The 200 Best R&B Songs Of All Time

Best R&B Songs

Rhythm & Blues is a term initially used to describe the fast blues played by African Americans. The R&B music genre has been around since the 1940s, heavily modified. From the 1980s, the first performers recorded music that can be described as a modern form of R&B.

Vanguard of Contemporary R&B was Michael Jackson, Prince, and Luther Vandross, who used pop, funk, and soul influences.

In the 1990s became hip-hop and rap became more and more popular and there was an increasing mixing of genres. Well-known musicians like R. Kelly, Brandy, and Aaliyah or even Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men and TLC dominated the Billboard charts in America in the 90s.

From 2000 onwards, R&B is also generally referred to as “black music” or “urban music” because R&B and hip-hop have increasingly merged. Well-known representatives from 2000 are u. a. Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Usher, Bruno Mars, and Rihanna.

All the R&B groups and solo artists already mentioned are, of course, included with their most popular songs in our playlist of the 200 best R&B songs of all time. Many other R&B songs created before the 1980s are also on our list.

From classic Rhythm & Blues to Contemporary R&B, our tracklist includes the essential songs from the music genre.

(At the end of the article, we have created a Spotify playlist for you with all the songs listed here.)

Playlist of the 200 best R&B songs of all time:

Each song is linked to the corresponding music video via the title.

№:Listen:Artist:Year:
1.Yeah!Usher2004
2.Sexual HealingMarvin Gaye1982
3.Can’t Feel My FaceThe Weeknd2015
4.PonyGinuwine1996
5.I Believe I Can FlyR. Kelly1996
6.My GirlTemptations1965
7.I’ll Make Love To YouBoyz II Men1994
8.Billie JeanMichael Jackson1982
9.MilkshakeKelis2003
10.ABCJackson 51970
11.[Sittin’ On] The Dock Of The BayOtis Redding1968
12.Family AffairMary J. Blige2001
13.FantasyMariah Carey1995
14.CandyCameo1986
15.When Doves CryPrince1984
16.Oops (Oh My)Tweet2002
17.What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye1971
18.Midnight Train to GeorgiaGladys Knight & the Pips1973
19.SuperstitionStevie Wonder1972
20.I Do Love YouBilly Stewart1965
21.A Change Is Gonna ComeSam Cooke1964
22.No DiggityBlackstreet1996
23.BoombasticShaggy1995
24.RespectAretha Franklin1967
25.PoisonBell Biv Devoe1990
26.When a Man Loves a WomanPercy Sledge1987
27.Untitled (How Does It Feel)D’Angelo2000
28.SurvivorDestiny’s Child2001
29.At LastEtta James1960
30.Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars)Travie McCoy2010
31.You Make Me Feel Brand NewThe Stylistics1973
32.ClimaxUsher2012
33.Smack ThatAkon2006
34.WaterfallsTLC1994
35.Un-Break My HeartToni Braxton1996
36.What’s My Name?Rihanna2010
37.WaterfallsTLC1994
38.I Heard It Through The GrapevineMarvin Gaye1983
39.Gangsta’s ParadiseCoolio ft. L.V1995
40.What’s LuvFat Joe ft. Ashanti2001
41.Say My NameDestiny’s Child1999
42.You Might Need SomebodyShola Ama1997
43.Let’s Stay TogetherAl Green1972
44.Whatta ManSalt ‘N’ Pepa1993
45.Hey Ya!Outkast2003
46.CreepTLC1994
47.This Is How We Do ItMontell Jordan1995
48.I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston1992
49.I’ll Be ThereJackson 51970
50.Love Like ThisFaith Evans1998
51.AdornMiguel2012
52.IgnitionR. Kelly2003
53.Just To Be Close To YouThe Commodores1976
54.You Make Me Wanna…Usher1997
55.LonelyAkon2004
56.La La Means I Love You Delfonics1968
57.Where My Girls At7021999
58.Power Of Love/Love PowerLuther Vandross1991
59.I’ll Be Missing YouPuff Daddy and Faith Evans1997
60.Let’s Get It OnMarvin Gaye1973
61.Like You’ll Never See Me AgainAlicia Keys2007
62.Get It On ToniteMontell Jordan2000
63.Bills, Bills, BillsDestiny’s Child1999
64.I SwearAll 4 One1994
65.Best Things In Life Are FreeJanet Jackson & Luther Vandross1992
66.AlwaysAtlantic Starr1987
67.Vision Of LoveMariah Carey1990
68.Freak Like Me Adina Howard1995
69.Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)Lumidee2003
70.Stay in My CornerDells1965
71.And Our FeelingsBabyface1993
72.Remember The TimeMichael Jackson1991
73.I DoJamelia2000
74.Living For The CityStevie Wonder1973
75.World of FantasyThe Five Stairsteps1970
76.I Got You (I Feel Good)James Brown1964
77.I’ll Always Love My MamaIntruders1973
78.Together AgainJanet Jackson1997
79.Bump N’ GrindR Kelly1993
80.How Deep Is Your LoveDru Hill1998
81.ShotgunJr. Walker & the All Stars1992
82.Fiesta (Remix)R. Kelly & Jay-Z2000
83.Soul ManSam & Dave1967
84.Deja VuBeyonce feat. Jay-Z2006
85.FoolishAshanti2002
86.Little Red CorvettePrince1982
87.UmbrellaRihanna2007
88.Purple RainPrince1984
89.All My LifeK-Ci & JoJo1997
90.That’s The Way Love GoesJanet Jackson1993
91.TwistedKeith Sweat1996
92.Love U 4 LifeJodeci1995
93.I’ve Been Loving You too LongOtis Redding1965
94.Just My ImaginationTemptations1971
95.The Boy Is MineBrandy & Monica1998
96.I’ll Be There For YouMary J. Blige feat. Method Man2003
97.My BooGhost Town DJs1995
98.Home AloneR. Kelly feat. Keith Murray1998
99.Real LoveMary J. Blige1992
100.ReasonsEarth Wind & Fire1975
101.My GuyMary Wells1964
102.We Belong TogetherMariah Carey2005
103.Love is the MessageMFSB1973
104.Locked UpAkon, feat. Styles P.2004
105.Only You1121996
106.FallinAlicia Keys2001
107.Shackles (Praise You)Mary Mary2000
108.Stop To LoveLuther Vandross1986
109.Gold Digger Kanye West & Jamie Foxx2005
110.Sign Of The TimesPrince1987
111.Do Right Woman Do Right ManAretha Franklin1967
112.It’s A Man’s Man’s WorldJames Brown1966
113.For the Love of MoneyO’Jays1973
114.Endless LoveLove By Diana Ross and Lionel Richie1981
115.(What A) Wonderful WorldSam Cooke1960
116.I Only Have Eyes for YouFlamingos1973
117.End Of The RoadBoyz II Men1991
118.If You Think You’re Lonely NowBobby Womack1981
119.Just A FriendBiz Markie1989
120.For Your Precious LoveJerry Butler & the Impressions1965
121.Never Too MuchLuther Vandross1981
122.Distant LoverMarvin Gaye1973
123.Aint Too Proud To BegTemptations1966
124.Love Shoulda Brought You HomeToni Braxton1992
125.Want to Want MeJason Derulo2015
126.My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”En Vogue1992
127.I’m Every WomanWhitney Houston1992
128.I Wanna Sex You UpColor Me Badd1991
129.Humpin’ AroundBobby Brown1992
130.Doo WopLauryn Hill1998
131.Work [feat. Drake]Rihanna2016
132.I Miss YouAaron Hall1993
133.Beat ItMichael Jackson1983
134.Super FreakRick James1981
135.One Sweet Day Mariah Carey1995
136.The Tracks Of My TearsSmokey Robinson and The Miracles1965
137.AsStevie Wonder1976
138.The Tracks Of My TearsMiracles1965
139.Ain’t No WayAretha Franklin1968
140.Up On The RoofDrifters1989
141.You Are The Sunshine Of My LifeStevie Wonder1972
142.Rub You The Right WayJohnny Gill1990
143.If You Don’t Know Me By NowHarold Melvin And The Bluenotes1972
144.Five More Hours (Deorro x Chris Brown)Deorro x Chris Brown2012
145.Don’t Leave Me This WayThelma Houston1976
146.DynamiteTaio Cruz2009
147.Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us NowMcFadden & Whitehead1979
148.Not Gon’ CryMary J. Blige1995
149.Hold On I’m ComingSam & Dave1966
150.MotownphillyBoyz II Men1991
151.Always TogetherDell’s1968
152.Are You That Somebody?Aaliyah1998
153.Girl You Need a Change of MindEddie Kendricks1972
154.All Around The WorldLisa Stansfield1989
155.You’re Makin’ Me HighToni Braxton1996
156.Say It LoudJames Brown1968
157.Come And Talk To MeJodeci1992
158.Sex MachineJames Brown1971
159.Feenin’Jodeci1993
160.Killing Me Softly With His SongRoberta Flack1973
161.On & OnErykah Badu1996
162.If I Ever Fall In LoveShai1992
163.No ScrubsTLC1999
164.Freak Me Silk1993
165.WeakSWV1992
166.Any LoveLuther Vandross1988
167.I Love Your SmileShanice1991
168.All My Life K-Ci & JoJo1998
169.Too CloseNext1997
170.Time of Our LivesPitbull & Ne-Yo2014
171.ScreamMichael and Janet Jackson1995
172.WestsideTQ1998
173.Still Water (Love) Four Tops1964
174.Do Me RightGuy1990
175.Bring It on Home to MeSam Cooke1963
176.Back At One Brian McKnight1999
177.Always Be My BabyMariah Carey1995
178.StarboyThe Weeknd2016
179.What Becomes of the Broken HeartedJimmy Ruffin1983
180.Sitting in the ParkBilly Stewart1965
181.Three Times A LadyCommodores1978
182.I’m So Into YouSWV1992
183.House is Not a HomeLuther Vandross1981
184.HoneyMariah Carey1997
185.Feels GoodTony! Toni! Toné!1990
186.Nice & SlowUsher1997
187.Love And HappinessAl Greene1972
188.One in a MillionAaliyah1996
189.Soul FingerBar-Kays1967
190.Ex-Factor Lauryn Hill1998
191.Sittin’ Up In My RoomBrandy1995
192.SideshowBlue Magic1974
193.I Get LonelyJanet Jackson1998
194.The CrossroadsBone Thugs-N-Harmony1999
195.Higher GroundStevie Wonder1973
196.Don’t Walk AwayJade1993
197.Forever MineThe O’Jays1979
198.Ain’t NobodyChaka Khan1983
199.Inner City BluesMarvin Gaye1971
200.Cold SweatJames Brown1969
Also recommend:   The 100 Saddest Love Songs Of All Time

R&B Spotify Playlist:

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