Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1990 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

We break into the Top 15 with a song that has 6 Top 10s and 2 bottom 10s. Two others will get a perfect ranking.

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '90}Private Dancer singingrulebritannia B-Boy aerodynamite rowellfarm490 ccarter1023 wyckyd back2blk Ivy Leegue™ mamooshka divasummer gonecountry Mirago jtd Thee Stallion jenglisbe #LisaRinna SHOOTER 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Mic Technique Jay D83 312999 annoymous1 samo🦕 BB🌕 Glove Slap Ty .indulgecountry Juanca razorshark

[back2blk]

Let's hit it. I'm in the office today with nothing to do, so I'mma keep busy up in hurr.

[Glove Slap]

No complaints with the last group, but I expect to take a beating today.

[annoymous1]

I'm ready!

[Soulsista]

15. You Can't Deny It - Lisa Stansfield

"You Can't Deny It" was Lisa's second release in the US from her Affection album. It was her second straight R&B charttopper and reached the Top 20 on the Hot 100.


Stats
Chart Entry: May 12, 1990
Peak Date: July 7, 1990
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 5
Weeks On Chart: 15
Hot 100 Peak: #14

Points: 578
Average: 18.07
Standard Deviation: 7.741 (15th lowest)

Glove Slap - 3
gonecountry - 7
Mic Technique - 8
Ivy Leegue™ - 9
.indulgecountry - 9
Juanca - 10

ccarter1023 - 11
rowellfarm490 - 12
Jay D83 - 13
singingrulebritannia - 15
samo🦕 - 15
Soulsista - 16
jenglisbe - 16
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 17
BB🌕 - 17
Private Dancer - 19
wyckyd - 19

aerodynamite - 21
divasummer - 21
back2blk - 23
jtd Thee Stallion - 23
312999 - 25
Ty - 25
B-Boy - 26
mamooshka - 26
SHOOTER - 27
annoymous1 - 27
#LisaRinna - 29

Mirago - 35

Observing
razorshark


The next reveal will see five people lose a Top 10. Five others will shed a bottom 10.

[Jay D83]

I see I'm still hopscotching around the perfect ranking.

[Soulsista]

14. U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer

"U Can't Touch This" was Hammer's breakthrough hit on the Hot 100, reaching the Top 10, his lone #1 on the R&B chart, and his signature song. It was also an international success, topping the charts in 5 countries and hitting the Top 10 in many more. It also won Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Rap Solo Performance, and was nominated for Record Of The Year. The song samples the Rick James classic "Super Freak". Since the sample was illegal, that led Rick and "Super Freak" co-writer Alonzo Miller to sue Hammer for shared songwriting credit.

Fun fact: Hammer's signature pants were designed by former Soul Train dancer Tamechi "Toney" Briggs.


Stats
Chart Entry: April 28, 1990
Peak Date: June 23, 1990
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 7
Weeks On Chart: 16
Hot 100 Peak: #8

Points: 585
Average: 17.83
Standard Deviation: 9.655 (6th highest)

gonecountry - 2
312999 - 2
jtd Thee Stallion - 3
annoymous1 - 7
#LisaRinna - 10

back2blk - 11
divasummer - 11
Ivy Leegue™ - 12
aerodynamite - 13
rowellfarm490 - 13
mamooshka - 13
jenglisbe - 13
Juanca - 14
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 15
ccarter1023 - 16
wyckyd - 17
samo🦕 - 18
Jay D83 - 20

Mirago - 22
SHOOTER - 22
BB🌕 - 23
Glove Slap - 23
Private Dancer - 24
Soulsista - 25
.indulgecountry - 30

B-Boy - 31
singingrulebritannia - 34
Ty - 36
Mic Technique - 37

Observing
razorshark


The next reveal has the most Top 10s so far, with eight. On the flip side, four people will be saying goodbye to a bottom 10.

[back2blk]

I was obsessed with this song as a kid.

[Jay D83]

Dec 27, 2021 12:49:44 GMT -5 back2blk said:

I was obsessed with this song as a kid.

My Hammer song was "2 Legit 2 Quit".

[Glove Slap]

Dec 27, 2021 12:53:50 GMT -5 Jay D83 said:

Dec 27, 2021 12:49:44 GMT -5 back2blk said:

I was obsessed with this song as a kid.

My Hammer song was "2 Legit 2 Quit".

That's my favorite from him too. The singer's passion in proclaiming just how legit he is really seals it for me.

[Soulsista]

13. Ready Or Not - After 7

Formed in Indianapolis, the original members of After 7 consisted of Babyface's older brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, and Keith Mitchell. It was long believed the Keith was the cousin of L.A. Reid, but it was just a marketing tool, the two are in fact not related. "Ready Or Not" was the first of their 2 R&B #1s, and was their breakthrough hit on the Hot 100, reaching the Top 10. Jazmine Sullivan sampled it in 2015 for her song "Let It Burn".

After 7 went their separate ways in 1997, and during this time Kevon pursued a solo career. They would get back together nearly a decade later, and would be joined by Melvin's son Jason. Sadly, Melvin passed away in 2019, and Jason left the group not long after. After 7 are still going strong today with new member Danny McClain. Their recent album, Unfinished Business, was released in August 2021.


Stats
Chart Entry: February 10, 1990
Peak Date: April 21, 1990
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 5
Weeks On Chart: 22
Hot 100 Peak: #7

Points: 587
Average: 17.76
Standard Deviation: 8.729 (15th highest)

B-Boy - 3
Jay D83 - 3
back2blk - 5
#LisaRinna - 7
Soulsista - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 8
wyckyd - 9
SHOOTER - 10

Private Dancer - 13
Mic Technique - 14
Ivy Leegue™ - 15
annoymous1 - 16
gonecountry - 17
Mirago - 18
divasummer - 19
jenglisbe - 19

rowellfarm490 - 21
ccarter1023 - 21
singingrulebritannia - 22
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 22
Glove Slap - 22
.indulgecountry - 22
Ty - 23
samo🦕 - 24
BB🌕 - 27
aerodynamite - 30
Juanca - 30

mamooshka - 33
312999 - 34

Observing
razorshark


Seven more Top 10s will be lost with the next reveal. Seven more will shed a bottom 10.

[Soulsista]

12. Giving You The Benefit - Pebbles

"Giving You The Benefit" was the lead single from Pebbles' sophomore album Always. With After 7 providing background vocals, it was the third of her four R&B charttoppers and hit the Top 5 on the Hot 100. It was also the longest-running #1 of the year on the R&B chart.


Stats
Chart Entry: August 18, 1990
Peak Date: October 6, 1990
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 6
Weeks On Chart: 16
Hot 100 Peak: #4

Points: 614
Average: 16.83
Standard Deviation: 8.964 (14th highest)

divasummer - 2
Mic Technique - 4
Glove Slap - 6
Private Dancer - 7
.indulgecountry - 7
samo🦕 - 9
ccarter1023 - 10

B-Boy - 11
Mirago - 11
jenglisbe - 11
#LisaRinna - 12
Juanca - 13
mamooshka - 14
Soulsista - 15
rowellfarm490 - 15
gonecountry - 15
Ivy Leegue™ - 17
312999 - 17
back2blk - 19
Ty - 19

Jay D83 - 22
aerodynamite - 23
singingrulebritannia - 28
annoymous1 - 28
SHOOTER - 29
BB🌕 - 29
jtd Thee Stallion - 30

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 31
wyckyd - 34

Observing
razorshark


The last song to miss the Top 10 has the highest SD. Eleven Top 10s will go down...along with four bottom 5s.

[back2blk]

Ready or Not is so sexy!!!

Loved when Jazzy brought it back for her album.

[#LisaRinna]

After 7 so low?!

[Soulsista]

11. Feels Good - Tony! Toni! Toné!

"Feels Good" was their second release from The Revival. It was their second straight R&B charttopper (third overall) and was their breakthrough hit on the Hot 100, peaking inside the Top 10. Samples the Lyn Collins song "Think (About It)" and features a rap by Tupac Shakur's stepbrother Mopreme Shakur.


Stats
Chart Entry: June 30, 1990
Peak Date: September 1, 1990
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 6
Weeks On Chart: 24
Hot 100 Peak: #9

Points: 629
Average: 16.31
Standard Deviation: 10.677 (Highest)

312999 - 3
singingrulebritannia - 4
aerodynamite - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
B-Boy - 5
BB🌕 - 5
rowellfarm490 - 6
back2blk - 10
Ivy Leegue™ - 10
jtd Thee Stallion - 10
annoymous1 - 10

Soulsista - 11
Juanca - 11
Jay D83 - 12
Private Dancer - 14
divasummer - 16
Mirago - 16
mamooshka - 18
SHOOTER - 18
Mic Technique - 18
Glove Slap - 19

ccarter1023 - 24
gonecountry - 26
samo🦕 - 27
jenglisbe - 29

#LisaRinna - 35
.indulgecountry - 35
wyckyd - 36
Ty - 37

Observing
razorshark

[Jay D83]

Y'all don't listen to R&B 4real4real "Ready Or Not" is TOP 10 material!

[B-Boy]

Pray > U Can’t Touch This

After 7’s “Ready Or Not” sounds so fresh today. It’s funny that Face had them on Pebbles’ “Giving You The Benefit” and Bobby’s “On Our Own” which sounded like their own hit “Heat Of The Moment”.

[Soulsista]

The Top 10:

Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
Escapade - Janet Jackson
All Around The World - Lisa Stansfield
Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe
Rub You The Right Way - Johnny Gill
Hold On - En Vogue
Vision Of Love - Mariah Carey
Thieves In The Temple - Prince
Love Takes Time - Mariah Carey
I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston


Five more will be revealed tomorrow...multiple #1s will be going down!

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '90}Private Dancer singingrulebritannia B-Boy aerodynamite rowellfarm490 ccarter1023 wyckyd back2blk Ivy Leegue™ mamooshka divasummer gonecountry Mirago jtd Thee Stallion jenglisbe #LisaRinna SHOOTER 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Mic Technique Jay D83 312999 annoymous1 samo🦕 BB🌕 Glove Slap Ty .indulgecountry Juanca razorshark

[Jay D83]

I tried to tank the Janet songs partly out of spite and yet here we are. Lol.

[back2blk]

I think we all knew how this top 10 was going to go though.

[divasummer]

Dec 27, 2021 13:35:42 GMT -5 Jay D83 said:

Y'all don't listen to R&B 4real4real "Ready Or Not" is TOP 10 material!

I agree but I grew up in that era. (Not sure about you)
So many of these songs are favorites that my num.16 selection looks bad on paper but it really isn’t.
My Top 25 were all loved but what can you do? Lol.

[divasummer]

Dec 27, 2021 13:44:36 GMT -5 back2blk said:

I think we all knew how this top 10 was going to go though.

Actually I’m kind of surprised to see Prince’s “Thieves In The Temple”up there so high.
I kind of thought it was a forgotten hit…..

[back2blk]

Dec 27, 2021 13:47:56 GMT -5 divasummer said:

Dec 27, 2021 13:44:36 GMT -5 back2blk said:

I think we all knew how this top 10 was going to go though.

Actually I’m kind of surprised to see Prince’s “Thieves In The Temple”up there so high.
I kind of thought it was a forgotten hit…..

I'm sure he'll be like no. 10 though. 

[singingrulebritannia]

What did TTT do to you all to garner this hate?!? Couldn't have been the cameo they made in Rick and Morty, could it?...

Other than "Love Takes Time" though, I guess this top 10 is fine

[Mic Technique]

At first I was shocked not a single Tony! Toni! Toné! or After 7 entry made the top 10. But I remembered Mariah, Janet, and Whitney had 5 spots between them reserved before this thing was off and running.

‘Thieves in the Temple’ making it this far is a strictly “on name alone” feat.

[Juanca]

Catching up with the reveals.
I had only known a third of the songs in this list, but I enjoyed most of the discoveries

37. Crazy (31): When kids sing I try to go beyond the vocals and check how catchy or interesting the song is. I found this one quite catchy!

36. Tomorrow (37): and this one quite dull, boring and melody lacking, which made it a clear last place for me even though the kid vocals were much better than that in Crazy.

35. So You Like What You See (34): this was too monotonous to me. Same weak, forgettable melody for almost 5 minutes was too much for me, even if the production and vocals were good enough.

34. Real love (25): nice discovery, not only in terms of vocals but also in terms of vibe / production -sort of a transition from 80s to 90s r&b.

33. All I Do Is Think Of You (33): I appreciated the vocals, but the melody was forgettable and a bit too cheesy to me.

32. It's Gonna Be Alright (26): I’ve always dug this Roland drumbeat that was so popular since Soul II Soul. This was a nice discovery. I just felt it could’ve been a bit catchier.

31. Missunderstanding (15): Oh! This is the first reveal of a song that I knew before this rankdown. I discovered it thanks to a previous Pulse rankdown, and I liked it, and still do. Catchy, interesting, rememberable, and with distinct vocals. Wish it had finished a tad higher.

30. The Blues (21): Wrong TTT song first IMO. Interesting, modern production, catchy hook, and even a part that reminds me of Humpin’ Around. Nice discovery.

29. Where Do We Go From Here (24): I like the vocals and main chorus melody. But a bit over sung to rank it higher.

28. Spread My Wings (18): Very nice discovery. Good melody, vocals, and classic early 90s production with some extra percussion that I dug.

27. Make It Like It Was (23): At first I had this in my bottom 7, but with more listens I appreciated the melody a bit better. The production is too 80s cheesy and a turnoff for me, but her vocals are outstanding, and more than compensated that flaw and alone made me rank it this high.

26. Make You Sweat (27): Second reveal of a song I already knew. Great production but his vocals get a bit annoying halfway through especially the continuous Waahhaa even in the chorus.

25. BBD (32): I like the production but the melody was a bit repetitive and the chorus was too forgettable to me.

24. I’ll Be Good To You (17): The synths sound a bit generic now, but the melody is strong and the vocals are of course legendary, and the overall instrumental is strong. Very good discovery to me.

23. Tender Love (22): Quite catchy tune, with good production and vocals.

22. It Never Rains (36): This one didn’t do anything for me and I hardly remembered it after hearing it.

21. Jerk Out (9): Oh! This has always been a certified bop! Should’ve at least made the top 15. Great production that still sounds cool to me.

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Damn...Tony! Toni! Tonè! was soo close in being in the top 10.

[Private Dancer]

You Cant Deny It, Can't Touch This, and Theieves in the temple should not be this high...

[wyckyd]

I love Thieves In The Temple so I’m really happy to see it in the top 10 (which as a whole is pretty great)!

[Soulsista]

Today's extra was the follow-up to his R&B #1 "Make You Sweat" It peaked at #2 on the R&B chart.

Merry Go Round - Keith Sweat