Greatest R&B Singers of All Time (Workers Picks)

Earlier than Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin constructed their very own melodious higher flooring, Atlantic Data was often called “the home that Ruth constructed.” One of many first artists signed to Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson’s new child label, Brown rocketed to a prime 5 debut on the R&B chart together with her 1949 debut single “So Lengthy.” She reigned at No. 1 for a number of weeks only a 12 months later with “Teardrops from My Eyes.” That tune was the primary in a exceptional — and then-unheard-of — string of No. 1 and prime 10 hits all through the ‘50s, together with “5-10-15 Hours,” “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Imply,” “Oh What a Dream” and “I Need to Do Extra.” Nicknamed Miss Rhythm for her versatile vocal experience, described alternately as sassy, stately, playful however at all times highly effective, Brown later received a Tony, appeared within the 1988 movie traditional Hairspray and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1993. — GAIL MITCHELL

Should-Hear Music: “Teardrops from My Eyes”

Summer season Walker solidified herself as one in every of up to date R&B’s most blunt voices with a fusion of conventional melodies, moody lure manufacturing and unfiltered songwriting. Her 2018 debut mixtape Final Day of Summer season launched her twinkling late-night musings on heartbreak and therapeutic, with breakthrough lead single “Women Want Love” receiving a Drake remix. The next 12 months, Walker continued telling melodramatic romantic tales by way of digital-era references and nods to ’90s R&B classics on debut album Over It, which logged the largest week for an R&B album by a feminine artist in over three years. Two years later, Nonetheless Over It proved Walker’s pen is her finest weapon for looking for vengeance. It not solely marked her first Billboard 200 No. 1 LP, but additionally the primary R&B album by a lady to prime the Billboard 200 in additional than 5 years — plus the most important streaming week ever for an R&B album by a lady. Hell hath no fury like Summer season Walker scorned.  — HERAN MAMO

Should-Hear Music: “Women Want Love”

In a profession spanning 60 years, starting as a teen within the R&B/jazz lady group the Creolettes — rechristened by Black bandleader-mentor Otis James because the Peaches — Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins) stays one of the iconic voices in R&B. Scoring her Peaches breakthrough in 1955 with the chart-topping “The Wallflower,” James began cementing her legend standing by way of solo turns resembling “All I May Do Was Cry,” “Belief in Me” and what turned her signature observe, 1960’s “At Final.” Pop and R&B icon Beyoncé later portrayed the inimitable Rock and Roll and Grammy Corridor of Famer within the 2008 movie Cadillac Data, a bio-drama about James’ longtime label Chess Data. James helped usher in an important period of blues and R&B, as she battled private demons alongside the way in which, to in the end grow to be an undeniably influential power in music historical past. — ANGEL DIAZ

Should-Hear Music: “At Final”

Referred to as “Mr. Pleasure” for his electrifying performances and expansive voice, Jackie Wilson’s presence as a R&B/pop star between the ‘50s and ‘70s impressed icons like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. The Detroit singer, a former gospel group member and beginner boxer, re-energized his solo profession in 1957 due to songs penned by Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.  together with the worldwide hit “Reet Petite” and the No. 1 R&B/No. 7 pop hit “Lonely Teardrops” in 1958. Wilson can be credited as a serious participant in steering the development of old-school R&B into soul music, with songs like “(Your Love Retains Lifting Me) Larger & Larger” simply standing the take a look at of time. — WILLIAM E. KETCHUM III

Should-Hear Music: “(Your Love Retains Lifting Me) Larger and Larger”

Over 20 years in the past, Keyshia Cole swept by way of the R&B circuit like a hurricane. Her piercing vocals and soul-baring lyrics minimize deep, brimming with heartbreak and grit, as confirmed on songs like “Love,” “I Modified My Thoughts” and “I Ought to Have Cheated.” However when Cole wasn’t seething at her ex-lovers like a ball of fury, she knew the best way to let her hair down and have enjoyable. “Let It Go” stays an prompt social gathering starter, whereas her scene-stealing characteristic on Diddy’s “Final Night time” shines vivid as an indelible gem in her embellished catalog. Cole’s uncooked girl-talk power lit the fuse for future storytellers like Summer season Walker and SZA. — CARL LAMARRE

Should-Hear Music: “Love”

Since adopting the stage title H.E.R. in 2016, the singer born Gabriella Wilson has been shrouded in thriller: she eschewed images and movies altogether for years. And even after lastly revealing herself, it’s uncommon that you simply’ll see her with no pair of outsized sun shades protecting most of her face. However the Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter’s music greater than speaks for itself. Her title is an acronym for “Having All the pieces Revealed,” and thru a string of EPs launched within the late 2010s earlier than her 2021 studio debut Again of My Thoughts, she pairs prodigious instrumental abilities (enjoying piano, drums, electrical guitar, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar) with weak, open-hearted songwriting, yielding such songs as“May’ve Been,” “Exhausting Place,” “Combat for You” and “I Can’t Breathe.” — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Injury”

When Bobby Womack scored his first hit in 1962 as a part of household group the Valentinos – the candy soul single “Lookin’ for a Love” – few would’ve guessed he’d have a generation-spanning profession as an R&B stalwart. However he grew with the style, scoring an inner-city traditional with “Throughout a hundred and tenth Road” (and revamping “Lookin’” as a solo smash) within the ‘70s, giving the Quiet Storm radio format one in every of its most traditional ballads with “If You Suppose You’re Lonely Now” within the ‘80s, and returning to 21^st century relevance by way of his collaborations with across-the-pond acolyte Damon Albarn, who co-produced his 2012 comeback album The Bravest Man within the Universe and featured him on the Gorillaz’ 2010 hit “Stylo.” Womack’s gravelly voice and full-gravity supply made him an indelible aspect of soul music proper up till his 2014 passing. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Should-Hear Music: “Throughout 110^th Road”

Phyllis Hyman’s mellifluous contralto and ingenious gildings remodeled each tune into magic. She coated “Betcha by Golly Wow” on Norman Connors’ 1976 You Are My Starship set and sang the Barry Manilow-produced “Someplace in My Lifetime” on her Arista debut. From the uptempo “You Know The way to Love Me” to ballads “Can’t We Fall In Love Once more?” with Michael Henderson, “No One Can Love You Extra,” and “I Refuse to Be Lonely,” Hyman poured uncooked emotion onto ever observe. A riveting reside performer, Hyman starred in Broadway’s Refined Women and appeared in Spike Lee’s 1988 sophomore movie College Daze. Tragically, she ended her life in June 1995. — JANINE COVENEY

Should-Hear Music: “Dwelling All Alone”

Tank’s songwriting and manufacturing prowess has been employed by different superstars like Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Chris Brown and Kelly Rowland. However his solo profession is simply as prolific. He’s acquired greater than 20 years underneath his belt on the subject of satisfying conventional and up to date R&B followers with songs like “Perhaps I Deserve” and “Please Don’t Go.” Ever the collaborator, he additionally fashioned the group TGT with fellow R&B stalwarts Ginuwine and Tyrese, with their 2013 album Three Kings incomes him a fourth Grammy nomination. He’s additionally devoted to supporting the style past his personal music, co-hosting the award-winning R&B Cash Podcast with J. Valentine. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Perhaps I Deserve”

Earlier than Bobby Brown took the style to the very prime of the Scorching 100 in 1989 with “My Prerogative,” Keith Sweat established the mainstream bonafides of New Jack Swing with 1987’s Make It Final Eternally album, matching slamming hits like “I Need Her” with smooth-sounding ballads just like the title observe. Platinum albums would observe for the remainder of the twentieth century, peaking with Sweat’s 1996 grown-up, self-titled effort and its smash ballads “Twisted” (with Kut Klose) and “No person” (with Athena Cage). Even immediately, any “King of R&B” dialogue nonetheless wants to incorporate this seasoned performer who helped deliver the style into the trendy age. — A.U.

Should-Hear Music: “Make It Final Eternally”

A songwriter, musician and producer, Teena Marie fought labels to make her personal sort of music. Beginning in 1979, hits “I’m a Sucker for Your Love,” “Behind the Groove,” “Lover Woman,” “Ooo La La La” and her timeless “Fireplace And Want” duet with frequent collaborator Rick James — in addition to album observe faves resembling “Déjà Vu” — positioned Marie within the pantheon of influential R&B artists. Although audiences didn’t initially understand she was white, Marie’s passionate vocals and spectacular musicality had been steeped in Black idioms and musical traditions. Her 1981 hit “Sq. Biz,” that includes her indelible rap expertise, additional legitimized hip-hop as a mainstream style. A preferred reside performer, Marie handed away in 2010 at age 54. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “Out on a Limb”

Initially drawing buzz within the early ‘00s with indie releases SoulSinger and Feeling Orange however Generally Blue, Ledisi’s four-octave mezzo soprano vocal prowess continues to mesmerize — most not too long ago when the singer-songwriter carried out a compelling reside rendition of “Carry Each Voice and Sing,” the Black nationwide anthem, at this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl LIX pre-game festivities. Telling DownBeat journal that “I’m not your boxed R&B singer,” the prolific Ledisi has steadfastly crafted a catalog of 12 studio albums that includes colourful forays into R&B/soul, funk, pop and jazz. Fan faves paving that journey embody “Alright,” “Within the Morning,” “I Blame You” and “Something for You” — the latter of which yielded her first Grammy for finest conventional R&B efficiency in 2021. — G.M.

Should-Hear Music: “Items of Me”

With a moniker like Musiq, the Philly-bred singer had no selection however to reside as much as it. In 2000, Soulchild’s brainchild Aijustwanaseing vaulted him into R&B prominence, courtesy of his private contact and supply on songs like “Simply Associates (Sunny)” and “Love.” Soulchild straddled R&B and neo-soul with the grace of a poet and the soul of a preacher, sculpting ballads like “halfcrazy” and “Dontchange” in addition to uptempo charmers like “B.U.D.D.Y.”  Musical friends have additionally enlisted his distinctive vocals for his or her initiatives together with India.Arie, Robert Glasper and Kehlani. Soulchild’s boundless creativity and depth made him an R&B darkish horse who was by no means shy to run a race towards among the style’s finest. — C.L.

Should-Hear Music: “Love”

Because the sound of common music shifted all through the ‘00s and ‘10s, Charlotte, N.C.-bred crooner Anthony Hamilton saved good old school, cornbread-fed soul on the forefront. From his 2003 breakthrough hit “Charlene” to later hits like 2008’s “The Level of It All” and 2011’s “Better of Me,” the Grammy-winning singer’s raspy, gritty baritone has made him one of the beloved conventional male R&B vocalists of the Twenty first century. With 4 No. 1s from 12 prime 10 hits on Grownup R&B Airplay, Hamilton’s profession additionally features a stint as a backing vocalist for D’Angelo and main the HamilTones, a soul, gospel and hip-hop-bridging group comprised of his background singers. — KYLE DENIS

Should-Hear Music: “Better of Me”

Earlier than Ashanti bloomed right into a full-blown R&B celebrity within the 2000s, she was a burgeoning songwriter lobbing assists with Chris Paul precision to rap giants. After leaving her fingerprints on Large Pun’s “How We Roll,” Irv Gotti’s R&B golden baby turned a power, creating magic on Scorching 100 thrillers like Ja Rule’s “All the time on Time” and Fats Joe’s “What’s Luv,” which held down the highest two spots on the Scorching 100 concurrently in 2002. That very same 12 months, Ashanti catapulted to fame with the discharge of her debut single as a lead artist, the heartbreaking “Silly,” which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Scorching 100. From 2002 to 2003, Ashanti’s torrid run was untouchable, as she scorched earth with a bevy of prime 40 singles like “Child” and “Completely satisfied,” plus the back-to-back Billboard 200 chart-toppers, Ashanti and Chapter II. — C.L.

Should-Hear Music: “Silly”

Ne-Yo’s three-album run from 2006 to 2008 — In My Personal Phrases, Due to You and Yr of the Gentleman — was a game-changer inside the R&B panorama. Debut album In My Personal Phrases aptly showcased the Grammy winner’s precocious songwriting expertise and his means to change from debonair to savage, all whereas sustaining his distinctive, silky falsetto. Melancholic hits resembling “So Sick” and “Do You” resonated strongly with audiences, whereas his cogent hooks on hip-hop classics like Fabolous’ “Make You Higher” and Plies’ “Bust It Child” — in addition to his featured function on Pitbull’s 2014 prime 10 social gathering jam “Time of Our Lives” — solidified Ne-Yo’s standing because the Swiss military knife of Twenty first-century crossover R&B. — C.L.

Should-Hear Music: “Miss Impartial”

Fantasia first captured listeners’ hearts in 2004 because the winner of American Idol, drawing comparisons to legendary singers like Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner together with her highly effective, church-honed vocals and unshakable stage presence. “I Imagine,” her first single after successful the present, debuted at No. 1 on the Scorching 100, placing her in rarified air with Ms. Lauryn Hill. However within the years since, she’s confirmed that she’s greater than a lightning-in-a-bottle actuality TV star. Garnering a finest feminine R&B vocal efficiency Grammy statuette for “Bittersweet” in 2011 after a dozen nominations, Fantasia has additionally showcased her abilities within the Broadway and movie variations of The Coloration Purple. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Once I See U”

Propelled by the midnight ballad “Really feel the Fireplace” in 1977, Robert “Peabo” Bryson turned one of many smoothest balladeers and songwriters of the R&B/pop style. A string of wedding ceremony themes and bed room grooves adopted, together with “If Ever You’re In My Arms Once more,” “I’m So Into You,” “Can You Cease the Rain” and “Let the Feeling Circulation,” capitalizing on Bryson’s drama-drenched tenor. He was additionally a preferred duet companion, teaming with Roberta Flack for ‘Tonight I Have fun My Love for You,” and incomes Grammys for 2 Disney film themes: “A Complete New World” with Regina Belle from Aladdin, and the Magnificence and the Beast title observe with Celine Dion. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “Reaching for the Sky”

Launched by Quincy Jones on “Tomorrow,” the lead single from his Grammy-winning 1989 album Again on the Block, Tevin Campbell was simply 14 when he recorded his 1991 debut album T.E.V.I.N. However he had really discovered his voice by the point his sophomore album arrived in 1991. I’m Prepared paired his candy tenor with songwriting and manufacturing by GOATs like Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Prince. Two of Edmonds’ contributions, “Can We Speak” and the title observe, are songs that allowed Campbell an opportunity to ship earnest, healthful eager for love – sentiments that made for among the sturdiest ballads that R&B needed to provide within the ‘90s. — W.Ok.

Music-Hear Music: “Can We Speak”

With a profession spanning over three a long time, Joe’s tantalizing vocals had been at all times soothing and entrancing for love-drunk {couples} looking forward to late-night romance. His third album, My Identify Is Joe, was a breakthrough, that includes the highest 5 Scorching 100 hit “I Wanna Know” — which turned the singer’s crown jewel and foreshadowed Joe’s grown-man attraction lasting properly into the 2010s. The singer-songwriter’s means to cater to totally different R&B audiences was evident in his cinematic Scorching 100 No. 1 “Stutter,” in addition to his timeless options on G-Unit’s “Wanna Get to Know You,” Large Pun’s “Nonetheless Not a Participant,” and Mariah Carey’s “Thank God I Discovered You.” — C.L.

Should-Hear Music: “I Wanna Know”

She was the daughter of Nat “King” Cole, the jazz/pop singer and pianist behind such classics as “Mona Lisa” and “The Christmas Music.” However the youthful Cole turned a star in her personal proper. Her ecstatic 1975 debut single “This Will Be” opened the door to a finest new artist Grammy, and the primary of six R&B No. 1s, a run additionally together with “I’ve Bought Love on My Thoughts” and “Our Love.” A vocal virtuoso who flipped effortlessly from R&B and pop to funk, jazz and rock (protecting Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”), whereas using colourful advert libs and scats, Cole got here full circle together with her father’s legacy when she recorded requirements he’d carried out for 1991’s multiplatinum Unforgettable … With Love. The title observe — a duet together with her late dad — received document of the 12 months, whereas the venture itself received album of the 12 months. — G.M.

Should-Hear Music: “This Will Be”

Along with her extremely intricate, rapid-fire riffs prepared to paint her singular, idiosyncratic songwriting, Jazmine Sullivan stands as one in every of up to date R&B’s biggest treasures. Closely impressed by the neo-soul of her native Philadelphia, Penn., Sullivan’s two-time Grammy-winning catalog explores the ins and outs of contemporary Black love and relationship dynamics whereas sustaining her connection to blues, jazz and gospel. She’s collected two chart-toppers from six Grownup R&B Airplay prime 10 hits, and every of her full-length initiatives has spun out a number of cult classics and road hits – from 2008’s “Want U Unhealthy” to 2020’s “Choose Up Your Emotions.” — Ok.D.

Should-Hear Music: “Masterpiece (Mona Lisa)”

As Erykah Badu and D’Angelo turned extra musically and spiritually bold across the flip of the century, making an attempt to the touch the cosmos with their sprawling, soul-searching LPs, Jilly from Philly emerged because the lady from the neighborhood completely satisfied to only take an extended stroll with you. Whereas proving herself each a superb lyricist and powerhouse singer in her personal proper over a decade and a half of acclaimed and more and more profitable albums – her last two releases thus far, 2011’s The Gentle of the Solar and 2015’s Lady, each topped the Billboard 200 – Jill Scott by no means misplaced that approachability, and her Mom’s Day Verzuz with Badu in 2020 stays maybe the collection’ most charming, thanks largely to her relentless likability and her constantly successful catalog. — A.U.

Should-Hear Music: “The Manner”

The highly effective voice of Brooklyn’s personal Stephanie Mills as Dorothy in Broadway’s 1974 smash The Wiz — defying her diminutive stature — shocked and mesmerized audiences. With the present’s “Residence” turning into her signature tune, Mills launched a recording profession that soared within the late ‘70s with dancefloor hits “Put Your Physique In It,” “You Can Get Over,” gold-certified single “What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’,” “Candy Sensation” and the Teddy Pendergrass duet “Two Hearts.” Equally adept at mid-tempo ballads, Mills earned her first and solely Grammy in 1981 for the R&B/pop crossover hit “By no means Knew Love Like This Earlier than.” Nonetheless a preferred live performance draw, Mills not too long ago joined fellow R&B legends Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle on the Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage tour. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “I Really feel Good All Over”

Earlier than he was a four-word catchphrase, Rick James carried the Motown banner into the Eighties with a scrumptious mix of funk, rock, disco and R&B almost unrecognizable from the storied label’s clean-cut, pleasant Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies classics. However that was James, a free-spirited writer who wrote his personal guidelines. And whereas that always got here with private prices, his boldness solid a wealthy catalog whose highlights – “Give It to Me Child,” “Mary Jane” and the like – construct on the creativity of contemporaries like Stevie Marvel, Parliament and Prince. And lengthy earlier than TikTok was the engine for throwback revivals, Chappelle’s Present enshrined the person’s title into immortality with a easy declaration: “I’m Rick James, bitch.” All proper then. — TREVOR ANDERSON

Should-Hear Music: “Give It to Me Child”

Hailed for his poignant songwriting, buttery {smooth} tenor and mastery of the piano, John Legend exploded into stardom along with his timeless debut single “Strange Folks.” From there, the R&B star went on to make historical past as one of many few artists to realize EGOT standing and, in flip, creating one of many best-selling digital singles of all time with “All of Me.” Bringing an assured emotional depth to his music, John Legend’s combine of contemporary and traditional soul music has impacted a whole lot of followers throughout a number of generations. Past that chart success, he has been hailed for his activism and intoxicating reside performances. It’s simple that John Legend stays a defining determine in up to date soul music. — MACKENZIE CUMMINGS-GRADY

Should-Hear Music: “All of Me”

After his antics as New Version’s roguish intercourse image crossed the road from charming to harmful, Bobby Brown cut up with the enormously profitable R&B/pop group. And after a quick false begin, he embarked upon a solo profession that took him to even larger superstardom. His 1988 blockbuster Don’t Be Merciless topped the Billboard 200 and spun off a whopping six Scorching 100 prime 10 hits, together with the chart-topping, backlash-dismissing “My Prerogative.” Merciless pushed the sound of ‘80s R&B into the ‘90s with a largely up-tempo and attitude-driven sound, filtered by way of pop mega-hooks that polished the Teddy Riley-pioneered New Jack Swing sound into one thing prepared for prime 40 domination — with Brown its main purveyor. His reign didn’t final, however his affect did. You may really feel Brown’s DNA in later crossover stars like Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber and even Britney Spears. — A.U.

Should-Hear Music: “My Prerogative”

From her melodic contributions on the Fugees’ 1996 blockbuster sophomore set The Rating to her personal groundbreaking 1998 debut with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Ms. Lauryn Hill effortlessly toed the road between hip-hop and R&B. Her genre-shifting abilities throughout these two albums reoriented perceived musical boundaries between R&B, funk, jazz, boom-bap and pop. Whereas no sophomore effort would ever seem, Miseducation alone was sufficient for the polymath to nab 5 Grammys in 1999, together with album of the 12 months and finest new artist. The take a look at of time has been extraordinarily type to her work as her R&B and hip-hop prowess continues to affect a lot of immediately’s buzzing new singers. – M.C.G.

Should-Hear Music: “Ex-Issue”

The Weeknd’s irrefutable affect in R&B will go down in historical past. His three mixtapes in 2011 – Home of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence – had been foundational platforms for the choice R&B (aka PBR&B) motion of the 2010s. His hauntingly lovely falsetto and stirring melisma relayed tales about unfulfilling bed-hopping and pill-popping rendezvous within the wee hours and melancholic musings about failed relationships and fame’s detrimental results of fame. He sampled indie and post-punk bands like Siouxsie & the Banshee and in addition included trip-hop and ambient music so as to add a darker tint to the style. Even because the underground cult determine developed into one of many Twenty first century’s most dependable hitmakers, along with his Michael Jackson-esque Scorching 100 No. 1 “Can’t Really feel My Face” and the synth-pop juggernaut “Blinding Lights,” R&B nonetheless stands on the coronary heart of his artistry and legacy. — H.M.

Should-Hear Music: “Depraved Video games”

Rihanna’s genre-bending sound, anchored by her Caribbean roots, has made her one of the profitable crossover artists in R&B/pop. Her first two albums, Music of the Solar and A Woman Like Me, flaunted her youthful fusion of breezy dancehall rhythms, sultry R&B melodies and radio-friendly, dance-pop sensibilities. However 2007 LP Good Woman Gone Unhealthy marked a profession turning level with the emergence of Unhealthy Gal RiRi, characterised by synth-heavy digital manufacturing, hip-hop swagger and a grown & attractive persona that persevered all through subsequent albums. Then Rihanna introduced R&B again to the forefront of her sound on 2016’s chef-d’oeuvre ANTI, recognizing outdated traditions just like the doo-wop-inspired ballad “Love on the Mind” and the bluesy ditty “Larger” to driving the alt-R&B wave together with her Tame Impala cowl “Identical Ol’ Errors” and the SZA-featuring “Consideration.” Whereas her musical profession hangs within the stability, Rihanna’s reign received’t ever let up. — H.M.

Should-Hear Music: “Umbrella”

From “Untitled (How Does It Really feel)” intercourse image and music video innovator to elusive, enigmatic Black Messiah, D’Angelo has assumed many outer skins throughout his storied profession. 1995’s Brown Sugar and 2000’s Voodoo proved seminal neo-soul works that proceed to function key references for his or her period and style, whereas 2014’s transcendental Black Messiah helped deliver his Grammy win whole to 4. His catalog could also be temporary, but it surely’s close to peerless, as evidenced by his 2021 Verzuz, which eschewed the battle format in favor of a solo set that includes his collaborators. The Richmond, Va.-hailing singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist boasts 5 Grownup R&B Airplay prime 10 hits, together with enduring anthems like “Woman” and “Cruisin.” — Ok.D.

Should-Hear Music: “1000 Deaths”

SZA’s girl-next-door charisma and emotional complexity attracted awkward Black women in all places, however her boundary-pushing R&B has since expanded her viewers. The gorgeous, eccentric melodies and indie rock, neo-soul and lure influences on 2017 debut studio album Ctrl gave SZA an edge. And her diaristic songwriting explored adolescent anxieties and insecurities, from questioning if she’s lovely sufficient to empathizing with these attempting to get their s–t collectively of their 20s. Its long-awaited sequel, SOS, took all the things up a notch: diversifying her sound by diving into gospel, grunge and surf rock. SOS continues to smash chart data – like spending probably the most weeks within the prime 10 of the Billboard 200 amongst albums by ladies – proving that artists with an R&B basis like SZA can efficiently break by way of the style’s borders and ascend into pop’s higher echelon. — H.M

Should-Hear Music: “Love Galore”

Dionne Warwick is usually seen today dropping the occasional wisecrack on X. However that belies the truth that she’s one of many most-charted vocalists of all time. Starting her profession within the early Nineteen Sixties, she paired her dynamic, distinctive vocals over pop gems by revered songwriter/producers Burt Bacharach and Hal David — one of many few Black artists to attain main crossover success throughout that interval. From there, Warwick ventured into jazz, R&B and gospel. She counts 56 singles that charted on the Billboard Scorching 100 between 1962 and 1998, with 12 of them making the highest 10 from “I Say a Little Prayer” to “That’s What Associates Are For.” Warwick has continued to often launch new music in her golden years and, as not too long ago as June 2025, she’s nonetheless impressing reside audiences together with her fabulous, lilting vocals. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Stroll on By”

The late Barry White was nicknamed “The Walrus of Love.” And few nicknames had been so becoming: his deep, rumbling bass voice and irresistibly romantic demeanor made him a preferred R&B heartthrob within the ‘70s, the height of a decades-long, Grammy-winning profession as a solo singer. Backed by his personal Love Limitless Orchestra — incomes him a second nickname as “The Maestro” — White solid a bunch of romantic spells by way of songs like “Can’t Get Sufficient of Your Love, Babe,” “You’re the First, the Final, My All the pieces,” “By no means, By no means Gonna Give Ya Up” and “Apply What You Preach.” And who can overlook his MVP help on Quincy Jones’ “The Secret Backyard”? These Quiet Storm staples are simply morsels in a prolific discography comprised of 20 studio albums in addition to 20 gold and 10 platinum singles. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Can’t Get Sufficient of Your Love, Babe”

The top-bobbing Nineteen Nineties singles “I Wanna Be Down,” “Child” and “Sittin’ Up in My Room” (from the 1995 movie Ready to Exhale) proved that teen phenom Brandy Norwood possessed widespread attraction. After teaming with producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins, she scored further hits with “Greatest Good friend” and the Grammy-winning Monica duet “The Boy Is Mine.” Brandy’s down-to-earth model and honeyed vocals saved her on the charts into the brand new millennium with fan faves “Nearly Doesn’t Rely,” “Prime of the World,” and “What About Us.” A star in different mediums as properly — the tv collection Moesha and Disney’s 1997 replace of Cinderella, handpicked by Whitney Houston for the title function — Brandy celebrated her thirtieth anniversary in music in 2024. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “Have You Ever”

Regardless of an all-too-brief life, Aaliyah formed the primary period of R&B stars reared in hip-hop tradition. Describing her model as “candy however road,” Aaliyah married her honeyed, ethereal falsetto with the thrilling, street-savvy beats courtesy of her most frequent collaborators, Timbaland, Missy Elliott and R. Kelly, for gems resembling “One in a Million,” “Are You That Any person?” and “Attempt Once more.” She additional expanded that musical sense with an effortlessly cool demeanor in her trend decisions and music movies. After all, we’ll at all times marvel in regards to the “what ifs,” however even with lower than a decade between her profession’s begin and her tragic dying in 2001, Aaliyah created a legacy that has echoed for generations. — T.A.

Should-Hear Music: “Are You That Any person?”

Roberta Flack is usually credited with serving to to construct the muse for Quiet Storm, the favored radio format that turned as one of many foremost platforms for R&B within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties. The vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist merged R&B, soul, jazz, pop and folks into her music that additionally showcased her heat, caressing vocals. She scored three Scorching 100 chart-toppers: “The First Time I Ever Noticed Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Music,” “Really feel Like Makin’ Love.” To not point out two prime 5 hits with fellow R&B icon Donny Hathaway, “The Nearer I Get to You” and “The place Is the Love.” Flack was the primary artist to win the Grammy for document of the 12 months for 2 consecutive. She handed away in February 2025, however not earlier than receiving a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2020. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Killing Me Softly with His Music”

You may’t inform the story of neo-soul with out acknowledging the contributions of Maxwell. Rising in 1996 with debut album Maxwell’s City Dangle Suite, he was a part of a cadre of artists — together with Erykah Badu and D’Angelo — who, between the mid- and late ‘90s, distinctively reshaped the look and sound of R&B. Since then, Maxwell has continued to pave his personal singular lane of swoon-worthy, grown & attractive R&B properly into the 2010s by means of his undulating tenor and tender falsetto. Cuts like “Lucky,” “Lifetime” and “Fairly Wings” are simply as lush and soul-bearing as they had been greater than a decade in the past — as witnessed through the Grammy winner’s 2024 NPR Tiny Desk efficiency, which has drawn almost six million views. — W.Ok.

Should-Hear Music: “Lifetime”

Christopher Breaux glided by Lonny Breaux when he wrote songs for R&B heavyweights like Beyoncé, John Legend and Alicia Keys. However as Frank Ocean, he modified the style endlessly. His 2011 debut mixtape Nostalgia, Extremely recontextualized the conversational circulate of hip-hop and the gritty, trippy instrumentation of indie and traditional rock (borrowing from the Eagles, MGMT and Coldplay) whereas holding R&B/soul’s emotional vulnerability on the coronary heart of his music. Ocean’s 2012 Grammy-winning debut album Channel Orange then rewrote the narrative for Black queer artists within the R&B/hip-hop area. After dropping cult-favorite visible album Infinite, Ocean independently launched Blonde. The experimental magnum opus options flashes of psychedelic pop, avant-soul and electronica, accented by multi-layered, pitch-changing vocals outlining the artist’s continued exploration of queerness, Black masculinity and existentialism. The venture strengthened Ocean’s ongoing standing as a culture-shifting genius — regardless of his vexatious absence. — H.M.

Should-Hear Music: “Thinkin Bout You”

L.A. Reid and Babyface tapped this sultry alto from Arista Data’ sister act The Braxtons to document a scratch vocal for “Love Ought to Have Introduced You Residence,” featured on the 1992 movie soundtrack Boomerang. And a star was born: Braxton’s attractive, smoky vocals on “One other Unhappy Love Music,” “Seven Complete Days” and “Breathe Once more” propelled the quintuple-platinum success of her 1993 eponymous debut album whereas inspiring 1,000,000 pixie cuts. Braxton’s 1996 follow-up Secrets and techniques proved much more common (8x platinum), owing to songs resembling “You’re Makin’ Me Excessive” (her first double No. 1 on the Scorching 100 and Scorching R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and the worldwide pop hit “Un-Break My Coronary heart.” The seven-time Grammy winner has additionally appeared on Broadway, TV and in movies. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “Breathe Once more”

Take solely the songs he’s written and produced for different artists – timeless classics by Boyz II Males, Toni Braxton, Tevin Campbell, Whitney Houston, TLC, SZA and even non-genre performers like Madonna and Fall Out Boy – and Babyface would nonetheless be nearly unattainable to maintain off an R&B checklist like this. However the man born Kenneth Edmonds may simply as simply mount a declare primarily based on his a long time of hitmaking as a performer, first alongside fellow trade legend L.A. Reid as a part of The Deele (“Two Events”), then because the solo hitmaker behind “Whip Enchantment,” “Quickly As I Get Residence,” “When Can I See You” and “There She Goes,” a decades-spanning run that proved his mild falsetto is simply as nuanced and irresistible as his really peerless pen. — A.U.

Should-Hear Music: “Quickly as I Get Residence”

Breaking by way of by imitating an orgasm on 1975’s 17-minute “Like to Love You Child,” Donna Summer season truly acquired her begin singing in church earlier than touchdown a job in a German manufacturing of the hit musical Hair in 1968. All through her reign because the Queen of Disco within the latter half of the ‘70s, Summer season drew on each backgrounds to ship among the most vocally spectacular dance-oriented R&B of her period. She introduced the resonant tones of gospel to Giorgio Moroder’s runaway synths (“Sundown Folks,” “I Really feel Love”) and an unforced theatrical aptitude to all the things from a duet showdown with vocal ace Barbra Streisand (“No Extra Tears (Sufficient Is Sufficient)”) to her 1979 magnum opus Unhealthy Women, which together with Off the Wall, ushered in a brand new period of R&B-indebted pop. Although her voice was drenched in sensuality, there was an ache inside her tone, too. Summer season made music for many who hit the dancefloor to fill a void and, most of the time, her music did simply that. — JOE LYNCH

Should-Hear Music: “On the Radio”

A piano-playing savant, Alicia Keys introduced a classicism to R&B within the 2000s with a soulful coo that took her from Hell’s Kitchen to the highest of the Billboard charts at simply 20 years outdated. Hits like “No One,” “Fallin’” and Usher’s “My Boo” have grow to be ingrained in and a part of the DNA of Twenty first century R&B. Keys joined fellow New York dignitary Jay-Z to craft the unofficial Large Apple anthem. “Empire State of Thoughts” in 2009, which topped the Scorching 100 and has since been licensed diamond by the RIAA. A 17-time Grammy Award winner, Keys is the residing embodiment of reaching the best business heights of R&B whereas by no means sacrificing an oz. of artistic integrity in her imaginative and prescient. — M.S.

Should-Hear Music: “If I Ain’t Bought You”

Vocalist, songwriter, producer, TV character. Lionel Richie stays a power after almost six a long time. His mastery of booty-shaking funk (“Brick Home”) and aching ballads (“Simple,” “Sail On”) for the Commodores — showcasing his partaking country-tinged rasp and crooner vocals — led to creating hits for Kenny Rogers (“Woman”) and his Diana Ross (“Infinite Love”). Launching his solo profession with a self-titled album in 1982, Richie adopted its success by way of “You Are” and “Actually” with 1983’s Can’t Sluggish Down. The sophomore set spun off two of Richie’s hottest songs in his estimable catalog: “All Night time Lengthy” and “Whats up.” Richie additionally co-wrote (with Michael Jackson) the historic all-star charity single “We Are the World.” With an Oscar, 4 Grammys, the Gershwin Prize and induction into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2022, Richie is among the most honored artists in historical past. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “Three Instances a Woman”

Whether or not Beyoncé is protecting her songs or Kendrick Lamar is name-checking her in his album intros, Anita Baker at all times finds a solution to remind the world that she’s one of many queens of Quiet Storm. Hailing from Detroit, Mich. by means of Toledo, Ohio, the eight-time Grammy winner has earned 5 Grownup R&B Airplay toppers – together with 1994’s “I Apologize” and 2004’s “You’re My All the pieces” — due to her wealthy, expansive contralto. Her 1986 Rapture LP ranks among the many finest and most impactful R&B albums of its time, even penetrating prime 40 with the now-signature hits “Candy Love,” “Caught Up within the Rapture” and her cowl of “You Deliver Me Pleasure.” Nonetheless a constant touring act within the 2020s, Baker additionally emerged victorious in her combat for possession of her masters, underscoring her affect outdoors of the studio. — Ok.D.

Should-Hear Music: “Been So Lengthy”

Superb Gladys Knight delivered soulful immediacy to early hits with the Pips: “Each Beat of My Coronary heart,” “I Heard It By means of the Grapevine,” “Midnight Prepare to Georgia,” “Neither One in every of Us” and “Greatest Factor That Ever Occurred to Me.” After connecting with producer Curtis Mayfield for the 1974 Claudine soundtrack (“On and On”), the group disbanded in 1988 with Knight persevering with as a solo artist. She joined the star-studded solid of the Grammy-winning tune “That’s What Associates Are For,” which additionally featured Dionne Warwick, Stevie Marvel, and Elton John. With one Bond theme (1989’s “Licence To Kill”), seven Grammys (4 as a soloist), induction into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame with the Pips and a five-decade profession — not too long ago teaming with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills for The Queens tour — the “Empress of Soul” stays an American treasure. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “That’s What Associates Are For”

Because the chief of the Supremes, Diana Ross led the lady group juggernaut to a staggering 12 Scorching 100 No. 1s between 1964-69. Her Motown materials was effervescent pop buoyed by Ross’ gossamer tones. So when she got down to set up herself as a correct R&B vocalist within the ‘70s, there have been skeptics – and she or he spent the subsequent decade-plus (and 6 solo No. 1s) proving them improper. From soul with gospel in its bones (“Ain’t No Mountain Excessive Sufficient,” “Contact Me within the Morning”) to dancefloor-ready funk (“Upside Down,” “I’m Coming Out”) to jazz (her portrayal of Billie Vacation in Woman Sings the Blues earned an Oscar nom) to immaculate R&B balladry (“Infinite Love” with Lionel Richie, one of many largest hits of all time) to lush, manic disco (“Love Hangover”) to down-home R&B (“Ease on Down the Street” in The Wiz), Ross demonstrated a vocal versatility her Supremes’ materials solely hinted at. However one factor didn’t change all through her profession: The category and magnificence she exuded, a top quality that everybody from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift has emulated. — J.L.

Should-Hear Music: “Love Hangover” (album model)

As one in every of neo soul’s pioneers, Erykah Badu emerged in 1997 as a rebellious and uncontainable power. Seamlessly intertwining R&B with African rhythms, jazz and hip-hop, Badu’s groundbreaking debut album Baduizm — that includes “On & On,” “Otherside of the Sport” and “Subsequent Lifetime” — redefined what was attainable in soul music. Her reflective themes about relationships, social justice and self-empowerment made her as lyrically profound as probably the most impactful rappers. After the Grammy-winning Baduizm, Badu and her elastic, emotive vocals additional cemented her icon standing due to insightful albums and cultural touchstones resembling “Tyrone,” “Bag Woman” and “Again within the Day.” Apart from Badu’s musical artistry, her mesmerizing reside performances, cutting-edge trend sense and savvy enterprise acumen are only a few extra explanation why she’s one of the necessary singers in R&B historical past. — M.C.G.

Should-Hear Music: “Didn’t Cha Know”

With bared midriff, a crown of pure hair and powerhouse vocals, Chicago-born Chaka Khan launched ’70s band Rufus into the stratosphere. Khan’s powerhouse vocals on “As soon as You Get Began,” “Candy Factor,” and “Inform Me One thing Good” seemed like nobody else. Throughout and after her Rufus tenure (formally exiting the group in 1982), Khan prolonged her run of hits with common solo turns like “Ain’t No person,” the scorching Prince cowl “I Really feel for You” and her signature “I’m Each Lady” — whereas solidifying her star standing. By means of the ‘80s, “This Is My Night time,” “You Can Make the Story Proper” and crossover ballad “By means of the Fireplace” uncovered her to wider audiences. Khan, who has recorded rock, pop, soul and jazz initiatives, can be a 10-time Grammy winner. — J.C.

Should-Hear Music: “I Really feel for You”

A teenage Chris Brown exploded onto the R&B scene within the mid-2000s with an simple allure that sparked main heart-fluttering throughout the globe. Breezy’s partaking four-octave vary and {smooth} dance strikes drew comparisons to Michael Jackson as he’s since developed into one in every of music’s premier all-around entertainers. The Virginia native additionally continues to churn out hits with ease: 17 prime 10s to be actual to not point out 118 Scorching 100 entries and counting. That spectacular tally consists of breakthrough single “Run It!,” “She Ain’t You,” “No Steerage,” “Underneath the Affect” and “Residuals.” Now celebrating his twentieth anniversary in music with the worldwide stadium tour Breezy Bowl XX, Brown has developed a diehard fan base that’s caught with him by way of thick and skinny. A 25-time Grammy nominee, Brown received his second gramophone in February for finest R&B album with 11:11 (Deluxe). — M.S.

Should-Hear Music: “Eternally”