The 20 Best R&B and Hip-Hop Remixes of the ’90s

My 90s music fans will feel me on this:

Remember copping an artist’s album, looking forward to hearing that song that you loved hearing on the radio day in and out, only to discover that the album version of that song sounded NOTHING like the radio version you had grown to love?

Yes, playa, that remix struggle was real in the 90s.

In the 90s, remixes were often so good – and so omnipresent – that they totally eclipsed the original versions of the songs they represented.

Let’s look back at 20 of the best remixes from that beloved era. Honestly I could have listed 50 – there was just that much quality back then. The list was determined by song quality, longevity (if it’s still memorable 20 years later, chances are it made the cut) and superiority over the original.

And remember, children, this list is of remixes from the 1990s. If you run up in my mentions complaining about Joe’s “Stutter” or Jagged Edge wedding songs being forgotten, stop over at Wikipedia and check the dates of those tracks. I don’t wanna have to wild out, it’s the day after Mother’s Day. I’m still in a tranquil mood.

Honorable mention: Mariah Carey featuring Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, “My All/Stay Awhile” (So So Def Remix); LL Cool J featuring Total, “Loungin’ (Who Do You Love)” Remix; Janet Jackson featuring Blackstreet, “I Get Lonely” (Remix); Total featuring Da Brat, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, “No One Else” (Puff Daddy Remix); D’Angelo featuring AZ, “Lady” (Remix); Jodeci featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, “Freak’N You” (Remix)

20. “I Shot Ya” (Remix)

LL Cool J featuring Prodigy, Fat Joe, Keith Murray and Foxy Brown

Edd said: “Grimey posse cuts were commonplace in the ’90s but this one stands the test of time. Thank Foxy for that – her verse jumped from gold-digging to venereal diseases, turning heads and launching her career.”

19. “Always Be My Baby” (Mr. Dupri Mix)

Mariah Carey featuring Xscape and Da Brat

Edd said: “JD’s a master. The original track was destined to be a pop hit, but JD added urban flair by inserting Xscape and Brat, backed by a subtle mix of SOS Band’s ‘Tell Me If You Still Care.’ It appealed to both pop and R&B audiences.”

18. “Only You” (Remix)

112 featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Ma$e

Edd said: “This is our first example on our list where a remix has almost totally erased memories of the original track. Give props to BIG, who drops an effortlessly iconic verse here. Rappers are STILL swiping lines from it.”

17. “Dolly My Baby” (Bad Boy Extended Mix)

Super Cat featuring 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G.

Edd said: “It seems that this banger has become lost in the mists of time. You can thank me later for the reminder. Not only does this feature one of the best beats of the 90s – bar none – it’s was also the first time mainstream audiences heard The Notorious B.I.G. That alone makes it pretty special.”

16. “Kissin’ You/Oh Honey” (Remix)

Total featuring Puff Daddy

Edd said: “Most ’90s remixes were like summer blockbuster movies – bigger, louder and flashier. Not this time. This remix was even more smooth than its source material.”

15. “Honey” (Bad Boy Remix)

Mariah Carey featuring Ma$e and The LOX

Edd said: “Yeah, there’s a reason why Bad Boy is dominating this list. They made the remix into an art form. Puffy didn’t require much heavy lifting on this outing – just adding some of the era’s hottest rappers to an already blazing track was enough to take it to another level.”

14. “Not Tonight” (Ladies Night Remix)

Lil’ Kim featuring Angie Martinez, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Da Brat and Missy Elliott 

Edd said: “If you’ve ever heard the original version of Kim’s ‘Not Tonight,’ you can understand why it’s not exactly radio-friendly. This remix feels nothing like its predecessor, focusing on the party instead of the after-hours hookups.”

13. “Anything” Remix

SWV featuring The Wu-Tang Clan

Edd said: “The original version of “Anything” was a slow burner but the remix received a total hip-hop makeover, complete with The Wu bringing the ruckus. Radio stations LOVED this song in my city.”

12. “At Your Best (You Are Love)” (Gangsta Child Remix)

Aaliyah

Edd said: “One two checka, baby lemme know what’s uppppp.” Yeah, the R. Kelly/Aaliyah thing is kinda awkward to think about now, but this remix is undeniable.”

11. “I Wanna Be Down” (Human Rhythm Hip Hop Remix)

Brandy featuring MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo

Edd said: “Man, I miss female emcees. Brandy kindly stepped aside and let three of the nicest ladies in the game spit fire over her track. Playa, I REALLY miss female emcees.”

10. “Down Low” (Live to Regret it Mix)

R. Kelly featuring Ron Isley

Edd said: “Before the Kelly/Mr. Biggs thing plummeted into absurdity, Kellz and Ron Isley crafted an unbelievable storyline that unfolded before our ears. There was betrayal, intrigue and even a twist ending. It’s proof that songwriting is an art form.”

9. “No No No” (Part 2)

Destiny’s Child featuring Wyclef Jean

Edd said: “I’ll be honest, y’all, I despised this song in the late 90s (and it’s still absent from my iPod to this day) but I’m an unbiased Internet journalist so I can’t hate on its success. This song was a harbinger of huge things to come. It became DC’s coming-out party, one of their signature hits, and I think that lead singer girl is still around today.”

8. “Crush On You” (Remix)

Lil’ Kim featuring Lil’ Cease

Edd said: “I bet half of y’all didn’t realize that the ‘Crush On You’ you’ve been enjoying for years is actually a remix. The original version was a solid Cease solo track. The addition of Kim made it an unforgettable duet.”

7. “In My Bed” (So So Def Remix)

Dru Hill featuring Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat

Edd said: “Want to get radio to embrace a slow jam? Simple, transform it into a dance-floor masterpiece. JD did just that, sampling Le Pamplemousse’s “Gimme What You Got” to create one of the best party-starters of the decade.”

6. “It’s All About the Benjamins” (Remix)

Puff Daddy featuring The LOX, Lil’ Kim and The Notorious B.I.G.

Edd said: “In another case of a remix-that-you-didn’t-know-was-a-remix, the original ‘Benjamins’ track was a Puff song with the LOX on an obscure mixtape. His album featured the remix we all know and love.”

5. “Fantasy” (Bad Boy Remix)

Mariah Carey featuring ODB

Edd said: “I wish I could have sat in the board meeting when someone suggested paring pristine pop princess Mariah with Wu-Tang wildman ODB. I’m sure hilarity ensued. But the odd couple proved that oil and water can mix. Plus, thanks to this song, Mariah will always be linked to babies and pacifiers.”

4. “One More Chance/Stay With Me” (Remix)

The Notorious B.I.G.

Edd said: “I’ve made it very clear many times on this here very blog that this track is my favorite song of all time. OF ALL TIME. But this is a list of best remixes, not Edd’s Favorite Songs. Never question a playa’s integrity. ‘One More Chance’ might not be the best remix ever, but it’s arguably BIG’s best radio hit. It’s one of the most quoted rap records ever recorded.”

3. “Right Here” (Human Nature Mix)

SWV

Edd said: “I read recently that SWV wasn’t very fond of this remix. HUH? It’s one of the greatest songs of the 90s. Adding Michael Jackson’s wailing vocals was all the song needed to become a smash.”

2. “Flava In Ya Ear” (Remix)

Craig Mack featuring The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Rampage and Busta Rhymes

Edd said: “Once you hear those bottles clanging in the tracks’ opening seconds, you know you’re about to be graced by hip-hop royalty. Craig Mack’s original track was decent, if not forgettable. But the remix has stood the test of time. If Puffy truly is the king of the remix, BIG is the MVP – once again he drops classic punchlines here.”

1. “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need to Get By”

Method Man & Mary J. Blige

Edd said: “For my money, there was no bigger remix than this combo of Meth and Mary. Meth’s original track was the epitome of thug love but that was just one side of the story. Adding Mary’s vocals to the remix gave women a voice they could relate to as well. It went on to be the the only female/rap collaboration to sell more than 1 million copies in the ’90s. It’s touching, rugged and vastly superior to its predecessor. This is the quintessential remix.”