The best songs released by Black artists in the '90s

Destiny’s Child released a handful of popular singles as a group; however, "Say My Name" is undoubtedly one of their most popular songs. The single earned DC their second No. 1 hit, two Grammy Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award. 

The lead single, “The Boy Is Mine,” from Brandy’s second studio album, Never Say Never, is nothing short of a smash hit. It was released in 1998 and climbed the chart before claiming the No. 1 spot for 13 weeks. The song garnered praise from fans and critics and scored Brandy and Monica their first Grammy win in 1999.

Love it or hate it, TLC’s "No Scrubs" is a certified bop. The beat, lyrics, production — everything about it flows together perfectly, so it makes sense why this song is one of the group’s most popular. 

"Emotions " is the lead single from Mariah Carey’s second studio album of the same name. The track, released in 1991, features a funky melody and beat that showcases Mariah’s expansive vocal range.

Like most of Carey’s music, Emotions reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 — her fifth in a row — and became a commercial success, selling over one million records in the US.

There’s really no other way to categorize Mariah as anything other than a musical genius. "Fantasy," the lead single from her fifth studio album, is something special. After its release, the song quickly became a global success, earning Carey her ninth No. 1 on the Hot 100.   

Ranked by several publications as one of the greatest songs of the ‘90s, Blackstreet was on another level with their late ‘90s record, "No Diggity." The song’s popularity is undeniable, as it’s been shuffled through club playlists since topping the chart in ‘96.

No such list can exist without the iconic Lauryn Hill’s 1998 masterpiece, "Doo Wop." The R&B single has been praised worldwide for its impactful lyrics and theme. Of course, the song reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, which made Hill the first female rapper in the chart’s history to achieve this. The song’s acclaim worked in Lauryn’s favor, as she won several Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. 

Usher’s second studio album, My Way, houses his megahit single, "You Make Me Wanna." The 1997 soul track showcases the singer’s smooth vocal abilities and helped boost the then-18-year-old into superstardom. 

This 1993 hit was released as the second single from Xscape’s first studio album, Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha. It’s a soulful track sung from the perspective of a pleading partner frustrated with the lack of understanding in their relationship. Since its release, "Understanding" has been a staple hit in the group’s lineup, with recent live performances at the Essence Fest, BET Awards, and their 2021 Versuz battle against the legendary group SWV.

Everyone knows about MC Hammer’s "U Can’t Touch This." It’s a song that will carry on through the ages because of its spit-fire rhymes, classic beat, and fun vibe. Released in 1990, "U Can’t Touch This" was a grand slam holding No. 1 positions in Australia, Canada, and Europe. It reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, won two Grammys, and two Video Music Awards for Best Rap and Dance Video.  

En Vogue changed the game with their anti-prejudice and empowering 1992 song, "Free Your Mind." Not only do the lyrics encourage you to live your best life, but the song’s rock elements and edgy vocals take this track to the next level. After the song's widespread success, En Vogue was solidified as one of the most popular girl groups in the music industry.

"Let’s Talk About Sex" garnered love and praise from listeners all over for its candidness about such a taboo topic. The single, released by Salt-N-Pepa in 1991, promotes contraceptives and other safe sex practices.

Bell Biv Devoe’s 1990 R&B hit "Poison" gets the party started every single time. It’s a playful track with a chorus so good you can’t help but shout it from the top of your lungs. The song was among the group’s most successful, peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100, which earned the crew international praise.

If we’re talking about timeless hits, then Montell Jordan’s 1995 single, "This Is How We Do It," is just that. It’s groovy, funky, upbeat, and so much more. It’s been a staple in the Black community since the ‘90s, peaking at No. 1 for seven weeks, and remains a beloved song for many others.

Don’t tell us you didn’t automatically start singing the infectious "Good Vibrations " chorus when you stumbled across this gem. Although Marky Mark Wahlberg is the lead artist, the single’s best part is sung by the popular artist Loleatta Holloway — one of the most sampled female artists in popular music.  

Ginuwine was just a bachelor looking for a partner when he dropped this 1996 track from his debut album. The message of "Pony" is clear with its steamy lyrics and equestrian-related metaphors. The single peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100 and has since become one of the go-to references in pop culture’s biggest films and television shows.

The R&B group Zhané’s ‘93 single "Hey Mr. DJ" is sung from the perspective of a person begging a DJ to play their favorite song while out having the time of their lives. It’s relatable, groovy, and a tune you can’t help but sing and dance to.

"End Of The Road" is a powerful and emotional ballad sung by the vocal group Boyz II Men, who are known for their soulful tracks and enchanting harmonies. It was released in 1992 and debuted at No. 53 on the Hot 100 before slowly reaching No. 1. It stayed atop the chart for 13 weeks before being passed by "How Do You Talk to an Angel" by The Heights.

Not many Michael Jackson songs need an introduction — especially his ‘92 smash record "Remember The Time." It’s a super hit, showcasing Jackson’s impressive vocal abilities, which peaked at No. 3 on the chart and has become one of the pop icon’s most popular songs.

The 1993 track "Freak Me" is a smooth classic released by the R&B group Silk. It peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 on May 1, 1993, and has since become the group’s highest-charting single to date.

Even though his first single, "You Make Me Wanna," pushed Usher further into the spotlight, his second drop, "Nice & Slow," still became a top-10 hit, cementing the artist as one of the most popular rising voices in the industry.

"One In A Million" is a one-of-a-kind type of song released by the late artist Aaliyah. It accompanied her second studio album of the same name, garnered praise from listeners and critics, and reached No. 10 on the Hot 100. Many consider it one of the songs that solidified her place in the R&B genre.

Talk about a throwback. "Bring It All To Me" is one of the signature songs from the popular girl group Blaque. Released in 1999, the remix features JC Chasez from NSYNC and reached No. 5 on the Hot 100. It’s described as a “silky” and “slow” track that encourages partners to bring all of their love to their relationships.

Mary J. Blige is the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, and her 1992 performance of "Real Love" tells us precisely why. It was a commercial success upon its release and is considered one of the singer’s most legendary pieces of work. It peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, becoming Blige’s first top-10 hit.  

Next in this list of ‘90s bangers is the powerful ballad, "Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here," released by Deborah Cox in September 1998. It’s the singer's most successful song to date, peaking at No. 2 for eight weeks and selling nearly two million copies in the United States. Later that year, she won the Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single.

By the time "What About Your Friends" was released in 1992, TLC was no stranger to the Hot 100. It was their third top-10 single, reaching No. 7 on the chart and selling over 500,000 copies.

Much like the sounds of other female empowerment songs released by girl groups in the late ‘90s, 702 released one of their most iconic songs, "Where My Girls At? " in April 1999. It was produced by none other than Missy Elliott and reached Billboard’s top five, peaking at No. 4 with over 600,000 copies sold.

Shortly after 702’s "WMGA?," Destiny’s Child released their chart-topping single "Bills, Bills, Bills" in May 1999. The track has a clear theme and has become one of the group’s most adored and celebrated songs in popular culture — especially relating to women’s empowerment.

There’s no other way to describe Whitney Houston’s "I Have Nothing" as anything less than a perfect song showcasing the superstar’s remarkable vocal range and impressive abilities as an artist. Of course, the song became a hit, peaking at No. 4 and selling more than two million copies in the US.

"I Will Always Love You " was originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973; however, most people are familiar with Whitney Houston's version from 1992. This song from the vocal powerhouse has received praise worldwide, including Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

D’Angelo’s "Brown Sugar" is a smooth, soulful, and groovy single released in 1995. It’s the lead single from his debut album of the same name and received generally positive reviews. It peaked at No. 27 on the Hot 100 while snagging No. 5 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart later that year.

This legendary single by The Notorious B.I.G rings as true in 2023 as it did during its initial release in '97. The track samples Diana Ross’ 1980s hit “I’m Coming Out,” which many have contributed to the song’s catchy and feel-good vibe. "Mo Money Mo Problems" topped the Hot 100 on Aug 30, 1997, after he tragically died, making it the rapper’s second No. 1 that year.

"Jumpin, Jumpin" is another popping single released by Destiny’s Child from their album, The Writing’s on the Wall. Although it didn’t top the chart, it peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and remained in top-10 for 16 weeks — longer than "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills."

Even though RuPaul was already on his way to superstardom, his dance track "Supermodel (You Better Work)" really put him on the map. It reached No. 2 on Billboard’s US Hot Dance Club Play Chart and has become an anthem in the LGBTQ+ community and in popular culture.

Sir Mix-a-Lot came out of the park swinging with his lead single from his debut album, Mack Daddy. It’s a hip-hop track with suggestive lyrics, but hey — it’s a ‘90s classic. "Baby Got Back" reached No. 1, earning Sir-Mix a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

When Lauryn Hill is on the track, it’s hard not to rank it as one of the best. Not only was "Killing Me Softly With His Song" a massive hit around the world, topping the charts in more than 10 countries, including Australia, Canada, and France. It's sold over three million copies in the US. The Fugees won a Grammy in 1997 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. 

"O.P.P," short for Other People’s Property, is the lead single from the hip-hop trio Naughty by Nature. Released in ‘91, the track became a crowd-pleaser, reaching the Hot 100’s No. 6 spot due to its memorable chorus and popular music samples, like The Jackson 5’s "ABC."

Salt-N-Pepa’s fourth studio album, Very Necessary, birthed their popular single "Shoop," released in 1993. Many have praised the song's playful and catchy melody and have since ranked it as one of the group’s most cherished songs. Like most of their tracks, this one peaked within the Hot 100’s top five, claiming spot No. 4.

"California Love," released by 2Pac and Dr. Dre, is one of the rapper’s most notable, earning them a No. 1 single, critical acclaim, and a classic hip-hop song that will live on forever.

Like Destiny’s Child, TLC, and 702 have their breakout hits, SWV has theirs, and it’s none other than the 1993 jam, "Weak." It’s a slow-tempo song full of soul, vulnerability, and lovely vocals. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July of that year and sold over three million copies in the United States.