15 Best R&B Songs Of The 90s

One of the greatest R&B songs from the 90s is Real Love by Mary J. Blige. Based on real experiences, it was issued via Uptown and MCA Records in 1992.

The track appeared as the second single from the singer's debut album What's the 411? Real Love became a commercial success, making the record Blige's first top-10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It is an RIAA Gold-certified song with certified sales of 500,000. The single peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and US Billboard Rhythmic.

This 4-minute 30-second song speaks about the deliberate search for genuine love which is evident in the lyrics of the song. The chorus repeatedly sings:

Real love, I'm searching for a real love
Someone to set my heart free
Real love, I'm searching for a real love

TLC's Creep came off as the lead single from the group's second studio album CrazySexyCool. The track is based on member T-Boz's experience with infidelity.

Issued through LaFace and Arista Records, the song topped the US Billboard Hot 100, maintaining the position for four weeks consecutively.

The track acquired Gold certification from RIAA for the certified sales of 500,000 copies reportedly within a month of its release.

Correspondingly with combined sales of 100,000 more sales in the following month, the song made a record as the 23rd best-selling single of 1994 as per Billboard. The lyrics are:

The twenty second of loneliness
And we've been through so many things
I love my man with all honesty
But I know he's cheating on me

Mark Morrison's Return Of The Mack is a BPI 2x Platinum-certified single. The 1996 single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The single went on to become an Australian and European hit after pinnacling the UK Singles Chart a month following its release. Likewise, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number two.

Return of The Mack sings about the legit glow-up post-breakup. Through the lyrics, the singer tries to highlight the process of learning, growing, and healing throughout the heartbreak phase.

So I'm back up in the game
Running things to keep my swing
Letting all the people know
That I'm back to run the show

The music video directed by Jake Nava which starts with Mark arriving in London by plane has amassed over 200 million views to date on YouTube.

One of the notable R&B songs of the 90s is Say My Name by Destiny’s Child. It is the third single from the girl group's 1999 album The Writings On The Wall.

The track peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking the record as the group's second no.1 single. Likewise, it reached the top ten in several countries including Belgium, Canada, Iceland, France, and more.

Not to forget, Say My Name is a Grammy Awards winner single for the two categories including the Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo with Vocals.

Correspondingly, the accompanying official music video for the hit RIAA 3x Platinum single bagged the MTV Video Music Award for the category of Best R&B Video.

No Ordinary Love by Sade is unquestionably one of the best R&B songs. Released as the lead single in 1992, it has amassed over 148 million views on YouTube.

This song encloses the sadness one feels when they are truly in love with another person; however, the feeling isn't mutual on both ends.

Written by Stuart Matthewman and Sade Adu, the lead single made it to the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 28. It peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 14 when re-released in May 1993.

Lauded with positive reviews, the single was certified Silver by BPI for the recorded sales of 200,000 copies. The song was also included in Rolling Stones's list of '500 Best Songs of All Time.'

R&B in the 90s can be condensed to this song: So Into You by Tamia. It is from Tamia's self-titled debut album Tamia in 1998.

This number seven song on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart cumulated positive reviews from music critics. Netizens praised Tamia for her restrained singing technique.

The Canadian singer has performed this single on several tours and concerts following its release which includes The Verizon Ladies First Tour, and more.

The music video for the song which was dropped sixteen years ago on YouTube has stockpiled over 38 million views at the moment.

Exhale by Whitney Houston is a mid-tempo soul ballad song. It embodies the strong message of growing up and learning to let go.

Issued via Arista Records, the song made history as the third single to peak at the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in Billboard's history. Likewise, it is also Whitney's 11th number-one single on the chart.

Out of four nominations at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, Exhale bagged an award for Best R&B Song. Likewise, the single also racked up four other awards.

It was Platinum certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the recorded shipments of over one million copies across the globe.

Are You That Somebody by Aaliyah boasts over 114 million streams on Spotify. The commercially successful song was issued via Blackground and Atlantic labels.

This 1998 song reached number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In fact, this song earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination for the category of Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Let alone Billboard Hot 100, the song made it to several charts including US Mainstream Top 40, US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, US Rhythmic, and more.

It was certified Gold by NVPI for the recorded certified shipments of 50,000 copies. This R&B song recorded at the Capitol Studios made it to the nomination list of several coveted music charts.

Boyz II Men's On Bended Knee peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart following its release in 1994. It is the second single from their second album.

This 1994-released single is a heartful plea for forgiveness and a hopeful second chance at love. The singer expresses deep sadness and regret, evident through the lyrics of the song.

On Bended Knee peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart., replacing their previous single titled I'll Make Love to You.

You Make Me Wanna by Usher is the lead single from the singer's second album My Way. It was dropped via LaFace and Arista record labels on August 5, 1997.

The single highlights a love triangle relationship where the protagonist wishes to leave his girlfriend for his former best friend. Usher sings the essence of this song through the hook that goes like this:

You make me wanna leave the one I'm with (ooh yeah)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do (ooh baby)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with

You Make Me Wanna is a recipient of several awards including a Billboard Music Award, a WQHT Hip Hop award, and a Soul Train Music Award. Similarly, the record also made it to the nomination list for a Grammy Award.

It is an RIAA 2x Platinum certified song with recorded shipments of 2,000,000. Likewise, ARIA and BPI certified the song with Platinum and RMNZ with Gold.

Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill was released on her debut solo album titled The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was penned and produced by the singer herself.

This critically acclaimed R&B, hip hop soul, and neo-soul song made it to the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 21 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number seven.

This song screams about the conflicted relationship that has left the protagonist feeling confused and hurt. It encapsulates the vicious cycle of emotional abuse through the lyrics.

With its outstanding notability, the song earned the 2000 Soul Train Music Award for the category of the Best R&B/Soul Single-Female Award.

Janet Jackson dropped That's The Way Love Goes as the lead single on her fifth album titled Janet. It is a Grammy-winning single released on April 20, 1993.

One of the biggest hits of Jackson in the United States, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for eight weeks, making it one of the longest-reigning hits of 1993.

It acquired the Grammy Award for the category of Best R&B Song alongside BMI Pop Award, Billboard Award, and American Music Award.

The single has been covered by several artists including Bruno Mars, and more. Correspondingly, many celebrated artists have cited Janet as their source of inspiration which includes Britney Spears.

Don't Walk Away is the second single from Jade's debut album Jade to the Max. It was dropped through Giant Records on November 23, 1992.

This 1992 song reached the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number two. The notability of the single landed the trio spots in several shows including The Arsenio Hall Show and more.

It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the recorded shipments of 600,000.

Honey by Mariah Carey describes the singer's attachment to a feeling she derived from her relationship with her partner. This hit single was dropped in 1997.

This up-tempo song was issued through Columbia Records as the lead single in Carey's sixth album titled Butterfly. It earned an acclaimed response from several music critics.

The song made it to the nomination list of several awards including Grammy Awards, and more. Honey was successful to rack two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Honey made a record as Carey's third single to debut on the Billboard Hot 100. The single became Mariah's 15th best-selling single in the UK as of 2010.

Tell Me by Groove Theory was released in the American duo's self-titled debut album. The single pinnacled on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number five.

The accompanying official music video for the song directed by Daniela Federici accumulated over 54 million views on YouTube. Likewise, it has amassed over 86 million streams on Spotify.

It climaxed in several music charts including the US Hot R&B Singles & Tracks, US Rhythmic Top 40, US Top 40 Mainstream, UK Singles (OCC), UK Hip/Hop R&B, and many more.

The RIAA Gold-certified single details a woman expressing her feelings to a guy she has a crush on.