every time, board, rolling stoneOr another publication releases an infamous “greatest” or “best of” list, and it gets readers and social media into trouble. People will either appreciate the list or become angry and question the merits of the countdown. This brings us to Billboard’s recently published “50 Best R&B Groups of All Time“
Billboard’s new rankings in this music genre were created entirely by the publication’s staff, and they deserve a lot of credit for their knowledge of music history. In addition to the expected groups like Destiny’s Child, TLC, The Temptations, The Jackson 5 and Boyz II Men, the list also featured some “lesser known”, yet culturally influential groups. We’re talking The Time, The Guy, The Whisperers and more. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the list was the fact that Billboard’s staff appropriately dubbed Earth, Wind & Fire the best R&B group of all time.
Having said all that, as a lover of R&B music, I can’t help but notice with surprise that some acts were completely missing. While I don’t think this was a deliberate oversight on the part of the staff, I still think these groups were worthy of a spot on the Top 50 R&B Groups, although admittedly, I haven’t thought much about who I would remove from the existing list to open up the spaces. That being said, here are five groups worthy of a spot on Billboard’s 50 Best R&B Groups of All Time.
serrated edge
Photo by Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
“where is the party!” Apparently, it’s always been that way with the group Jagged Edge, as their signature single is their highest-charting track on the Billboard Hot 100 (#3) and a #1 hit on the R&B chart. But this is not his only hit. In the late 90s and early 2000s, he created an Atlanta-based male R&B sound that brought him considerable success. And prior to “Where’s the Party At”, Brian Casey, Brandon Casey, Richard Wingo and Kyle Norman released two previous R&B #1s in “Let’s Get Married” (original and remix with Reverend Run) and “Promise”.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his song “I Gotta Be.” Although it did not peak higher than #11 on the Billboard R&B, it is one of the best R&B ballads by a male group of the late ’90s, proven by the genre’s staying power in the culture.
black street
Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Perhaps because Teddy Riley’s predecessor group, Guy, is on the list, Blackstreet was omitted. Especially when you consider that his early work was influenced by Riley’s New Jack swing style, which is heavily exemplified in Guy. However, Blackstreet was still a huge deal in the ’90s. Leaving aside their Top 10 Billboard R&B hits alone, you have “Before I Let You Go,” “Take Me There” and, of course, their Grammy-winning/chart-topping Billboard Hot 100 hit, “No Diggity.” It’s also notable that they stopped at the remix of Janet Jackson’s “I Get Lonely”.
All members of Blackstreet deserve credit for making the group famous, including: Chauncey “Black” Hannibal, Levi Little, Teddy Riley, Mark Middleton, Eric Williams, Dave Hollister, Joseph Stonestreet, and Terrell Phillips.
xscape
Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Xscape was music legend Jermaine Dupri’s first signed act on the prestigious So So Def label. Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle, Tamika Scott, and LaTocha Scott came together to create an R&B sound and style that was uniquely their own and uniquely Atlanta. While their appearance was reminiscent of TLC in terms of clothing, they were more cohesive verbally, similar to En Vogue.
When looking at their #1 R&B Billboard hits, they have three: “Understanding,” “Just Kickin’ It,” and “Who Can I Run To.” And although it didn’t top the R&B charts, there’s also “My Little Secret,” a fan-favorite. What makes the group extra special is that they’re still in demand for tickets, and they’ve created hit songs where it’s hard to imagine anyone else attempting to sing them.
dru hill
Photo by Vinnie Zaffante/Getty Images
Most R&B heads, when they hear “Tell Me” by Dru Hill, feel compelled to do the group’s infamous bounce, even if sitting down, and that was the group’s first hit. Woody, Nokio, Jazz and Sisqo followed, producing a number of uptempo songs and ballads that have made them household names for many millennials and beyond. From “In My Bed” (both original and remix) to “Never Make a Promise” to “We’re Not Making Love No More”, they have a number of hits to their credit. In fact, his first seven singles were in the top 10 on the Billboard R&B chart. Oh, and can we talk about lead singer Cisco and Jazz’s vocals? They were fantastic.
rose royce
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
The 1970s were the time when R&B groups really flourished. The Isley Brothers, The Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire and others were having great success. Sure, Rose Royce was in the shadow of these larger groups, but their position should not be taken lightly. Gwen Dickey, Henry Garner, Terrell “Terry” Sentiel, Lequint “Duke” Jobe, Michael Moore, Kenny Copeland, Kenzie Brown, Freddie Dunn and Victor Nicks formed a soulful group that produced some now-classics.
They are best known for hits such as “Car Wash,” “I Won’t Get Next to You,” “I’m Going Down,” “Oh Boy,” “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” and “Wishing on a Star.” If these songs sound familiar, yet you haven’t heard of Rose Royce, it’s probably because major artists have sampled Rose Royce or remake her songs. Just a few examples, Mary J. Blige famously remade “I’m Going Down”, Faith Evans covered “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”, and Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliot reworked “Car Wash”.
But what do you think? Do one, some, or all of these groups deserve a spot on the Top 50 R&B Groups?
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