Never Trust a Big Butt and a Smile: Our Favorite '90s R&B Jams

This is special. All of us coming together like…Voltron, defenders of the universe! Since the jams that the others have posted are so good that they would have gone on a ‘pause-mixed’ mixtape for some ‘honey dip’ (yes that was a term used back in my day), I think I’ll take a different approach.

In the 90’s, it wasn’t like I was flush with girlies (well, I guess we could do this again for the new millennium as well), so it was really about what songs I listened to when I spent most of my time alone, wackin’ off…dreamin’ for whatever girl would give me a look without disgust or confusion. That’s what I associate half of 90’s R&B with…longing. The other half is filled with wonderful memories of being used and abused…high school drAMA!!! I try to keep it raw and rare, bringing out the CD single collection (remember those?). Oh yeah, and Janet, it ain't the 90's anymore.

[MP3] R. Kelly :: Bump N’ Grind Remix
I would say that this is the R. Kelly ‘Remix’ that set off the R. Kelly remix revolution.

[MP3] Silk :: Freak Me (D'influence U.K. Remix)
It was between this and Jodeci’s “Feenin’”, but I figure y’all already know/have it. Ali knows what I’m talkin’ about.

[MP3] After 7 :: ‘Till You Do Me Right
To me, if there was a perfect Babyface song that went under the radar, this is it!

[MP3] Boyz II Men :: Water Runs Dry Mood Mix
Everybody do the Wanya spaz out!

[MP3] D’Angelo :: Shit, Damn, Motherf*cker
Couldn’t have said it better myself.

My apologies to Shai & Blackstreet.

::Mr. H to the IPPO::

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Aaah...R&B! My first "exposure" to "rap" was Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" album...so Pop R&B is intregrally connected to my love of music. In fact, I was so in love with the cassette copy I had of the album that I bought Mr. Hippo the "Don't Be Cruel" album on CD. Keep in mind that this was during the days that CDs were packaged in awkwardly tall cardboard boxes to ensure that nobody stole the super expensive CDs from your local Warehouse.

Years later (when CD's became more affordable) I ended up purchasing my very own CD Single: Tevin Campbell's "Can We Talk"...a song I would play on repeat while fantasizing about my first kiss (yes, pretty lame!).

With time, my tastes have evolved...but there are a handful of tracks that feel fresh and emotional to me. Those include:

[MP3] Brian McKnight:: Never Felt This Way
From McKnight's self-titled debut album in 1992..."Never Felt This Way" is pure and raw. McKnight's raspy voice and a piano. I love the emotional journey the song takes you on. It's supposed to be about "love" but McKnight sounds almost sad and scared of the vulnerability involved. It's strangely haunting...

[MP3] Tony Toni Tone:: Lovin' You
To me, this is the penultimate R&B group. Their sound is pure and timeless. Saadiq makes both the silliest and nastiest aspects of love songs sound sweet. "Loving you, makes me know there's a God!"...you can't get any more romantic AND hokey than with that line! From their classic 1996 album, "House of Music".

[MP3] Maxwell:: Whenever Wherever Whatever
R&B nirvana. Seriously. This song embodies everything I know and wish "love" to be. Maxwell, where are you? Robin Thicke can try...but he sure as hell ain't you!

MPB

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What else can I say about the 90’s except that the ladies came out strong! It was an era of breaking out of those tight 80’s spandex leggings that had us repressed and busting into baggy silk pajamas. It was a time for becoming a growned up woman. And saying a big Eff You to those who wanted to hold us down. I miss the days when you heard these ladies on the radio, setting the fresh standard that strong is sexy.

[MP3] SWV :: Right Here
The proper formula is: any SWV song + empty dancefloor = all the women will rush to get to it.

[MP3] Groove Theory :: Tell Me
Amel Larrieux, lead singer of Groove Theory, has released three albums since leaving GT, my favorite being Infinite Possibilities. Check it out when you get a chance.

[MP3] Janet Jackson :: That’s the Way Love Goes
“Like a moth to a flame burned by the fire…” Hottest. intro. ever.

[MP3] Mary J. Blige :: Sweet Thing
Love my Mary J. Always keepin it real and telling it like it is time and time again.

||| debstar |

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If there's one genre of music that can instantly evoke a flood of memories, it has to be '90s R&B. Sure, at times it was cheesy, sappy, and a little over the top, but for most of us, Boyz II Men, New Edition, and Babyface were a huge part of the soundtrack of our high school lives (class of '96!!!). I've never had such a hard time narrowing down a top 5 list, there were just too many good songs and too many memories I didn't want to leave out. So even though today I can't listen to these same groups nonstop, I'll always have a soft spot for these songs that have been so woven into the memories of my ever-so-coveted-and-still-longed-for youth.

[MP3] Bell Biv Devoe :: Poison (1990)
[Video] Bell Biv Devoe :: Poison
I had this one as a cassette single and played it nonstop on the busride to school in 7th & 8th grade (it shared the rotation with ABC's "Iesha"). I still remember every line of that song and love how they crooned "Never trust a big butt and a smile." This may be the only song I will ever dance to at a club sober. Oh, and it's also the reason I love Scrubs so much. CLASSIC!

[MP3] Xscape feat. Keith Sweat :: Am I Dreaming (1998)
[Video] Xscape feat. Keith Sweat :: Am I Dreaming
Smooooth.

[MP3] Janet Jackson :: Anytime (1994)
[Video] Janet Jackson :: Anytime
Am I the only one who wants to get naked whenever this song comes on?

[MP3] Keith Sweat :: I'll Give All My Love to You (Remix 1990)
[Video] Keith Sweat :: I'll Give All My Love to You
This one is such a prototypical '90s R&B song. Done to perfection.

[MP3] Mary J. Blige :: Real Love (1992)
[Video] Mary J. Blige :: Real Love (Remix feat. Biggie)
Ok, I'm cheating on this one because I told everyone we were only picking our 4 favorite songs, but I just can't leave "Real Love" out of the list, you all know how good it is.

Honorable mention:
[Video] Kai :: Say You'll Stay
[Video] Mint Condition :: What Kind of Man Would I Be
[Video] Groove Theory :: Tell Me
[Video] Hi Five :; I Like the Way

|Bruce Banner|