Kelly, “I Believe I Can Fly”; Fugees, “Killing Me Softly with His Song”; Toni Braxton, “You’re Makin Me High”

8. Erykah Badu, “On & On”

Baduizm • Universal • 1997

Key Lyric: “Oh, on and on, and on and on / My cypher keeps moving like a rolling stone / Oh, on and on, and on and on / All night ‘til the break of dawn.”

Long before her controversial nude “Window Seat” video, Grammy-winner Erykah Badu was channeling her inner Billie Holiday. She incorporated jazz into her brand of scintillating neo-soul on her debut album, Baduizm. While Baduizm is ‘stacked,’ nothing shines brighter than the cool, calm, but energetic “On & On,” which rightfully earned the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal performance.  All that said, K-Ci & JoJo also have iconic status with the brilliant “All My Life”.

Honorable Mentions: K-Ci & JoJo, “All My Life”; Next “Too Close”

9. Lauryn Hill, “Ex-Factor”

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill • Ruffhouse • 1998

Key Lyric: “Tell me, who I have to be / To get some reciprocity / See, no one loves you more than me / And no one ever will.”

Drake only reignited my love for “Ex-Factor” by sampling the masterful record on his no. 1 hit, “Nice for What”. Sure, the equally superb “Doo Wop (That Thing)” is the more celebrated record (a no. 1 hit and winner of two Grammys itself), but Lauryn Hill is at her most soulful as she sings about a fading relationship.  Here’s the thing: 1998 was stacked with R&B hits. STA-ACKED! Still, if I could truly only choose one R&B song from that year, it would come from Hill.

Honorable Mentions: Aaliyah, “Are You That Somebody”; Brandy & Monica, “The Boy Is Mine”; Deborah Cox, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be There”; Faith Hill, “Love Like This”; Gerald Levert, “Thinkin’ Bout It”

10. Eric Benét, “Spend My Life with You”

Ft. Tamia

A Day in the Life • 1999 Warner Bros. • 1999

Key Lyric: “Can I just see you every morning when / I open my eyes / Can I just feel your heart beating beside me / Every night / Can we just feel this way together / Till the end of all time / Can I just spend my life with you.”

“Spend My Life with You” isn’t as decorated as some of the picks on this list, but the duet was nominated for a Grammy for good reason.  The vocal chemistry between Eric Benét and Tamia is nothing short of incredible.  The lush sound of the record and the soaring chorus are other major selling points.

Honorable Mentions: Brian McKnight, “Back at One”; Destiny’s Child, “Bills, Bills, Bills”; Ginuwine, “So Anxious”; Mariah Carey, “Heartbreaker”

11. D’Angelo, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”

Voodoo • Virgin • 2000

Key Lyric: “I’d love to make you wet / In between your thighs, ‘cause / I love when it comes inside you / I get so excited when I’m around you, I.”

Unlike so many (particularly women) who enjoyed D’Angelo’s chiseled abs in the music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” I enjoyed to the gospel-infused, retro-soul record itself.  Even more than the risqué, sensual lyrics, the vibe of the record tickled my fancy. In 2000, the neo-soul movement was on-point and this Grammy-winning joint was among the crowning achievements of this particular era.

Honorable Mentions: Erykah Badu, “Didn’t Cha Know”; Kelly Price, “As We Lay”; Toni Braxton, “Just Be a Man About It”; Gerald Levert, “Mr. Too Damn Good”

Photo Credits: Arista, Atlantic, LaFace, Motown, Ruffhouse, Sony BMG, Universal, Virgin, Warner Bros., Zomba