A few days ago, when the world of R&B was rightfully scolding upstart Jacquees for claiming to be king of the genre, Diddy claimed that no one was really making R&B anymore.
You’re so, so wrong, Puff.
For the past few years, I’ve teamed with my soul brothers at YouKnowIGotSoul.com to create a definitive list of the year’s best in R&B. This year is no different, and with the state of R&B still a hot trending topic, it’s time to educate the masses.
Below you’ll find 100 of the best songs we’ve heard all year (and yes, even Court Jester Jacquees ranks high on the list). And as a bonus feature, you’ll find a playlist of all the songs as well – more than eight hours of heat to warm your holiday.
These are the songs that are keeping R&B alive. We don’t need hashtags and Twitter debates to prove it. Just listen for yourself.
Honorable Mention
Chante Moore – Moore
Keith Sweat – Bae Bae
Chante Moore – One Love
Jacquees – Play the Field
Ne-Yo – Good Man
Ne-Yo – Over U
VanJess – Touch The Floor
Xscap3 – Memory Lane
The Internet – It Gets Better
John Legend – A Good Night
Jacquees – You
Craig David – Talk to Me
100) Tinashe – L-O-V-E
99) Bobby V – Lil Bit (featuring Snoop Dogg)
98) Raheem DeVaughn & Vandell Andrew – Joyful Noise (Chill AF Mix)
97) Mary J. Blige – Only Love
96) Sidibe – What Should One Do
95) J. Holiday – 25 to Life
94) Gallant – Doesn’t Matter
93) Jessie J – Petty
92) Anna Moore – Pity Party
91) Faye B – Who Is She?
90) Case – Make Love (featuring Teddy Riley & Tank)
89) Bridget Kelly – In the Grey
88) VanJess – Rewind Time
87) Brian McKnight – 42 (Grown Up Tipsy)
86) Esnavi – The Way
85) Queen Naija – Karma
84) Teyana Taylor – Issues/Hold On
83) Tone Stith – Light Flex
82) Ne-Yo – Apology
81) Nao – Drive and Disconnect
80) IAmChelseaIAm – Hurt People II
79) Chante Moore – Thank You
78) H.E.R. – As I Am
77) Lion Babe – Honey Dew
76) Ginette Claudette – Twisted
75) Nao – Orbit
74) Darien Dean – Last Song (featuring Tiffany T’Zelle)
73) Ari Lennox – Whipped Cream
72) Raheem DeVaughn – Wifey (featuring Phil Ade)
71) Jessie J – I Believe In Love
70) Melat – Push
69) Justin Timberlake – Midnight Summer Jam
68) Summer Walker – CPR
67) Jussie Smollett – Ha Ha (I Love You)
66) Gallant – Gentleman
65) DJ Aktive – It Is What It Is (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
64) Static Major – Love is Dro
63) Shawn Stockman – Feelin Lil Som’n
62) Justin Timberlake – Breeze Off the Pond
61) August Greene – Optimistic (featuring Brandy)
60) Mariah Carey – Caution
59) Teyana Taylor – Gonna Love Me
58) Marsha Ambrosius – Let Out
57) Tamia – Better
56) En Vogue – Rocket
55) Ro James – Excuse Me
54) Justine Skye – Heaven
53) Justin Timberlake – Wave
52) Justin Timberlake – Montana
51) Jessie J – 4 Letter Word
50) Raheem DeVaughn – Don’t Come Easy
49) Ella Mai – Dangerous
48) Leah Labelle – Sun
47) VanJess – Addicted
46) The Foreign Exchange – June
45) Mariah Carey – The Distance (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
44) Lucky Daye – Roll Some Mo
43) Lipstick Gypsy – Around U
42) Amerie – Curious
41) Lloyd – My Bestie (featuring Sevyn)
40) Toni Braxton – FOH
39) Ne-Yo – U Deserve
38) Queen Naija – Butterflies
37) Mariah Carey – 8th Grade
36) Asiahn – Like You
35) Keith Sweat – How Many Ways (featuring K-Ci)
34) Luke James – These Arms
33) Nao – Another Lifetime
32) Jazzy Amra – You Got Me (featuring Wyclef Jean)
31) Mario – Goes Like That
30) Brady Watt – Black & White (featuring Ro James)
29) The Internet – Come Over
28) Khalid – OTW (featuring Ty Dolla $ign & 6lack)
27) Usher – You Decide
26) Shawn Stockman – Been Too Long
25) Mya – Damage
24) PJ Morton – How Deep Is Your Love (Live)
23) Raheem DeVaughn – When It’s Real
22) India Arie – That Magic
21) H.E.R. – Hard Place
20) Jazz – All Your Love
19) Keith Sweat – Red Negligee
18) Mya – You Got Me
17) Bria Lee – One Shot (featuring Fat Joe)
16) Lloyd – Caramel
15) Nao Yoshioka – I Love When
14) Miguel – R.A.N.
13) Mariah Carey – Giving Me Life (featuring Slick Rick)
12) Anna Moore – This Song By You
11) Marsha Ambrosius – Flood
10) Jessie J – Dopamine
9) Gallant – HaHa No One Can Hear You
8) Ella Mai – Trip
7) Peabo Bryson – Love Like Yours and Mine
6) Janelle Monae – I Like That
5) Tamia – It’s Yours
4) Mariah Carey – A No No
3) Jacquees – 23 (featuring Donell Jones)
2) Tamia – Leave It Smokin
1) Toni Braxton – Long As I Live
Gallant’s ‘Gentleman’ is #66???? Please take the cotton out of your ears. Other than that, ya’ll did a great job
If it was up to me that one would be way higher.
Let the music play,they are all rocking and smart,let’s be honest…No Beyonce,yeah!fresh air at long last..R.I.P James Ingrams..You Never Know What You Got Until Its Over…