Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1996 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

Leading off today's reveals is the song that has the 3rd highest SD. Three #1s will go down, taking with them four bottom 5s including someone's #20.

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '96}Private Dancer jenglisbe CF15 #LisaRinna singingrulebritannia wyckyd B-Boy 312999 beyoncelover Rose "Payola" Nylund ilikemilk jtd Thee Stallion Ivy Leegue™ bat1990 rowellfarm490 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 aerodynamite newpower Kelly's 10th Fan SHOOTER mamooshka emerald .indulgecountry chanman alexcuse gonecountry BB🌕 samo🦕 annoymous1 Ky divasummer Troublemaker

[Soulsista]

10. Before You Walk Out Of My Life - Monica

From her album Miss Thang, "Before You Walk Out Of My Life" peaked at #2 on the R&B airplay chart. Released as a double-sided single with "Like This And Like That", it topped the main R&B chart and hit the Top 10 on the Hot 100, and made Monica the youngest artist to have back-to-back R&B #1s at age 15.

Fun fact: this song was originally intended for Toni Braxton.

Apologies to jenglisbe, Rose "Payola" Nylund, and divasummer...


Stats
Chart Entry: October 21, 1995
Peak Date: January 20, 1996
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 22
Weeks On Chart: 35
Hot 100 Peak: #7

Points: 387
Average: 9.27
Standard Deviation: 5.192 (3rd highest)

jenglisbe - 1
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 1
divasummer - 1
#LisaRinna - 2
Ky - 2
Private Dancer - 3
samo🦕 - 5

Soulsista - 6
ilikemilk - 6
SHOOTER - 7
.indulgecountry - 7
beyoncelover - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 8
Ivy Leegue™ - 8
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 8
Kelly's 10th Fan - 9
emerald - 9
annoymous1 - 9
aerodynamite - 10
newpower - 10
Troublemaker - 10

bat1990 - 11
BB🌕 - 11
singingrulebritannia - 12
gonecountry - 12
312999 - 13
B-Boy - 14
rowellfarm490 - 15
mamooshka - 15

CF15 - 16
alexcuse - 18
wyckyd - 19
chanman - 20


Ten Top 5s will be lost with the next reveal. Six people will be losing a bottom 5.

[jenglisbe]

Ok the Monica slander in this rankdown has gone TOO FAR!

[Soulsista]

9. How Do U Want It - 2Pac feat. K-Ci & JoJo

From his album All Eyez On Me, "How Do U Want It" was the last single to be released while Tupac was alive. It peaked at #17 on the R&B airplay chart, but part of a double-sided single with "California Love", it topped the rap, R&B, and Hot 100 charts. Features K-Ci & JoJo from Jodeci and samples "Body Heat" by Quincy Jones.

The song contained a diss aimed at rap critic C. Delores Tucker. She later sued Tupac's estate for slander, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress from this and another song "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch". The suit was dismissed.


Stats
Chart Entry: June 15, 1996
Peak Date: July 6, 1996
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 13
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Points: 390
Average: 9.18
Standard Deviation: 4.946 (6th highest)

mamooshka - 2
312999 - 3
CF15 - 4
B-Boy - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 4
aerodynamite - 4
gonecountry - 4
singingrulebritannia - 5
rowellfarm490 - 5
annoymous1 - 5

bat1990 - 6
emerald - 6
samo🦕 - 6
Troublemaker - 6
Ivy Leegue™ - 7
wyckyd - 8
chanman - 8
alexcuse - 8
BB🌕 - 8
newpower - 9

Kelly's 10th Fan - 11
beyoncelover - 12
SHOOTER - 12
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 13
Private Dancer - 14
ilikemilk - 14
#LisaRinna - 15

Soulsista - 16
.indulgecountry - 16
Ky - 16
divasummer - 16
jenglisbe - 18
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 18


Someone loses their #1 with the next reveal. Two people will lose a bottom 5, and one of those is a #20.

[Soulsista]

8. Not Gon' Cry - Mary J. Blige

"Not Gon Cry" was one of the many singles released from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack. It reached the Top 5 on the Hot 100 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The lyrics were inspired by the storyline of the character Bernadine, played by Angela Bassett, whose husband leaves her for another woman. It's been sampled by the likes of Bryson Tiller and The Game.

Apologies to jtd Thee Stallion...


Stats
Chart Entry: January 27, 1996
Peak Date: February 3, 1996
Weeks At #1: 5
Weeks In Top 10: 11
Weeks On Chart: 22
Hot 100 Peak: #2

Points: 391
Average: 9.15
Standard Deviation: 4.797 (9th highest)

jtd Thee Stallion - 1
Soulsista - 2
Troublemaker - 2
#LisaRinna - 3
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 3
divasummer - 3
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 4
.indulgecountry - 5
Ky - 5

newpower - 6
SHOOTER - 6
Private Dancer - 8
B-Boy - 8
bat1990 - 8
mamooshka - 8
beyoncelover - 9
Ivy Leegue™ - 9
emerald - 10
annoymous1 - 10

ilikemilk - 11
gonecountry - 11
jenglisbe - 12
BB🌕 - 12
samo🦕 - 12
singingrulebritannia - 13
rowellfarm490 - 13
Kelly's 10th Fan - 13
wyckyd - 14
CF15 - 15
aerodynamite - 15
chanman - 15


312999 - 16
alexcuse - 20


Another #1 goes down with the next reveal. Twelve people will rid themselves of a bottom 10.

[#LisaRinna]

The state of this rankdown.

[Soulsista]

7. Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

"Tha Crossroads" was the third single from their album E. 1999 Eternal. It debuted atop the rap and R&B charts and also hit #1 on the Hot 100 and in New Zealand. It also won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance By a Duo Or Group. The song was a tribute to their mentor Eazy-E, who passed away from AIDS-induced pneumonia a year earlier.

Apologies to 312999...


Stats
Chart Entry: May 11, 1996
Peak Date: May 11, 1996
Weeks At #1: 7
Weeks In Top 10: 11
Weeks On Chart: 20
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (8 weeks)

Points: 397
Average: 8.97
Standard Deviation: 5.084 (4th highest)

312999 - 1
jenglisbe - 2
BB🌕 - 2
CF15 - 3
singingrulebritannia - 3
ilikemilk - 3
Ivy Leegue™ - 3
beyoncelover - 4
rowellfarm490 - 4
annoymous1 - 4

#LisaRinna - 6
emerald - 7
alexcuse - 7
newpower - 8
gonecountry - 8
Soulsista - 9
B-Boy - 9
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 9
chanman - 9
samo🦕 - 9
mamooshka - 10

Kelly's 10th Fan - 12
jtd Thee Stallion - 13
bat1990 - 13
aerodynamite - 13
SHOOTER - 14
Ky - 14
Private Dancer - 15
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 15
.indulgecountry - 15

wyckyd - 16
divasummer - 18
Troublemaker - 18


The next reveal has the 2nd highest SD. Someone will lose their #1, while another will be happy that this is missing the Top 5 because it's their #20.

[divasummer]

Are you kidding me!
“Before You Walked Out Of My Life”…. gone..
Bogus!
I will be be private messaging everyone that didn’t put it their Top 10.. No their Top 5. lol
(kidding)
I’m hurt… lol

[Soulsista]

6. Pony - Ginuwine

Born Elgin Lumpkin in Washington, DC, Ginuwine started out as a member of Swing Mob, where he met Timbaland and Missy Elliott, and Static Major. They all continued working together after the Swing Mob label folded. His debut single, "Pony", was a Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 and helped make Timbaland one of the most sought after producers for R&B.

A mashup done by duo Altégo of "Pony" and Britney Spears' "Toxic" titled "Toxic Pony" reached the Top 40 on the pop airplay chart in 2022.



Apologies to rowellfarm490...


Stats
Chart Entry: September 7, 1996
Peak Date: November 16, 1996
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 14
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #6

Points: 421
Average: 8.24
Standard Deviation: 5.685 (2nd highest)

rowellfarm490 - 1
singingrulebritannia - 2
B-Boy - 2
Ivy Leegue™ - 2
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 2
SHOOTER - 2
wyckyd - 3
aerodynamite - 3
emerald - 4
bat1990 - 5
newpower - 5
alexcuse - 5
BB🌕 - 5

beyoncelover - 6
Soulsista - 7
jtd Thee Stallion - 7
Kelly's 10th Fan - 7
mamooshka - 7
annoymous1 - 7
Troublemaker - 7
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 8
CF15 - 9
#LisaRinna - 9

Ky - 11
divasummer - 11
312999 - 12
jenglisbe - 15

Private Dancer - 16
.indulgecountry - 17
chanman - 18
samo🦕 - 18
gonecountry - 19
ilikemilk - 20

[Soulsista]

The Top 5:

Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey
You're Makin' Me High - Toni Braxton
California Love - 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman
If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah
No Diggity - Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre


Will we see Toni or Aaliyah reach the top? 2Pac or Blackstreet? Or will it be Mariah, who hasn't missed every time she's appeared in this series?

Find out when the Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1996 Rankdown concludes tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '96}Private Dancer jenglisbe CF15 #LisaRinna singingrulebritannia wyckyd B-Boy 312999 beyoncelover Rose "Payola" Nylund ilikemilk jtd Thee Stallion Ivy Leegue™ bat1990 rowellfarm490 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 aerodynamite newpower Kelly's 10th Fan SHOOTER mamooshka emerald .indulgecountry chanman alexcuse gonecountry BB🌕 samo🦕 annoymous1 Ky divasummer Troublemaker

[bat1990]

So close to my top 8 being the top 8! If only "How Do U Want It" and "Tha Crossroads" were swapped. I know "Tha Crossroads" is a classic and lead to Mariah's "Breakdown" but the sample in 2Pac's song is so hot, it's undeniable.

I put both Monica songs at 11 & 10, so don't point the finger at me.

[gonecountry]

Solid top 5. Only one song can go anytime now...

1,2,3,5
9

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Excuse me? Monica and Mary songs out way too early especially since No Diggity bas been overdone since 1997. I can’t anymore with this.

[beyoncelover]

10. Before You Walk Out Of My Life - Monica: Aww a bit sad seeing this Monica song showing up as this was my #8, but not too devastated seeing this show up either. This is such a great and classic song from Monica. She sounds beautiful on this and well, overall just glad that this made it to the Top 10.

9. How Do U Want It - 2Pac feat. K-Ci & JoJo: Really like/love this song but glad this showed up now as this was my #12 and was my least favorite song of this Top 10. That's not really saying anything as I still love this and think of it as a jam. But this list was just so stacked that I loved others more.

8. Not Gon' Cry - Mary J. Blige: This is such a great, classic and iconic song from Mary J. Blige. I love the raw emotion and vocals that she pours into this song. She sings it with so much soul. I ranked this at #9 so ugh I was just one spot off from a perfect ranking. I'm fine with this showing up as this was my 2nd lowest ranking remaining.

7. Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Aww I'm sad to see this miss out making the Top 5. I ranked this at #4 so I do truly and really love this song. It's such an emotional, touching rap classic. I love the vibe/feel of it, the lyrics, the rapping, the music and just everything about this. Glad it made it this far though was hoping for it to make it a little higher. Interesting how this has the 4th highest SD.

6. Pony - Ginuwine: Oooh nice yayyy, I got a perfect ranking with "Pony" being my #6 and this coming in 6th! Happy about that though I would have preferred my #10 to show up first lol. But this is such a classic, funky jam from Ginuwine. His signature song and one of my favorites from him. Glad to see this made it this far! I guess I am not too surprised with this having the 2nd highest SD.

I have my #1, 2, 5, 7, 10 all remaining. Three of my Top 5 left? Not too bad. Still a really strong Top 5 here.

[CF15]

1, 2, 7, 10, 14.

Sorry, "Before You Walked Out of My Life" and "Not Gon' Cry" aren't bad, but they never did much for me. Both artists definitely have done much better, IMO. And the same applies for my #14, which I hope won't pull off the win.

"Pony" is a guilty pleasure, but I didn't expect it to come so close to the top 5 or beat my #3 and #4. Speaking of...

Sad to see my #3 and #4 go. I figured "Tha Crossroads" would get tanked a lot, but I thought both Tupac songs would sneak into the top 5. I'm glad the one did, at least.

[Troublemaker]

Flawless top 5. I’m not predicting anything, any song can win

[divasummer]

May 31, 2023 13:12:49 GMT -5 CF15 said:

1, 2, 7, 10, 14.

Sorry, "Before You Walked Out of My Life" and "Not Gon' Cry" aren't bad, but they never did much for me. Both artists definitely have done much better, IMO. And the same applies for my #14, which I hope won't pull off the win.

"Pony" is a guilty pleasure, but I didn't expect it to come so close to the top 5 or beat my #3 and #4. Speaking of...

Sad to see my #3 and #4 go. I figured "Tha Crossroads" would get tanked a lot, but I thought both Tupac songs would sneak into the top 5. I'm glad the one did, at least.

“Always Be My Baby”???

[CF15]

May 31, 2023 14:00:33 GMT -5 divasummer said:

May 31, 2023 13:12:49 GMT -5 CF15 said:

1, 2, 7, 10, 14.

Sorry, "Before You Walked Out of My Life" and "Not Gon' Cry" aren't bad, but they never did much for me. Both artists definitely have done much better, IMO. And the same applies for my #14, which I hope won't pull off the win.

"Pony" is a guilty pleasure, but I didn't expect it to come so close to the top 5 or beat my #3 and #4. Speaking of...

Sad to see my #3 and #4 go. I figured "Tha Crossroads" would get tanked a lot, but I thought both Tupac songs would sneak into the top 5. I'm glad the one did, at least.

“Always Be My Baby”???

I was purposely trying to be vague with my wording to not spoil my #14. Maybe my #14 would be an unexpected upset winner, and not the obvious winner.

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Not Gon Cry and Pony were definitely top 5 worthy.

[Private Dancer]

How the fuck y'all do this to Before You Walk Out My Life?

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a remake of a song first recorded by Lori Lieberman and later made famous by Roberta Flack. This version spent 7 weeks atop the R&B airplay chart and peaked at #2 on Radio Songs chart. Internationally, it topped the charts in 20 countries and finished as the top single for 1996 in five of those countries. It also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo Or Group. Samples "Bonita Applebum" by A Tribe Called Quest, which samples the riff from "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection.

Killing Me Softly - Fugees

[B-Boy]

I love "Like This And Like That" and "Before You Walk Out Of My Life", but there was too much competition.

"How Do You Want It" is a classic. I love K-Ci's and JoJo's adlibs on the explicit version.

[Kelly's 10th Fan]

1-4 and 6 left. Not bad at all, even though I somehow keep missing perfect ranks by one spot...and can't shake the feeling that this will continue to the very end. Extremely tough year.

[beyoncelover]

"Killing Me Softly" by Fugees is such a great and classic song. I am sure I would have ranked that high if that was on the list. Love that song!

[Private Dancer]

May 31, 2023 20:55:07 GMT -5 beyoncelover said:

"Killing Me Softly" by Fugees is such a great and classic song. I am sure I would have ranked that high if that was on the list. Love that song!

Actually, if it was released as a physical singles it would've went to #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart

[bat1990]

There are so many great airplay-only R&B hits in the 90s. KMS, Seven Whole Days, One In a Million, 4 Page Letter, etc.

[Soulsista]

Welcome back to the conclusion of the Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1996 Rankdown!

Leaving us now is a song that will see someone lose their #1. Nine others will be losing a bottom 10, and four people will get a perfect ranking.

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '96}Private Dancer jenglisbe CF15 #LisaRinna singingrulebritannia wyckyd B-Boy 312999 beyoncelover Rose "Payola" Nylund ilikemilk jtd Thee Stallion Ivy Leegue™ bat1990 rowellfarm490 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 aerodynamite newpower Kelly's 10th Fan SHOOTER mamooshka emerald .indulgecountry chanman alexcuse gonecountry BB🌕 samo🦕 annoymous1 Ky divasummer Troublemaker

[Soulsista]

5. If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah

The lead single from her sophomore album One In a Million, "If Your Girl Only Knew" marked the beginning of Aaliyah's associations with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. It reached the Top 20 on the Hot 100 and was certified gold.

Swedish singer Erik Hassle paid tribute to Aaliyah in 2016 with his own version titled "If Your Man Only Knew".



Apologies to Kelly's 10th Fan...


Stats
Chart Entry: August 31, 1996
Peak Date: September 28, 1996
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 9
Weeks On Chart: 25
Hot 100 Peak: #11

Points: 464
Average: 6.94
Standard Deviation: 3.699 (5th lowest)

Kelly's 10th Fan - 1
aerodynamite - 2
B-Boy - 3
bat1990 - 3
newpower - 3
emerald - 3
Soulsista - 4
alexcuse - 4
divasummer - 4
Private Dancer - 5
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 5
SHOOTER - 5
gonecountry - 5

jenglisbe - 6
singingrulebritannia - 6
Ivy Leegue™ - 6
mamooshka - 6
.indulgecountry - 6
BB🌕 - 6
annoymous1 - 6
wyckyd - 7
rowellfarm490 - 7
Ky - 7
beyoncelover - 10

#LisaRinna - 11
312999 - 11
jtd Thee Stallion - 11
chanman - 11
samo🦕 - 11
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 12
ilikemilk - 13
CF15 - 14
Troublemaker - 15


Two #1s go down with the next reveal. Seven people will get rid of a bottom 10.

[Soulsista]

4. California Love - 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman

"California Love" was Tupac's first single on the Death Row label as well as his first single following his release from prison. It topped the charts in Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. In the US, it peaked at #6 on the R&B airplay chart, and as part of a double-sided single with "How Do U Want It", topped the rap, R&B, and Hot 100 charts. Samples "Woman To Woman" by Joe Cocker and contains interpolations of "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson & The Street People and "Dance Floor" by Zapp.

The original version of "California Love" wasn't included on any of Tupac's albums as it was intended for Dr. Dre's The Chronic II: A New World Odor (Poppa's Got A Brand New Funk) which was ultimately shelved. It's now on his Greatest Hits album as well as the UK version of All Eyez On Me.

Apologies to CF15 and wyckyd...


Stats
Chart Entry: June 15, 1996
Peak Date: July 6, 1996
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 13
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Points: 481
Average: 6.42
Standard Deviation: 4.803 (8th highest)

CF15 - 1
wyckyd - 1
312999 - 2
beyoncelover - 2
jtd Thee Stallion - 2
gonecountry - 2
annoymous1 - 2
Soulsista - 3
Rose "Payola" Nylund - 3
rowellfarm490 - 3
Kelly's 10th Fan - 3
SHOOTER - 3
BB🌕 - 3
singingrulebritannia - 4
Ivy Leegue™ - 4
mamooshka - 4
aerodynamite - 5
emerald - 5
Troublemaker - 5

alexcuse - 6
Ky - 6
bat1990 - 7
newpower - 7
#LisaRinna - 10
B-Boy - 10
samo🦕 - 10

.indulgecountry - 11
Private Dancer - 13
jenglisbe - 13
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 14
divasummer - 14
chanman - 16
ilikemilk - 18


Taking the bronze is a song that has seven #1s...and four bottom 5s.

[bat1990]

It's either Toni or Blackstreet. There's no way Mariah misses top 2.