Lovely R&B and soul

R&B Masterpieces in Western Music: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics [2025]

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Active club DJKento
Active as a club DJ. Centered on dance music, they mix a wide range of genres including US hip-hop and J-rap, captivating audiences with their unique musical style.

The history of R&B—rhythm and blues—goes way back, and the term itself is said to have existed since the 1940s.

That said, the image most people have of R&B as a music genre today was largely established from the 1990s onward, shaped through the lens of club music.

In this article, the first half features a lineup focused on the latest hits and standout tracks by rising artists, while the latter half is packed with classic songs from the 1990s, often called the golden age of R&B.

It offers a broad selection that also looks at subgenres like contemporary R&B, neo-soul, and alternative R&B, so we encourage newcomers to R&B to check it out as well.

Western R&B Masterpieces: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics [2025] (131–140)

You Don’t Know My NameAlicia Keys

Alicia Keys – You Don’t Know My Name (Official HD Video)

You Don't Know My NameAlicia Keys

Alicia Keys is an R&B singer who has remained at the forefront from the early 2000s to the present.

It may come as a surprise to those who only know her current work, but for several years after her debut she energized the U.

S.

scene as a classic R&B singer.

“You Don’t Know My Name” is known as one of her signature songs, and it gained popularity with a melody that evokes the new soul of artists like Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye.

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For the Cool In YouBabyface

Babyface – For The Cool In You

For the Cool In YouBabyface

As both a sound creator and a singer-songwriter, Babyface has produced numerous hit songs.

“For the Cool in You” is one of his signature tracks.

It’s a complex piece of contemporary R&B that alternates between major and minor keys.

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Sometimes Ft. JenevieveBabyface

Babyface – Sometimes with Jenevieve (2023 R&B)

Sometimes Ft. JenevieveBabyface

Released in October 2022, Girls Night Out by world-renowned producer and singer-songwriter Babyface is an ambitious collaborative project featuring women artists active in today’s music scene.

In addition to hugely popular singers like Ella Mai and Kehlani, Babyface also brings in talented artists who may not yet be widely known—a testament to his impeccable taste.

The track being introduced here is Sometimes, which was added to the deluxe edition of Girls Night Out.

It features rising singer-songwriter Genevieve, who shot to fame with Baby Powder, a track that samples Anri’s Last Summer Whisper.

Her soft, pop-friendly vocal tone shines on this catchy song.

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We’ve Got LoveBabyface

Babyface – We’ve Got Love

We've Got LoveBabyface

A soothing track that sings about connecting globally through love and compassion.

It is included on the 10th album by American R&B singer Babyface, “Return of the Tender Lover,” released in 2015.

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PoisonBell Biv DeVoe

Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison

PoisonBell Biv DeVoe

Bell Biv DeVoe, an R&B group that stood shoulder to shoulder with Boyz II Men in the ’90s.

Incorporating elements of hip-hop, their “Poison” is Bell Biv DeVoe’s debut single, notable for its fast swing beat.

It’s a classic track with a history of being featured in the popular GTA game series.

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Me, Myself and IBeyoncé

Beyoncé – Me, Myself and I (Video Version)

Me, Myself and IBeyoncé

This is a classic of Black contemporary music, released as a single by Beyoncé in 2003, cementing her unshakable status.

It became a hit around the world and was nominated for a Grammy.

Boldly, it was sampled in Big Sean’s 2015 track “Me, Myself & I Freestyle.” It may sound old-fashioned now, but I think it’s packed with timeless musical quality.

Beyoncé looks so young in the music video, too!

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Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)Beyoncé

Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Video Version)

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)Beyoncé

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), released in 2008.

Although the background music isn’t typical of R&B, Beyoncé’s powerful vocal riffs give it a distinctive R&B flair.

It’s a great pick when you want to dance to R&B.

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