Rolling Stone magazine names greatest R&B songs

Rolling Stone magazine names greatest R&B songs

From Brandy's 'Full Moon' to Usher's 'U Don't Have to Call', find out which R&B stars made the list...

R&B stars Usher and Brand
R&B stars Usher and Brand / Instagram (@brandy), YouTube (Usher)

Rolling Stone magazine has released its '100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century' list. 

The list includes songs from Usher, Mariah Carey, Brandy, Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and Mary J. Blige. 

R&B, also styled RnB, stands for rhythm and blues. The music genre dates back to the 1940s. 

However, it was the contemporary R&B of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s that defined the genre. 

Thanks to artists like Usher, D’Angelo, Brandy, Mary J.Blige, Anthony Hamilton, and Maxwell, 90s R&B remains one of the most popular eras of R&B. 

All the songs that made it onto the Top 10 of Rolling Stone magazine's list were recorded in the 2000s.  

ALSO READ: These R&B albums are turning 30 in 2023

Despite Diddy controversially declaring in 2022 that R&B is dead, artists like SZA, Summer Walker, Daniel Caesar, Jazmine Sullivan, and Snoh Aalegra are proving otherwise. 

R&B will remain popular in 2024, and we are likely to see more top artists releasing songs in the genre this year. 

Unlike Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers of All Time' list - which was widely panned - its R&B songs list was met with generally favourable views. 

Here's a look at the songs that made it into the Top 10. They are all worthy of adding to your R&B playlist.

  1. Usher - 'Confessions Part II' (2004)
  2. D’Angelo - 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)' (2000)
  3. Beyoncé - 'Dangerously in Love' (2003)
  4. Mary J Blige - 'Be Without You' (2005)
  5. Mariah Carey - 'We Belong Together' (2005)
  6. Frank Ocean - 'Thinkin Bout You' (2012)
  7. Alicia Keys - 'Fallin'' (2001)
  8. John Legend - 'Ordinary People' (2004)
  9. Erykah Badu - 'Bag Lady (Cheeba Sac Radio Edit)' (2000)
  10. Brandy - 'Full Moon' (2002)

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Check out Rolling Stone magazine's full list here:  100 Greatest R&B Songs.

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Main image credit: Instagram/@brandy, YouTube/Usher

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