From their eye-popping ‘Best Rap Albums‘ tally to their stan-war inducing ‘Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century‘ index, Billboard is no stranger to making tongues wag and jaws drop over the years for their polarizing “best-ever” lists.
Undoubtedly continuing the trend with their latest list, ‘The 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time,’ the Music Bible’s staff composed a countdown in honor of Black Music Month with their top pick set to be unveiled on Juneteenth (June 19).
Ranked by “vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, game-changing influence, and enduring generational/cultural impact,” the placement of some of the genre’s most prized acts certainly evoked some spirited discussions (to stay the least)
Ahead of the reveal of the top 25, look inside to see some of the entries that have really gotten fans chatting so far.
Billboard’s ’75 Best R&B Artists of All Time’
(Highlights)
- #74 – Summer Walker
- #73 – Etta James
- #71 – Keyshia Cole
- #65 – Teena Marie
- #61 – Ashanti
- #59 – Fantasia
- #54 – Jazmine Sullivan
- #53 – Jill Scott
- #51 – Rick James
- #46 – Rihanna
- #44 – SZA
- #41 – Brandy
- #40 – Aaliyah
- #36 – Toni Braxton
- #33 – Alicia Keys
- #31 – Anita Baker
- #30 – Gladys Knight
- #29 – Diana Ross
- #27 – Chaka Khan
- #26 – Chris Brown
See the full list (so far) here.
![Chart Check [Hot 100]: Tinashe's 'No Broke Boys' Ties '2 On' As the Longest-Charting Hits of Her Career](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tinashe-no-broke-boys-thatgrapejuice-2026-2-on-464x260.jpg)
Another Random Baseless invalid list.
They are so stupid, probably made by white Karen’s.
Aaliyah is definitely on top 10
Granted it’s a best artists list (not best singers) but Rihanna (no offense to her) being ranked higher than Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Jazmine Sullivan, Natalie Cole, Fantasia, Ledisi to name but a few says a lot about the publication and its staff.
Brandy should def be at least top 10….Never Say Never, Full Moon, Afrodisiac are blueprint album some of our faves mentions game changing R&B albums from her especially Full Moon smh
Not y’all lying in the comments.
Chris Brown is too high on the list
Brandy should be above Alicia keys but no above Anita Baker.
Rihanna should be at the bottom if at all on this list. She is a pop singer.. she doesn’t make rnb music.
Billboard disrespected itself with Chris Brown, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton and Diana Ross not being in the 2nd set.
– Usher is very average and they placed him high above the likes of iconic artists Chris Brown, Gladys Knight, and Diana Ross, Toni Braxton? Billboard has strongly discredited itself.
-Currently Chris Brown is my #1 artist.
-Because he produces good music simple as that.
-He has broken records of all male artists.
-His cultural impact is startling.
His music is better than most on the radio. I normally turn off the radio to hear his music. And with the music video it escalates the music to another level.
Who else is creating good music consistently over 20 years? A tiny few. He is one of them.
Who else is creating music videos? Consistently? With such high quality? No one.
Diana Ross is legendary music royalty.
Toni Braxton is a Babyface backed artist that ruled rnb. Enough said.
True. Down right embarrassing.
Rihannas songs are not mostly rnb but they are microwave jingles. Shes no songwriter. Arranger. Producer. Anybody could be a Rihanna.
Billboard has egg on its face.
Chris Brown is the reigning King of R&B with historic wins. Didn’t he just beat Elvis record? He has achieved so many record breakers Ive lost count. Are they out to get him or something.
#51 – Rick James. Anita baker not in the top 25. Crappy list at best
Ushers music is not all that to be that high. Did he pay someone? Bro should be top 30 or 40.