A classic R&B masterpiece. A must-listen recommended album.
The genre “R&B” began to take hold around the 1970s.
Even though we call it R&B, its style has changed with each era, and by now I think it’s a genre with a rather fuzzy definition.
For this piece, I’ll define R&B as “groovy tracks packed with vocal techniques often used in R&B, like ad-libs and runs,” and introduce some classic R&B albums!
While I’m including a few major tracks, I’ve also picked out some extremely obscure songs that even hardcore R&B aficionados in Japan probably don’t know—so be sure to check them out!
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R&B Masterpieces: Must-Listen Recommended Albums (31–40)
Try AgainAaliyah
It’s a track featured on the action movie soundtrack Romeo Must Die.
It was produced by Timbaland, who sparked a boom with his distinctive chikki-chikki beat.
In the film Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah takes on her first acting role.
Timbaland has said of this song, “I produced it under the influence of Detroit techno.”
Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv)LL Cool J ft. Total
A single from the 1995 album Mr.
Smith by American rapper and actor LL Cool J.
It features vocals by the R&B girl group Total.
The track reached No.
3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Right HereSWV
It’s a classic that samples “Human Nature” from Michael Jackson’s album Thriller.
Released as the lead single from their debut album It’s About Time, it reached No.
16 on the R&B chart at the time.
Since then, the track has been beloved by many DJs, and today it can be considered their most famous song.
Rock With YouMichael Jackson
It’s a classic released in 1979, produced by Quincy Jones.
As the second single from the album Off the Wall, Billboard has praised it as one of the four greatest songs of the 1980s and an important track that bridges the disco era and the ’80s.
Ready or NotThe Fugees
The title and chorus were inspired by the Delfonics’ 1968 song “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love).” Released as a single in 1996, it reached No.
1 on the UK charts.
It is also known as a favorite song of former U.S.
President Barack Obama.
R&B Masterpieces: Must-Listen Recommended Albums (41–50)
No One ElseTotal
This is a collaboration song with Sean “Puffy” Combs, the owner of Bad Boy Records.
Featuring female rapper Da Brat on the rap, the track boldly samples “South Bronx” from Boogie Down Productions’ album Criminal Minded, and it stunned the club scene at the time.
PrivacyChris Brown
A single released in 2017 by Chris Brown, an American R&B singer-songwriter and dancer.
The first line of the chorus was inspired by Jamaican singer Red Rat’s 1997 reggae song “Tight Up Skirt.”