Popular R&B: Western Music Artist Rankings [2025]

The HustleVan McCoy50rank/position

Van McCoy – “The Hustle”

Released in 1975.

It debuted at No.

1 on the Billboard weekly chart upon release.

Written and composed by hitmaker Van McCoy, its memorable chorus sticks in your head.

It became their best-selling single with over 10 million copies sold and won a Grammy the following year.

It also gained popularity in Japan, dominating the Oricon chart at No.

1 for more than two months.

Many people may recognize it from commercials.

Club TropicanaWham!51rank/position

Wham! – Club Tropicana (Official Video)

This is a track bursting with the breezy freedom of a tropical resort, woven from lively Latin jazz rhythms and post-disco sounds.

Released in July 1983 by the British pop duo Wham!, the song paints an ideal holiday scene unfolding poolside while satirically portraying escapism from society under the Thatcher government.

Included on their debut album Fantastic, it spent 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4.

The music video, filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza, vividly captured the youth culture of the time, enhanced by its liberating atmosphere.

It’s a perfect pick for summer drives and vacation soundtracks, as well as a refreshing mood booster at work or parties.

Crush (feat. Jorja Smith)AJ Tracey52rank/position

AJ Tracey – Crush (feat. Jorja Smith)

A heart-melting R&B tune from London-born AJ Tracey teaming up with fellow Londoner Jorja Smith.

Grime and R&B meet to spark a fresh chemical reaction.

Smith’s sultry vocals intertwine with Tracey’s cool rap, vividly capturing the exhilaration and uncertainty of falling in love.

Released in February 2025 to coincide with Valentine’s Day, the track is produced by P2J and features sound design that evokes the golden era of 2000s R&B.

It’s perfect for moments when you want to savor the sweet anticipation of romance or bask in memories with someone special.

Its smooth groove is sure to give your love life a gentle push.

Miss YouAaliyah53rank/position

Miss You

This R&B classic by Aaliyah—who was celebrated worldwide for her charisma as a multitalented street diva—offers a gently sultry mood that enhances a festive feeling, making it a wistful track perfect for summer.

I Can’t Stand the RainAnn Peebles54rank/position

Ann Peebles – I Can’t Stand the Rain (Official Audio)

A shining masterpiece in the history of beautiful soul music was born from American artist Ann Peebles.

Released in July 1973, this Memphis soul classic opens with an inventive intro that takes the sound of falling rain as its motif.

The droplet-like rhythm played on electric timbales and the melody woven by a vocal that is both powerful and delicate sink deeply into the listener’s heart.

Later covered by numerous artists, including Missy Elliott and Tina Turner, it remains beloved around the world.

Enthusiastically praised by John Lennon, this gem of a ballad is an eternal classic that overlays the ache of unrequited love with the image of rain.

Give it a listen on a rainy-day drive or during a quiet night of reflection.

Can’t Let GoAnthony Hamilton55rank/position

Anthony Hamilton – Can’t Let Go (Official HD Video)

Anthony Hamilton is one of the leading singers in the R&B world.

He was even invited by President Obama to perform at the White House.

In 2005, he released the song “Can’t Let Go.” The track features Mark Batson, known as both a singer and a producer.

Thanks to that collaboration, the lyrics, the track, and the vocals all come together to create a flawless piece of work.

RespectAretha Franklin56rank/position

Aretha Franklin – Respect [1967] (Aretha’s Original Version)

Known by epithets like the Queen of Soul and Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin was a legendary songstress who transcended the boundaries of soul music to shape popular music at large.

Beyond her overwhelming vocal prowess, she stood as an iconic figure of the women’s liberation movement and the civil rights movement.

Her life—marked by turbulence and far from unalloyed happiness—became a legend in itself, and her very presence influenced not only music but a wide range of cultures and even politics.

Her signature song “Respect” is a true gem—a masterpiece born of the greatness of Black music.

Originally written and composed by Otis Redding—himself, like Aretha, a legendary soul singer and a brilliant songwriter who tragically died young in an accident—the song was released as his own in 1965.

Then, in 1967, Aretha’s cover was released and became a massive hit.

“Respect,” which broke numerous records, was far more than just a hit single; because Aretha reworked it from a female perspective, it became an anthem of the civil rights and feminist movements, continuing to give courage and hope to women around the world.

The 2021 biographical film Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson, of course takes its title from this song, and Hudson’s powerful performance of it in the film is not to be missed.