Billboard has been setting social media ablaze all week with their ‘75 Best R&B Artists of All Time‘ – a countdown to honor the genre’s most game-changing artists.
Expected names like Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Brandy, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin all found entries on the tally, but discourse around their placements flooded the net – particularly because Ross, Brandy, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Usher, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, and Mary J. Blige all ranked outside the top 10.
And while fans of the aforementioned are crying foul, supporters of acts like Sade, Ciara, and Monica are still stunned their faves were completely absent from the listing.
As we previously reported, staff of the mag’s official website created the ranking in honor of Black Music Month and ordered their picks by “enduring generational/cultural impact, vocal prowess, industry achievements, game-changing influence, body of work, and career longevity.”
With the latter two being a marker, readers were surprised to see newcomers Summer Walker, H.E.R., and SZA ranking in place of or sometimes higher than some of the more tenured acts on the tally.
Look below for a list of R&B faves who didn’t make Billboard’s cut.
- Sade
- Ciara
- Monica
- Kelly Rowland
- Tina Turner
- Solange
- Chrisette Michele
- Michael McDonald
- India.Arie
- Chante Moore
- Jody Watley
- Cheryl Lynn
- Melba Moore
- Mya
- Janelle Monae
- Angie Stone
- Brian McKnight
- Miguel
- Tamar Braxton
- Kelly Price
- Tamia
- Deborah Cox
- Kelly Rowland
- Faith Evans
- Eric Benet
- Mario
- Jhene Aiko
- Trey Songz
- Betty Wright
- Ginuwine
- Tyrese
See the full list of who did make the final run here.
These lists can’t please everyone but what’s stupid is that they’re disregarding their own charts. Like a lot of people disregard Monica but Billboard did have an article about how she broke records for charting R&B #1s in 3 different decades so she should’ve been mentioned.
Exactly!!! Monica is a part of a small few who can claim that! I don’t trust any rankings that don’t have Aretha Franklin #1
I literally was about to comment the only person left off that I would really argue about is Monica. You definitely gotta give MO her flowers she’s a legend. Sade could have been mentioned but I don’t think she’s a must because she’s more rnb/jazz imo.
#1 Whitney Houston
#2 Mary Blige
#3 Missy Elliot
#4 Aaliyah
#5 Beyoncé
#6 RKelly
#7Usher
#8 Mariah Carey
#9 Toni Braxton
#10 Chris Brown
Why do those lists even exist? They only serve to boost people’s egos; they provide nothing. Those lists are dumb and nonsens.
How can they leave the Queen from the list?! Aretha’’s your favorites favorite
I can’t understand why they keep leaving Kelly Rowland out of these discussions.. multi platinum songs! Co-signed by the greats like Gladys knight, Mariah Carey, Anita Baker, longevity, respect from people who came up under her. It’s as if they just overlook her but she’s set so many damn trends and really bad at least one platinum or gold song on every album release
And speaking of Kelly, it’s crazy how they never mention DC in these lists, they just add their accolades as a group to Bey’s rep and that’s absurd
Platinum songs? Setting trends? Who r u talking about?Kelly WHO????
Brian Mcknight.
Tamia should have been in top 20.
Debarge to
Chris Brown right behind the older legends.
He has shaped modern R&b and is highly impactful to the entertainment industry as a whole. The superior ability to dance. The smooth vocals. The many artistic music videos. His contributions are many.
Kelly Rowland? Much respect to her but her presence is in the DC days. As a soloist what in the flying duck are you talking about? She set what trends? When has the great Mariah Carey or soulful Nita Baker praised her singing? She has a pretty voice but that you are saying doesn’t match her. In any way.
Kelly Rowland was that it girl. They only mentions her sometimes but it needs to be mentioned all the time. How you remove Kelly and Monica from the like but add the new girls. The list of people that wasn’t mentioned looks better.
Yeeeahhh when i saw the 11-70 list, I was scratching my head realizing Kelly Rowland didnt make the list
Solange should have been on the list
Monica and Mya and Kelly too
Sade is a soul jazz singer
Beyonce should have been top 20 not top 10 and only because of her achievements and longevity but not artistically.
Aaliyah should have been on top 10
Artistically, Quality of her albums, Unique voice, unique style and image, INFLUENCE, all her albums changed the game every single time! And she was a real R&B artist with real R&B albums that were 10/10 or 9/10. Beyonce doesn’t have any R&B album that is even a 6/10 her best work in R&B was with DC and it was singles not albums.
Laughing! So Aaliyah should be in the top 10 of rb artists? Of all time? lol!
But Beyonce whom im not a fan of but recognize her significant impact and high achievements, should not be rated high?
You must be on Billbds staff. Because having Ushers lollipop songs doing the robot all the time being at # 12 but those far more talented with much better music, more hits, better quality music, and greater impact are placed behind him goes along with your line of thinking.
Kelly Rowland? Say what? She has some talent but only 1 hit on her own in the US.
She is mostly in the news for skin bleaching and wanting to be light skinned. While her dark sistas run to her defense flooding the posts with Skin Bleaching lies 101.
Its the lighting
Shes wearing to light makeup
Its the flash
And you think this fiasco should be on the greatest R&B list. This discussion should be for the many who’s made great impact with many hits.
Usher shouldn’t have been above 50.
Listen Billboard don’t embarrass yourselves demonstrating inexperience as you have anymore. His songs are watered down r&b koolaid. Weak melodies and ave hooks. People aren’t still playing My Way, There Goes My Baby and won’t be. They just aren’t strong r&b songs. His vocals are only ok.
Many other singers have quality r&b songs. Toni Braxton’s hits, Breathe Again, Love Should Have Brought You Home, Let It Go, Unbreak My Heart, strong r&b CLASSICS.
Anita Baker, Same Ole Love, Giving You The Best That I Got, No One In The World, I Apologize, strong CLASSICS.
Luther Vandross A House Is Not A Home, need I say more? There’s Nothing Better Than Love, So Amazing, SLAYING CLASSICS!
The latest Mt Rushmore of today Chris Brown who has dominated talent circles and the charts has generated classics Sensational, Back To Sleep, Fine China, With You, No Air, Under The Influence. Also has out sold Usher.
Patti LaBelle, The Isley Brothers, people who’s music is still in rotation, being repeated by other artists, in commercials because the music is so good. And they can actually sing.
Just naming these songs bring back their timeless quality that Ushers music couldn’t begin to compete with. These songs are in the hearts of r&b lovers not U Make Me Wanna tf?
I can tell Billboard elicited inexperienced people. Without even a a few years ago knowledge of r&b yet alone a familiarity of it’s history. Influenced by who’s in the news a few months ago is a poor qualification to judge good r&b music.
No FAITH EVANS? She has many hits and one of the all time great vocalists. Invalidated.
Chris brown is the best and has been for 20 years he should have been high on the list. He has more #1s than any other male singer. More platinums than any other . And has tied Beyonce.
This list is a failure.